I have mentioned in my previous blogs that sensitisation of the brainstem has been demonstrated in migraine, tension headache, menstrual migraine and cluster headache.
What I may not have made clear is that this sensitised state is present even when you are free of your headache or migraine, that is, your brainstem is sensitised constantly.
Then what [...]
In recent correspondence to an acclaimed international headache journal, a doctor located in India reported on migrainous headache occurring after washing of the hair – as the author explains this has either not been noticed in other countries or it may be that similar headache presentations in other countries occur but are called something else.
As [...]
In recent times the International Headache Society has added a third primary group of headache(s) to the two primary headache types – migraine and tension-type headache.
This third primary group includes Cluster headache, Chronic Paroxysmal Hemicrania, and SUNCT (Short lasting Unilateral Neuralgia form headache attack with Conjunctival injection and Tearing!) and Hemicrania Continua.
Chronic Paroxysmal Hemicrania is [...]
The recent research has shown convincingly that migraine and headache is underpinned by sensitisation of the brainstem or central sensitisation.
One of the potential sources of senstisation of the brainstem is abnormal information from a disorders of structures within the head, structures which are supplied by the trigeminal nerve. It is then interesting to find that [...]
As I have mentioned previously, recent and substantial research demonstrates that the different types of headache and migraine develop from a common, shared disorder, and that this disorder is sensitisation of the brainstem.
Auras, which initially were thought to only accompany migraine and menstrual migraine, have now been reported in Cluster Headache and Hemicrania Continua, and [...]
Given what we know about ‘sinus’ headache in adults, it is not surprising that a recent survey has concluded that children with recurrent headaches are misdiagnosed as sinus headache and receive unnecessary Xrays and sinus treatment.
Of 214 patients, approximately 40% of patients with migraine and 60% with tension-type headache had been misdiagnosed as ‘sinus’ headache; [...]
Cheers
Dean
Consultant Headache and Migraine Physiotherapist; Adjunct Lecturer, Masters Program, School of Physiotherapy, University of South Australia; PhD Candidate, Murdoch University, Western Australia
Menstrual Migraine
Sinusitis is over-diagnosed as the cause of headache and migraine.
Frontal pain more likely results from migraine or tension headache.
Furthermore, according to an internationally recognised authority, just because symptoms do not respond to headache and migraine treatments it should not be assumed that sinus disease is the cause.
(Silberstein SD. Headaches due to nasal and paranasal sinus [...]
Cheers
Dean
Consultant Headache and Migraine Physiotherapist; Adjunct Lecturer, Masters Program, School of Physiotherapy, University of South Australia; PhD Candidate, Murdoch University, Western Australia
Migraine Treatment
Persistent headache is common after a minor head or concussive injury and is frequently put down to injury to structures within the head.
Research has supported the observation that injury to the neck can occur indirectly as a result of blows to the head. In a group of 12 patients suffering post-concussional headache, significant upper cervical [...]
