Headache/Migraine

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Migraine is a complex neurological disorder characterized by intense, throbbing pain, often on one side of the head. It is a neurological condition that can be accompanied by other symptoms, including:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Sensitivity to light, sound, or smells (photophobia, phonophobia)
• Visual disturbances (such as seeing flashes of light, zigzag patterns, or temporary vision loss), often referred to as aura
• Dizziness or vertigo
• Fatigue or confusion after the headache subsides (known as "postdrome")
• other symptoms include: confusion, disorientation, reduced appetite, neck pain/tightness, and delirium 

1. Migraine without aura: The most common type, involving the headache and associated symptoms without the visual or sensory disturbances.
2. Migraine with aura: This type includes neurological symptoms such as visual disturbances or tingling sensations before the headache begins.
3. Chronic migraine: When migraines occur on 15 or more days per month for at least three months.
4. Hemiplegic migraine: A rare form of migraine that can cause temporary weakness or paralysis on one side of the body, similar to a stroke.
5. Vestibular migraine: Characterized by episodes of vertigo and dizziness, with or without the headache pain.

A cluster headache is a rare but extremely severe type of headache characterized by intense, burning, or piercing pain, usually centered around one eye or one side of the head. Cluster headaches are known for their sudden onset and can be incredibly painful, often described as one of the most intense types of headaches.

• Unilateral pain: The pain is typically focused on one side of the head, often around or behind one eye.
• Severe intensity: The pain is excruciating and sharp, often described as stabbing or burning.
• Short duration but frequent: Attacks are relatively short, lasting between 15 minutes and 3 hours. They occur in clusters, often multiple times a day, usually around the same time, for several weeks or months. After this "cluster" period, the headaches may go into remission for months or even years.
• Restlessness: Unlike migraines, which may make people want to lie down in a dark room, people with cluster headaches often feel agitated and unable to stay still due to the intensity of the pain.

• Redness or tearing of the eye on the affected side
• Drooping of the eyelid (ptosis)
• Nasal congestion or runny nose on the affected side
• Sweating or flushing of the face
• Pupil constriction (miosis) on the affected side

Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgias (TACs) are a group of rare and severe primary headache disorders characterized by intense, short-lasting head pain associated with autonomic symptoms, such as tearing, nasal congestion, or 

drooping eyelids. The pain is typically centered around one side of the face or head and is believed to involve the trigeminal nerve (which provides sensation to the face) and the autonomic nervous system (which controls involuntary bodily functions).

Types of Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgias (TACs)

• Cluster Headache
• Paroxysmal Hemicrania
• SUNCT Syndrome (Short-Lasting Unilateral Neuralgifrom Headache with Conjunctival Injections and Tearing)
• SUNA Syndrome (Short-lasting Unilateral Neuralgiform Headache Attacks with Autonomic Symptoms) 

Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN), is a chronic pain condition that affects the trigeminal nerve, one of the largest nerves in the head. It is characterized by sudden, severe, electric shock-like pain in the face, which can be debilitating. The pain typically occurs in short, intense bursts lasting from a few seconds to a couple of minutes, but it can recur frequently, sometimes dozens of times per day.

1. Location:
   • The trigeminal nerve has three branches, which control sensation in the face:
     • Ophthalmic branch (V1): Affects the forehead, eye, and nose.
     • Maxillary branch (V2): Affects the cheek, upper jaw, and upper lip.
     • Mandibular branch (V3): Affects the lower jaw, lower lip, and part of the ear.
   • Pain usually affects one or more of these branches, causing pain on one side of the face.

1. Pain Characteristics:
   • Sudden, severe, and sharp: Often described as stabbing, shooting, or like an electric shock.
   • Episodic: Attacks can last from a few seconds to a couple of minutes but can occur repeatedly in clusters over the course of the day.
   • Triggered by touch or movement: Common triggers include brushing teeth, chewing, speaking, smiling, touching the face, or even a light breeze.