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Cluster Headache
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Cluster headaches are another uncommon affliction where pain typically starts behind one eye and spreads over the same side of the face to become an excruciating problem over a period of 20 to 60 minutes. Associated symptoms include unilateral flushing and warmth, tearing and redness of the eyes, and a runny nose. Headaches "cluster" daily for several weeks then may disappear for even months or years. Treatment for cluster headaches, as in trigeminal neuralgia, starts with various pain medicines and preparations. Ergot compounds, steroids, and migraine headache remedies have been used with varying degrees of success. When these treatments are not effective or not tolerated, patients have been considered for injections along the course of the 5th cranial nerve, radiofrequency treatments, and microsurgical treatments with some success. More recently, Gamma Knife radiosurgery with the same strategy as in trigeminal neuralgia has been used as a treatment for refractory cluster headaches. The experience is limited with rather short follow-up but appears to have some promise. While certainly not a first line treatment, Gamma Knife radiosurgery may be considered as a treatment for refractory cluster headaches on a case by case basis. [Keywords: cluster headache] |
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