People who experience migraine often develop other types of headaches due to their brain’s heightened sensitivity to pain. This article explores various conditions such as post-traumatic headache, primary stabbing headache, cold stimulus evoked headache, tension type headache, cluster migraine, cervicogenic headache, sinus headaches, sleep apnea headaches, and medication-overuse headache. Understanding these conditions is crucial for effective management and tailored treatment approaches, aiming to improve overall quality of life.
Post-Traumatic Headache
A person with migraine who has a concussion has more risk of developing persistent headaches. Migraines may also deteriorate after a trauma. In this case, the person could have two diagnoses.
Primary Stabbing Headache or “Ice Pick Headache”
This is a very common problem, usually benign. The headache is sharp, intense, brief. It comes in flurries and may vary in location. It’s not always easy to differentiate from a neuralgia.
Cold Stimulus Evoked Headache or “Ice Cream Headache”
This is the intense but short lasting headache some people get when they eat or drink something cold. We believe that a hypersensitivity to cold triggers a painful reaction.
Tension Type Headache
While traditionally distinct from migraine due to the absence of migraine-specific features like nausea or sensory hypersensitivity, individuals with chronic migraine often experience TTH days. Current research suggests that these two headache types may be interconnected, although differing viewpoints exist in Europe.
Cluster Migraine
Although not an officially recognized diagnosis, the term is used informally to describe individuals exhibiting characteristics of both migraine and cluster headaches. Symptoms may include autonomic features typical of cluster headaches and cyclic attack patterns akin to cluster headache episodes.
Ping Pong Theory Situations
The Ping Pong Theory compares migraine to a game of ping pong between the brain and the environment. In this “game,” the brain and external factors like stress, certain foods, or hormonal changes interact through nerves that affect pain and other sensations. If an environmental trigger starts the game, it can set off a migraine attack. Conversely, the brain itself might initiate the migraine, leading to symptoms that can be mistaken for triggers. This back-and-forth situation can make it challenging to determine what causes the headache and what is a result of it. For more information, see our post on ping pong theory.
Cervicogenic Headache
The association of neck pain and migraine is extremely common in the clinic and there are many controversies on its definition. Also, many neck problems may be caused by a concussion or whiplash, adding up to the migraine pile. For more information, see our post on cervicogenic headache.
Sinus Headaches
This is often a wrong diagnosis in a person with migraine either triggered by sinus irritants or with sinus symptoms. It’s important to treat migraine and be careful of avoiding antibiotics or steroids unless there is truly bacterial sinusitis.
Sleep Apnea Headaches
Sleep apnea can definitely trigger headaches that may occur in the morning and abate after a few hours. No surprise, people with migraine can deteriorate if sleep apnea is present. For more information on sleep apnea and migraine, see this post.
Medication-Overuse Headache
This famous vicious circle happens mostly in people with migraine brains. More headache, more pills, more headache. People who use regular analgesics (acetaminophen, opioids, NSAIDs) for other pains but do not have a history of migraine are less likely to develop a chronic headache. For more information, see our post on medication-overuse headache.
Summary
Individuals with migraine may experience various headache types due to their brain’s heightened sensitivity to pain. Distinguishing between these types can be challenging, but addressing underlying factors in chronic migraine cases may lead to successful outcomes.
Post #410
