Hemicrania Continua – The Challenges of Diagnosis! - By: Dean Watson

Hemicrania continua is defined as a constant one sided (and always on the same side)

headache of moderate intensity with exacerbations and which responds to Indomethacin. Other

possible symptoms include redness of the eye, a watery or teary eye, a blocked or runny

nostril and drooping of the eyelid.

But we have case reports which show that this supposedly one sided (always the same side)

headache can occur on the other side and can also be on both sides at the same time.

Interestingly the traditional classification system of headache and migraine states that

Cervicogenic (neck-related) Headache as a one sided headache (and always the same side)

also. However my experience of over 21000 hours with headache and migraine patients is that

a one sided headache that can occur on the other side is a Cervicogenic Headache. Does this

mean that I am saying Hemicrania Continua is likely to be Cervicogenic Headache – Yes!

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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.

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.

ver the past 15 years I have developed a series of techniques, which, by way of temporary

reproduction of headache and easing of the headache as a technique is sustained, confirm

that a neck disorder is the cause of or a significant factor in the mechanism of the

headache or migraine – this a key diagnostic criterion for cervicogenic or neck involvement

in headache according to the International Headache Society – importantly for the disorder

to be related to the headache or migraine process the headache has to ease as the technique

is maintained. If both reproduction and lessening are not possible then the neck may not be

the source of the headache or migraine. Furthermore my experience has shown that if the

techniques are performed in a specific manner it is possible to determine which spinal

segment is the cause of or contributing significantly to headache and migraine. Having

determined which spinal segment (or segments — there may be more than one) is involved then

this significantly increases the chance of the treatment being successful because treatment

can be directed at specific, relevant spinal segments.

The application of these techniques in Europe, United Kingdom and Australia has become known

as the ‘Watson Headache Approach’ and forms the basis of courses I present for

physiotherapists, chiropractors and osteopaths in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong,

Singapore, United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, Belgium, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany,

Norway and Spain — refer http://www.headacheeducation.com

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

and,

undertaking and supporting rigorous clinical and scientific research in this specialty.

Dean Watson

Consultant Headache and Migraine Physiotherapist; Adjunct Lecturer, Masters Program, School

of Physiotherapy, University of South Australia; PhD Candidate, Murdoch University, Western

Australia

About the Author

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 Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Dean-Watson/53824

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