Award for nurse who cured headaches with Botox

Headache specialist nurse Carrie Poole helped Lucy Harrison become headache free, after years of suffering

A teacher whose years of continuous headaches were cured after a Botox treatment has presented the nurse that helped her with an award.

Lucy Harrison, 27, suffered from nummular headaches, which cause a small, well-defined area of pain.

The Lichfield woman said she "couldn't wait" to tell University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) nurse Carrie Poole when she first woke up pain-free.

"I knew she was desperate to be the first one to know," Ms Harrison said. "I will never forget her squeals of excitement."

Botox is commonly used to treat chronic migraines, but Ms Harrison was the first patient to be treated with it at UHNM for nummular headaches, according to the trust.

She said she felt terrified before first meeting Ms Poole at the Royal Stoke hospital in October 2022.

"I instantly found myself feeling calm in her presence, which for someone who is scared of hospitals was huge," she said.

Having sought help from specialists since her teens, the teacher said Miss Poole's compassion had been life-affirming.

"I had never had someone in my life who genuinely wanted to help," she added.

"As someone who has had multiple negative experiences due to being a rare case, I cannot explain how much it has healed my younger self, who had far too often been dismissed or not believed."

'Relief for headache patients'

Headache specialist Ms Poole said receiving a Daisy award from her patient, which recognises nurses who go above and beyond, meant a lot.

"Hearing the positive impact we have on peoples' lives makes it all worthwhile," she added.

"We are now able to draw on Lucy's and other patient experience to help continue to make positive change... People don't realise the debilitating impact headaches can have on people’s quality of life and the stress that this can bring."

Clinical lead for neurology Dr Brendan Davies said the team was "delighted" about the accolade.

He added: "Carrie shows excellence every day in everything she does and I don't think she realises the impact the she has on her patients."