Migraine and Headaches with Fibromyalgia (Part 2).

By Karen Crosby

In my last post, I looked at headaches and migraine connected with fibromyalgia.

As mentioned in the last article, there are many connections between fibromyalgia and headaches/migraines; indeed there is definitive research to fibro patients having comorbidity with headaches, and the other way around.

As far as headaches go, the general symptoms fibro patients experience is pain localised to one side of the head, the eye on the same side can be affected, with pulsing or sharp pains that can spread to the neck and shoulders.

I fully comprehend this last part of the paragraph, since the neck is heavily involved in fibro trigger point pain, which can radiate to the shoulders by causing tension or affecting the nerves serving the neck and shoulders at the same time.  There are many ways this area of pain can be present, and tension in the neck is widely known to trigger headaches, fibro or not.

There is also research suggesting that the headaches or migraines fibro patients can suffer can be long term or chronic headaches.  Is this because fibro is a chronic pain condition, therefore likely to trigger chronic headaches?  I am not sure, but it would make sense. 

One type of headache I did not mention in the last article, is one called Hermicrania Continua (roughly translates at continuous one-sided headache).  The reason I am now covering this is, during my research into these issues, I spoke with a man whose wife had been diagnosed with this type of headache after an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan.  These symptoms are being suffered by myself, and have been every day for almost eight months now, so as you can imagine I am looking quite deeply into this headache type, if indeed this is what I have (MRI results soon).

Hermicrania Continua.

Hermicrania Continua is a chronic headache disorder when an underlying cause is ruled out by medical history and neurological and other investigations have been carried out to find nothing to explain the reasons for the headaches.  This means that the headache itself is the primary problem.

However anyone who is suspected of having this type of chronic headache should have investigations carried out by a neurologist  by getting images of the brain to make sure there is not an underlying cause, or a different type of headache disorder that has similar symptoms.  The reasons are that there could be something serious underlying, or a differing type of headache disorder means the treatment could be different.  Other types of primary headache disorders that mimic hermicrania continua are cluster headaches and chronic migraine.

Symptoms.

Continuous pain on one side of the head.

More severe headache on the same side often associated with agitation and restlessness.

Mild to moderate pain intensity, with instances of severe pain experienced at the same time as the continuous pain.

The pain lasts from twenty minutes to several days.

Eye redness or watering, eyelid drooping.

Nasal blocking.

Nausea and vomiting are present similar to migraine symptoms, as well as light and sound sensitivity.

More commonly present in women (like fibro)!

Unremitting (continuous) pain, but some have periods of pain free remission.

Treatment.

The way that the diagnosis can be reached is an absolute positive response when treated with a drug called indomethacin.

This is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), which is used to relieve pain, reduce inflammation and bring down high temperatures.

Indomethacin Possible Side Effects.

Because this medication is an anti-inflammatory drug, the side effects can be quite wide within the area of the digestion, and so the common side effects are: -

Vomiting/upset stomach.

Diarrhoea/feeling of fullness in the bowel/bloating/gas.

Heartburn.

Other common non-stomach related side effects are: -

Dizziness.

Headache (yes, headache caused by treatment for headache)!

Drowsiness.

Skin rashes/itching

Rectal irritation.

Blurred vision.

For anyone who may be allergic to NSAID’s like Indomethacin (also known as Indocin) however, like myself, your GP or Neurologist may prescribe other medications like certain antidepressants, and there are other therapy options too.

I hope this has gone some way to explain symptoms that some of you may be experiencing if you are suffering headaches or migraines, but speaking with your GP and being referred to a neurologist is the best way to get to the bottom if your daily life is badly affected, because treatment is crucial.