Are Whiplash Associated Headache, Cervicogenic Headache and Tension-Type Headache the same? Yes!

dean — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:51:14 +0000

A motor vehicle injury can result in allodynia

Five patients who had developed headaches following a head and neck injury after a motor vehicle injury – the headaches had the same characteristics of tension-type headache.

Furthermore on examination it was found that they were all experiencing ‘allodynia’ (excessive tenderness to normal pressure). Allodynia is considered to be a sign of sensitisation of the brainstem. The area of allodynia suggested that it was as result of abnormal information from injuries sustained by structures in the neck.

This study further confirms that disorders of the neck are responsible for so-called ‘tension-type’ headache and that abnormal information from injured neck structures can sensitise the brainstem – a phenomenon which is evident not only in tension headache but also migraine, menstrual migraine and cluster headache ….. and that whiplash associated headache exists!

Cheers

Dean

(Baruah JK and Baruah GR. Post traumatic headache and allodynia. Cephalalgia, 2009; 29(Suppl. 1):1–166

Katsavara Z, Giffin N, Diener HC, Kaube H. Abnormal habituation of ‘nociceptive’ blink reflex in migraine – evidence for increased excitability of trigeminal nociception. Cephalalgia 2003; 23:814-819

Katsavara Z, Lehnerdt G, Duda B, Ellrich J, Diener HC, Kaube H. Sensitization of trigeminal nociception specific for migraine but not pain of sinusitis. Neurology 2002; 59:1450-1453

Kaube H, Katasavara Z, Przywara S, Drepper J, Ellrich J, Diener HC. Acute migraine headache. Possible sensitization of neurons in the spinal trigeminal nucleus? Neurology 2002; 58:1234-1238

Milanov I, Bogdanova D. Trigemino-cervical reflex in patients with headache. Cephalalgia 2003; 23:35-38

Nardone R et al Trigemino-Cervical Reflex Abnormalities in Patients with Migraine and Cluster Headache. Headache 2008; 48(4):578-585

Nardone R, Tezzon F. The trigemino-cervical reflex in tension-type headache. European Journal of Neurology 2003; 10(3):307-312

Sandrini G, Cecchini AB, Milanov I, Tassorelli C, Buzzi MG, Nappi G. Electrophysiological evidence for trigeminal neuron sensitisation in patients with migraine. Neurosci Lett 2002; 317:135-138

Varlibas A, Erdemoglu Ak. Altered trigeminal system excitability in menstrual migraine patients. The Journal of Headache and Pain 2009; 10(4):277-282)

Cluster Headache Following Trauma

dean — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:30:25 +0000

Clinical experience suggests a skilled examination of the neck in cluster headache sufferers

My experience with cluster headache includes a patient who developed cluster headache 2-3 months after a whiplash accident – and treatment of his subsequent neck disorder has meant that he has been pain-free for 5 years.

A recent case study describes the onset of cluster headache after mild head trauma – and whilst most attention is given to the possibility of some trauma to structures inside the head, the neck has to stop either the moving head in relation to the body or the body in relation to the head and (the neck) is likely to be injured.

My clinical experience suggests that it is important for a skilled examination of the neck in cluster headache sufferers.

Cheers

Dean

(Lambru G et al. Post-Traumatic Cluster Headache: From the Periphery to the Central Nervous System? Headache 2009;(49)7:1059-1061)

Your Headache Solutions » whiplash

Are Whiplash Associated Headache, Cervicogenic Headache and Tension-Type Headache the same? Yes!

Cluster Headache Following Trauma