Myofascial trigger points in cluster headache patients: a case series

Head Face Med. 2008 Dec 30:4:32. doi: 10.1186/1746-160X-4-32.

Abstract

Active myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) have been found to contribute to chronic tension-type headache and migraine. The purpose of this case series was to examine if active trigger points (TrPs) provoking cluster-type referred pain could be found in cluster headache patients and, if so, to evaluate the effectiveness of active TrPs anaesthetic injections both in the acute and preventive headache's treatment. Twelve patients, 4 experiencing episodic and 8 chronic cluster headache, were studied. TrPs were found in all of them. Abortive infiltrations could be done in 2 episodic and 4 chronic patients, and preemptive infiltrations could be done in 2 episodic and 5 chronic patients, both kind of interventions being successful in 5 (83.3%) and in 6 (85.7%) of the cases respectively. When combined with prophylactic drug therapy, injections were associated with significant improvement in 7 of the 8 chronic cluster patients. Our data suggest that peripheral sensitization may play a role in cluster headache pathophysiology and that first neuron afferent blockade can be useful in cluster headache management.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anesthetics / therapeutic use*
  • Cluster Headache / drug therapy
  • Cluster Headache / physiopathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Injections
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myofascial Pain Syndromes / drug therapy
  • Myofascial Pain Syndromes / physiopathology*
  • Pain / drug therapy
  • Pain / physiopathology*

Substances

  • Anesthetics