Dylan Crake RMT & R.KIN

Headaches

Primary headaches : migraine, tension type, cluster, chronic daily 

Secondary headaches : meningitis, brain tumour, cerebral aneurysm, subdural hematoma 

Tension headaches

Manifestations:

• Bilateral
• dull aching
• diffused with sensation of tight band around head

Treatment:

• massage
• acupuncture
• NSAIDS

Chronic Daily headaches

Headaches that occur 15 days or more in a month, can be from med overuse, migraines, post-traumatic 

Migraines:

• Trigeminal nerve is activated

The initial vasoconstriction followed by vasodilation of blood vessels increases pressure within cranium eliciting pain from the blood vessels and meninges 

Triggers: some food, abnormal levels of stress, change in sleeping patterns 

Types:

• Migraine with aura :
  • symptoms last 4-72 hours
  • unilateral, pulsating,
  • moderate to severe
  • aggravated by activity

• Migraine without aura 
  • most common 
  • Pain is pulsating, throbbing
  • Unilateral typically
  • Sensitivity to light 

• Ophthalmoplegic migraine
  • Rare
  • Transient paralysis of cranial nerve 3 – oculomotor 

• Hemiplegic migraine
  • Rare
  • Sudden hemiparesis accompanied by aphasia and confusion

Treatment: 

• Avoid triggers 
• Pharmacological – SSRIs
• Cluster headaches
• When several attaches occur in a day for a period of days, weeks or months followed by remission 
• Episodic and chronic 

Manifestation:

• Sudden
• Severe
• Unilateral
• Unrelenting pain in orbital, temporal, supra orbital and infra orbital 
• Lasts 30 minutes to 2 hours 

Head Injuries

Causes:

• MVA
• Falls
• sports injury
• violence

Types:

Primary head injuries

Caused directly by injury ; concussion, contusion, laceration

Concussion

Momentary interuption of brain function with or without loss of non-consciousness

Manifestations:

• post-concussion syndrome
• irritability
• insomnia
• poor concentration