Orlando Hemicrania Continua Specialists
Are you dealing with a primary headache disorder known as hemicrania continua? If so, finding experienced healthcare specialists can make all the difference in understanding and managing your condition. In the Orlando area, our medical clinic specializes in treating hemicrania continua. Our specialists offer access to personalized diagnosis and treatment plans for individuals who suffer from this rare type of chronic headache pain.
What Are Primary Headache Disorders?
Primary headache disorders are serious medical conditions that, if left untreated, can reduce the quality of life and negatively affect one’s health. This type of headache is often a chronic pain originating in the skull or neck that may cause sensitivity to light or sound, nausea, and dizziness. The most common types of primary headaches include migraine headaches, tension headaches, cluster headaches, hemicrania continua, and other trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias. Everyone experiences these conditions differently and there is no single treatment for all types of primary headache syndromes; however, there has been significant progress made toward developing evidence-based treatments to alleviate their effects in current clinical practice. As a result, individuals with this type of headache disorder can manage their symptoms better and achieve an improved quality of life with the right medical treatment.
What Is Hemicrania Continua (HC)?
Hemicrania Continua (HC) is a chronic headache disorder that consists of daily, continuous, or near-daily headaches on one side of the head that last for months or even years at a time. These headaches may vary in intensity as they can range from moderate to severe and often have associated symptoms such as a runny nose, conjunctival injection, and/or drooping eyelid on the same side as the headache. The cause of HC is unknown but it is believed to involve a change in nerve signals between the blood vessels and the trigeminal nerve.
Symptoms
The pain can be diagnosed with moderate to severe levels of intensity and is usually accompanied by symptoms such as tenderness in the scalp and neck muscles as well as watery eyes and congestion on the affected side of the head. Difficulty sleeping, sensitivity to light, noise, stress, and sometimes even food are also common occurrences among those diagnosed with this condition. It’s important for individuals suffering from this painful disorder to seek medical attention to help control their symptoms and get relief from the continuous pain they experience.
Treatment Options
Fortunately, several approaches have proven successful, including medicines for neuropathic pain such as antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and certain anti-inflammatory agents. Additionally, ketamine infusions and nerve blocks can help to reduce symptoms of this disorder when other treatments have been unsuccessful. Surgery may be an option for refractory cases. The positive effects of these treatments vary from patient to patient, so it is important to consult with your healthcare professional about which therapy is most effective and appropriate for managing hemicrania continua properly.
Neuropathic Pain Medicines
Neuropathic pain medicines can be an invaluable resource for individuals living with hemicrania continua, a chronic headache condition. Taking these medications can provide welcome relief from the intense headaches and associated pain that hemicrania continua patients endure. In general, neuropathic medications prescribed for HCR are separated into two classes — short-term analgesics and long-term preventive medications. Short-term analgesics should be taken at the onset of symptoms before they become more severe and debilitating, while long-term preventive drugs are most effective when taken regularly over time.
Ketamine Infusions
Hemicrania continua is a rare and very painful chronic headache disorder. Fortunately, ketamine infusions are providing significant relief for patients who have been suffering the pangs of this condition for years. As a low-risk therapy, ketamine infusions may not be appropriate for every patient with HC, but many have seen substantial improvements in their symptoms and quality of life as a result of these treatments. In some cases, ketamine has been able to stop the pain completely – something that no other treatment has been able to do before. It is exciting to see new treatments available for this difficult chronic problem; hopefully, more sufferers will find relief through the use of ketamine infusions.
Nerve Blocks
Nerve blocks are an important medical treatment for hemicrania continua, a type of headache that causes chronic pain on one side of the head. This procedure involves injecting an anesthetic or a steroid directly into the nerves near the site to block the pain signals. The effects can last anywhere from several days to several weeks, and research has found that they can provide greater relief than conventional medications in many cases. Nerve blocks are a highly effective way of managing this type of recurring headache, enabling sufferers to get back to their daily activities free from constant pain.
Surgery
Surgery for hemicrania continua, also known as cluster headache surgery, may be used to alleviate disabling symptoms caused by a chronic head pain disorder. This type of surgery involves cutting the nerve bundles that lead to and from the affected area of the brain, helped in part by a combination of anesthesia and imaging techniques such as MRIs and CT scans. Of course, surgery should generally only be considered after other treatments have been exhausted, as there are potential risks involved with it. However, if used judiciously and with proper oversight from experienced medical professionals, this procedure can be an effective way of relieving painful symptoms for those suffering from HC.
Summary
Hemicrania continua is a chronic, recurring headache disorder that originates from the trigeminal nerve. It is characterized by moderate to severe pain on one side of the head, and often comes with other symptoms like red or teary eyes, runny nose, or congestion. There are several treatment options available for those suffering from HC, including neuropathic pain medicines, ketamine infusions, and surgery. The best course of action will vary depending on the individual case and severity of symptoms but seeking professional help is always advised to ensure effective and long-lasting relief.