A new article "Pure tension-type headache versus tension-type headache in the migraineur." in Curr Pain Headache Rep. 201:465-9.0 Dec;14(6) (PubMed abstract below) looks at primary headache disorders. What is most interesting is that they state that differential diagnosis is made difficult to the frequent presence of co-morbidities including temporomandibular disorders and myofascial pain.
I wish the authors could realize that what they classify as co-morbidities are actually underlying triggers and causes of both migraines and tension-type headaches. When they assume that these headaches are primary they miss the opportunity to actually treat and prevent them from occuring. The authors go on to state "chronification, particularly of migraine, leads to a decrease in the associated symptoms of migraine, such as nausea, photophobia, and phonophobia, so that these headaches more closely resemble tension-type headache" and missing the fact that central sensitiztion and chronicity is due to not treating the primary trigeminal nerve problem that is secondary to repetitive motion injuries from underlying dysfunction that leads to myofascial pain disorders.
There is a musclar component as well as a neurogenic/vascular component to all headaches. The real issue is the elimination of the conditions that trigger tension-type headaches, migraines and TMJ (TMD) disorders. Neuromuscular dentistry is extremely effective in preventing and eliminating tension-type headaches and migraines because it eliminates the repetitive strain injuries by idealizing the physiologic status of the entire trigeminal nervous system that is responsible in whole or in part for almost all migraines and tension-type headaches as well as other head, neck and facial pain.
Curr Pain Headache Rep. 201:465-9.0 Dec;14(6)
Pure tension-type headache versus tension-type headache in the migraineur.
Blumenfeld A, Schim J, Brower J.
The Headache Center of Southern California, 320 Santa Fe Drive, Encinitas, CA 92024, USA. blumenfeld@neurocenter.com
Abstract
Primary headache disorders include tension-type headache and migraine. These headache types can be differentiated based on strict clinical definitions that depend on the patient's signs and symptoms. However, some of the clinical features can overlap, and in addition, the same comorbid conditions can occur in both headache types. Distinction between these headache types on occasion can be difficult due to comorbid conditions such as temporomandibular joint disorders and myofascial pain with forward head posturing, which may be present in both headache disorders, and thus result in similar features in both conditions. Furthermore, chronification, particularly of migraine, leads to a decrease in the associated symptoms of migraine, such as nausea, photophobia, and phonophobia, so that these headaches more closely resemble tension-type headache. Finally, in some patients, both tension-type headache and migraine may occur at different times.
PMID: 20878271 [PubMed - in process]
