Your Headache Solutions » hemicrania continua

The Headache and Migraine Sufferers Bill of Rights (cont)

dean — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:05:27 +0000

The first ‘bill’ is that the headache sufferer has the right to know his/her headache diagnosis as precisely as possible, and to know the nature of the headache disorder, its prognosis and the possible types of treatment.

I have discussed the first point regarding diagnosis; now

to know the nature of the headache disorder

Clearly there is a substantial body of research which shows that the brainstems of Migraine, Tension Headache and Menstrual Migraine sufferers are sensitised.

We know that the ‘triptans’ desensitise the brainstem and are effective in preventing Migraine, Tension Headache, Cluster Headache, Hemicrania Continua, Menstrual Migraine, Cervicogenic (neck-related) Headache (which shows that cervicogenic disorders can sensitise the brainstem) ……

The underlying disorder is sensitisation of the brainstem; optimal management therefore is identifying the reason for the sensitisation ….

Stay tuned,

Cheers

Dean

(Members’ Handbook. International Headache Society 2000 Scandinavian University Press)

Headache and Migraine Sufferers ‘Bill of Rights’

dean — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:05:59 +0000

Is a diagnosis important?

Some time ago (2000), the International Headache Society, published a Headache Sufferers ‘Bill of Rights’.

I would like to spend the next few posts looking more closely at these points:-

“the headache sufferer has the right to know his/her headache diagnosis as precisely as possible”

diagnosis is difficult because it is based on a set of signs and symptoms, and the signs and symptoms of many different headache and migraine forms overlap – perhaps that is why many headache sufferers have been given 2, 3 or even 4 different diagnoses

not only do we have ‘Pure’ Menstrual Migraine, but now ‘MRM’ i.e. Menstrual Related Migraine, Menstrual Tension Headache, Menstrual Hemicrania Continua, Cluster Headache associated with menstruation etc and this is just headache or migraine supposedly associated with the menstrual cycle

the ‘triptans’, supposedly developed to stop the migraine process are effective in other forms of headache e.g. Menstrual Migraine, Cluster Headache, Cervicogenic Headache, and Hemicrania Continua

different headache and migraine forms responding to a range of cervicogenic (neck) treatments e.g. greater occipital nerve blocks, cervical spine stimulators

Is a diagnosis important? As far as I can see, and given the research, a diagnosis does not optimise the management of headache or migraine – it remains a ‘let’s try this and wait and see’ approach – clearly an unsatisfactory situation.

Cheers

Dean

(Members’ Handbook. International Headache Society 2000 Scandinavian University Press)

The Enormous Amount of Research

dean — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 00:59:34 +0000

Despite the enormous amount of research into the various forms of headache and migraine their cause remains a mystery.

To help you, the headache or migraine sufferer know the source of you pain as precisely as possible, latest research into headache and migraine is summarised on this website.

This includes research into migraine, tension-type headache, cluster headache, paroxysmal headache, hemicrania continua, post-traumatic headache, menstrual migraine, sinus headache and cervicogenic (neck) headache.

Cheers

Dean