Headaches Lecture Flashcards
Primary vs. Secondary headache disorders
Primary — have a pathomechanical process not caused by other diseases or disorders
Secondary — headaches caused by other disorders (something else referring pain to the head)
What examples of the primary vs. Secondary headaches
Primary — migraine and tension type headaches
Secondary — cervicogenic, TMD, occipital neuralgia, post-traumatic headaches
What is SNOOP4
S: systemic symptoms
N: neurological
O: onset sudden — peaks within 1 minute onset.
O: onset after the age of 50 years
P: Pattern change
4: progressive HA/increasing frequency, precipitation by valsalva/sex, postural aggravation, papilledema
Red flag items from the history
- History of mechanical trauma
- Recent respiratory or GI infection
- Neurological or ischemic syndrome
- Referral patterns from vertebral artery or internal carotid artery
- Neuro or ischemic signs and symptoms including balance deficits
- Jolt accentuation of HA is a new/less well-recognized physical exam which assesses meníngeas irritation
- Lhermitte’s sign
- Vertebral artery test
- Horner’s syndrome
Referral patterns for internal carotid and vertebral artery
Internal carotid artery — sudden intense temporal headache and neck pain
Vertebral artery — unilateral neck/upper trap type pain
Key features of Horner’s syndrome
- Decreased pupil size
- Ptosis
- Decreased sweating on the affected side of the face
Most common encountered primary headache
Tension type
Description of tension type HA
- Peripheral sensitization of nociceptors in myofascial tissue
- Increased muscle tenderness (contributory but not causative)
- Chronic TTH = occurs >/= 15 days per month for >3 months, altered pain sensitivity and central pain modulation
Diagnostic criteria for TTH
- > 10 episodes fulfilling B-D
- HA lasting 30 minutes to 7 days
- At least 2 of following
— bilateral location
— pressing or tightening (not pulsating quality)
— mild-mod intensity
— not aggravated by routine physical activity - Def both of following
— no N+V
— no >1 of photophobia or phenophobia - Not better accounted fro by another ICHD-3 dx
What is frequency criteria for chronic TTH
> 15 days / month for > 3 months
Medical management for TTH
- Acute management - analgesic meds, or analgesic plus caffeine, muscle relaxers
- Preventative - tricyclic antidepressants, beta-blockers, and divalproex sodium
- TrP injections — usually in SCM, UT, temporalis, typically using lidocaine and bupivacine
Manual therapy for TTH
- Thrust and non-thrust spinal mobs/manips
- mobilization with movement
- STM/IASTM
- dry needling — really really strong evidence
- everything you would treat myofascial dysfunction
Exercise and education for TTH
- Posture and ergonomic adjustment
- Stretching
- Postural strengthening
- Neural mobilization exercises
- if patients have chronic TTH they need education and PNE
Description of migraine headache
- Stimulation of peripheral afferents int he trigeminocervical complex (all branches of TN, posterior dura, and C1/2 dermatomes)
- Up to 70% report neck pain
- Pathophysiology is complex and unclear but may have genetic abnormalities that increase CNA excitability
Prevalence for migraine headaches
Peak prevalence woman is 20-60 yo
Peak prevalence men is 30-40 yo
What are 4 phases of migraine
- Prodrome — days or hours heading up to headache.
- Aura — know its coming any minute. Changes in vision, numbness/tingling, difficulty speaking or understanding others.
- Headache — actual headache and key for diagnostic criteria
- Postdrome — when it goes away but you still feel crappy, fatigue/lightheadedness/decreased energy
Potential mechanism for prodrome
Thought to be due to hypothalamic activation
Potential mechanism for aura
Thought to be due to cortical spreading depolarization which often begins in the visual cortex
Potential mechanism for HA pain
Vasodilation and/or sural swelling thought to be due to release of neurotransmitters such as Substance P, neurokinin A, CGRP
Potential mechanism for postdrome
Mechanism less well understood
What is CGRP
Calcitonin gene-related peptide
- Neuropeptide found in CNS and PNS that has pain-signaling and vasodilator functions
- In MH it is thought to contribute to dural meníngeas inflammation
Diagnostic criteria for migraine without Aura
- > 5 attacks fulfilling B-D
- HA lasting 4-72 hours (untreated or unsuccessfully treated)
- At least 2 of following
— unilateral location
— pulsating quality
— moderate-severe intensity
— aggravated by (or causes avoidance of) routine physical activity - During attack at least 1 of following
— N and/or V
— photophobia and phonophobia - Not better accounted for by another ICHD-3 dx
How are migraines different from other headaches
- Lasting 4-72 hours
- Unilateral location
- Pulsating quality
- Moderate to severe intensity
- Aggravated by physical activity
- Association with nausea, vomiting, phonophobia, or photophobia
Acute medical management for migraine headaches
- Ergot alkaloids — similar MOA but not as selective as Triptans. Higher incidence of AEs
- Triptans — selective serotonin receptor agonists (high affinity for the 5-HR1B/D receptors.
— vasoconstriction of distended intracranial extra cerebral vessels
- inhibits vasoactive neuropeptides and nociceptive neurotransmitters