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Nuchal Features of Cluster Headache
Author(s) -
Solomon Seymour,
Lipton Richard B.,
Newman Lawrence C.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
headache: the journal of head and face pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.14
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1526-4610
pISSN - 0017-8748
DOI - 10.1111/j.1526-4610.1990.hed3006347.x
Subject(s) - medicine , neck pain , cluster headache , surgery , anesthesia , migraine , alternative medicine , pathology
SYNOPSIS Nuchal symptoms were found in the majority of 100 consecutive patients with cluster headache. In 10%, pain was experienced in the neck with the initial typical orbitotemporal pain; in 37%, pain radiated from the orbit or temple to the ipsilateral side of the neck. Sometimes, neck pain heralded the onset of the attack by a few minutes. During an attack, neck stiffness was reported in 40% and tenderness in 29%. Movement of the neck, especially flexion, precipitated cluster headache in 9% of patients. This was particularly true of patients with chronic cluster headache. Neck movement aggravated the headache in 16 of 100 patients and an equal number reported amelioration of pain by neck movement, especially extension. The nuchal features did not necessarily accompany every attack and were usually overshadowed by the severity of the typical headache. Nevertheless, symptoms referable to the neck occur more commonly than is generally appreciated.