For those who suffer migraine is a debilitating problem, what triggers a migraine can be different for each sufferer – a bright light or a certain food can be the trigger that sets of a wave of electrical activity in the brain. This wave stimulates the brain stems centre resulting in a throbbing head. Sufferers often experience an aura or altered sense of perception before the pain starts.

It is at this point that a proposed new method of treatment could come into play. It is hoped that a new handheld device called the Transcranial magnetic stimulator (TMS) could be used to shock the headache into submission. The TMS system disrupts the process by emitting an electrical current that creates a magnetic field in the brain.

So far the preliminary tests have found that 75% of migraine sufferers avoided an attack by using the TMS system. Testing is continuing and it may take another 18 months before the new system has approval. So still a way to go yet.

But the future looks like it could be headache free for many sufferers.