Cluster Headache, Migraine and Tension Headache are related - more evidence ....

By: Dean Watson
Submitted: 2009-06-29 13:35:00
Print this article | Tell a friend | For publisher | Social Bookmarking
Rating:
 

Clinical correspondence in the latest Cephalalgia journal reports the presence of ‘cutaneous allodynia’ in two cluster headache patients.

What is cutaneous allodynia? Cutaneous (relating to or affecting the skin) allodynia (is a painful response to a normally non painful stimulus) so in this case there is a heightened, painful sensitivity to touch. This increased sensitivity to touch, along with other symptoms for e.g. photo-phobia (heightened sensitivity to light) and phono-phobia (heightened sensitivity to sound) is a sign of sensitisation of the brainstem.

Research shows quite clearly that the brainstems of migraineurs and tension headache sufferers are also sensitised …. and what do the ‘triptans’ do? they desensitise the brainstem and that is why they are effective in alleviating the pain in migraine, tension and cluster headache – all three headaches originate from the same condition i.e. a sensitised brainstem.

YourHeadacheSoultions.co.uk is one voice of the Watson Headache Institute.

The Watson Headache Institute was established to increase the awareness of cervicogenic (neck) disorders in headache and migraine by imparting my (and that of others) clinical experience and knowledge; to present and discuss past and present relevant research and to undertake and support rigorous clinical and scientific research in this specialty.

My clinical experience of over 13000 hours with headache and migraine sufferers has demonstrated that neck disorders, as the cause of sensitisation, are significantly underestimated in migraine, tension and cluster headache, menstrual migraine …. sufferers.

There are many ways to treating headache and migraine.  My approach is a powerful treatment tool if chosen by Practitioners. What I am primarily passionate about is that many of you are suffering unnecessarily because your necks have not been examined comprehensively and this is the main thrust of my approach.

Appropriate and up-to-date knowledge is self-empowering; I believe that every headache sufferer has the right to know their headache diagnosis as precisely as possible (and what it means), to know the nature of their headache disorder, its outcome and possible types of treatment.

What has yet to gain acceptance is my (and that of others) belief, supported by my unparalleled clinical experience and a significant body of international research, that it is incorrect to consider headache and migraine types as totally different entities and that cervicogenic (neck) disorders can be instrumental in the headache and migraine process.

Although Physiotherapy, Chiropractic and Osteopathy are different disciplines, we are supporters of the idea that headache and migraine sufferers, no matter what their diagnoses, can be helped to live their lives more effectively through appropriate neck treatment. However, because treatment of the neck does not fit the medical model of headache and migraine, the model has demonstrated little interest in exploring this as an option. It is essential that all factors, which have the potential to sensitise the brainstem, be investigated equally. Currently this is not the situation – the neck is largely disregarded.

So, whilst YourHeadacheSolutions.com is also about Education, it is also a directory for headache and migraine sufferers to source practitioners who have a particular interest in and are skilled in examination of the neck as a source of your headache or migraine – to create a more comprehensive approach and provide an alternative, medication-free treatment.

Dean Watson of YourHeadache Solutions, Consultant Headache and Migraine Physiotherapist; Adjunct Lecturer, Masters Program, School of Physiotherapy, University of South Australia; PhD Candidate, Murdoch University, Western Australia. On his site you can search all topics about headache migraine, headache treatment, migraine treatment, headache causes, migraine causes headache symptoms and more.

Article source: Expert Articles

Most Recent Articles in Health & Fitness category

  • Terapija For The Cure Of Multiple Diseases And Problems - By: Azeem Ashraf
    We are living in global village. The pace of our lives has been increased. We are living extensively busy and hectic lives, which have resulted in tension and stress in our minds and body.
  • Inside View Of Abdomen By Ultrazvuk Abdomena - By: Azeem Ashraf
    Human body is composed of many complex functions and a number of chemical reactions take place inside our bodies.
  • Herbs that Cause Your Breasts to Grow - By: Nancy Newton
    Whatever is natural is preferred over the synthetic. The same line of reasoning applies to breast growth.
  • 3 Types of People who can Highly Benefit from a Chair Massage - By: MJ Marks
    Anybody can benefit from a good chair massage. But here are three type of people who can really benefit from daily massage and why. Are you one of them?
  • Tips To Get A Deeper Voice - By: Daniel Martin
    Ideal men have always been characterized with tall and dark handsome looks along with a deep voice. Millions of men having a high-pitched voice wish to deepen it further.
  • Breakthrough from That Flabby Body - By: Daniel Martin
    Do you have to attend a party this weekend and you are not fitting into that dress as it is too tight? Is detoxification what you have in mind for an effective weight loss?
  • Importance Of Ultrazvuk Trudnoca - By: Azeem Ashraf
    A woman, throughout her life, goes through different stages and fulfils various responsibilities.
  • Innovative Features on Sanyo Massage Chairs - By: MJ Marks
    Sanyo massage chairs offer many great and innovative features. Find out what some of these great features are, and how they solve problems like, how do your shoulders receive a proper massage from a chair.
  • Access to Healthcare is Personal & Critical - By: Barbara Merola
    In the healthcare debate in Congress and in backyards across the country, millions of Americans are registering passionate opinions about the issue but not ever experiencing a severe health emergency without access to quality healthcare. What these Americans are not talking about is how the determination of "pre-existing" conditions by the insurance company is subjective and frequently results in damaging life and death consequences for the patient and their family.
  • Bol U Ledjima Causes Serious Problems - By: Azeem Ashraf
    All those people, who are working in organizations and are supposed to sit all day long because of their job requirements, they usually have complaints of bol u ledjima.