Cluster Headache, Migraine and Tension Headache are related – more evidence ….

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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.

Cheers

Dean

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.

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