During the consultation, Dr. Reed will thoroughly explain the Reed Procedure℠, answer your questions, and assess if you are a suitable candidate based on your medical history. You might be right for this procedure if you:
– Experience 10 or more headache days per month.
– Have tried other headache treatments for at least six months.
The consultation is free, and there’s no obligation to proceed with treatment. Our goal is to provide you with all the necessary information.
Ready to learn more? Request your complimentary consultation with Dr. Reed by clicking here.
If you qualify for the procedure and want to move forward with the trial, we’ll guide you through the process of getting approval from your insurance company. This step is common and means you’ll have written confirmation that your insurance will cover the procedure. Your insurance might call it pre-authorization or pre-determination.
Don’t worry, we’re here to help make this process easier for you. We’ll work with your insurance provider to make sure you get all the benefits you’re entitled to.
Curious about how we handle insurance pre-certification? Learn more here.
Once we get the green light from your insurance company, we’ll set up your trial procedure. You can choose the location that suits you best, and our expert doctors will perform the trial stimulator implantation at any of our centers.
The trial procedure is quick and done as an outpatient (usually just around 20 minutes), and it’s not very invasive. During the procedure, we’ll place a temporary stimulator without any major surgery. While you recover, a specialist will adjust the system to fit your needs, creating a gentle sensation across your head. You’ll wear this temporary stimulator for about three to seven days to see if it helps with your pain.
With over 30 years of experience and more than 100 published medical papers, we’ve found that the implanted stimulator can really help with severe head pain for most people. The trial stimulator lets you experience its effects firsthand. Usually, the results are clear, and you’ll quickly know if it’s working for you. This helps you decide if you want to go ahead with the permanent implantation.
After the trial period, you’ll come back to have the temporary unit removed and talk about how it went. If the trial stimulator works well (which is the case for over 80% of our patients), we’ll get things moving to schedule you for the permanent procedure.
For the trial procedure, simply choose the location that works best for you. However, when it comes to the permanent procedure, we’ll make it easy for you. Join us in Plano, TX, where this exciting step takes place in an outpatient setting at the hospital, lasting about two hours. We can even assist you with our hotel partners to ensure your stay is convenient and comfortable. You’ll be pleased to know that the entire system is placed beneath your skin, leaving no visible trace.
Recovery from both the trial and permanent procedures can vary from person to person, but here’s what we usually see:
For the trial procedure: Most patients are back to their regular routines, like work or school, within just a week after the trial.
For the permanent procedure: Most patients can resume their daily light activities within one to two weeks. However, full recovery typically takes about 4-6 weeks. During this time, it’s best to avoid strenuous activities.
After the permanent procedure, we’ll stay in touch to monitor your progress. Remember, we’re always available to answer any questions you may have. Generally, using and maintaining the permanent stimulator units is straightforward. The battery typically lasts 8-10 years, and if you need a replacement, it’s a simple 15-minute outpatient procedure.
