Hemicrania continua

Hemicrania continua, a primary headache disorder, is known for its severe and persistent pain on one side of your head. Unlike other headaches, this pain doesn't go away.

Despite its intensity, hemicrania continua can be managed with appropriate treatment. Treatment options typically include medication. In some cases, nerve blocks or surgery are recommended.

Causes of hemicrania continua

The primary cause of this one sided headache remains unknown. One belief is that hemicrania continua is caused by a malfunctioning nervous system. Unlike other headaches, such as a migraine, that can be triggered by stress, certain foods or your environment, hemicrania continua often appears suddenly with no cause and sticks around.

Further research is necessary to understand the underlying reasons for hemicrania continua to develop.

Symptoms of hemicrania continua

With hemicrania continua, a persistent headache on one side of your face is the most common symptom. The pain can be moderate to severe, but most, often it is very intense and never goes away – which sets it apart from other types of headaches.

In addition to the constant pain, you may experience other symptoms on the same side of your head as the headache. These include:

• Eyes that tear up
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Eyelids that droop

These associated symptoms can make you feel more uncomfortable when dealing with hemicrania continua. Talk with your provider about a persistent headache to get help with managing symptoms.

What tests are done for hemicrania continua?

While there's no specific test to confirm hemicrania continua, a diagnosis is based on the symptoms and findings by your doctor during a physical exam.

Imagine tests such as an MRI or CT scan are not normally necessary to diagnose hemicrania continua. However, your doctor may order these tests in certain cases to rule out other potential causes of headaches.

During the exam, your doctor will ask about your symptoms, including the nature and duration of your headaches, any associated symptoms and any factors that may exacerbate or alleviate your symptoms, such as ongoing stress or any foods you have eaten recently. Your doctor may also check your neurological function and other relevant parts of your health.

How do you treat hemicrania continua?

The goal of treating hemicrania continua is to reduce the intensity of headaches while alleviating associated symptoms.

There's no cure for hemicrania continua but various treatment options is available to help manage symptoms and enhance your quality of life.

These treatment approaches may involve:

• Prescription anti-inflammatory drugs: Indomethacin, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), is often considered the standard treatment for hemicrania continua.
• Over-the-counter pain relievers: If indomethacin isn't suitable or effective, over-the-counter NSAIDs such as ibuprofen or naproxen may be recommended to help relieve pain.
• Nerve blocks: Injecting a local anesthetic or steroids near the impacted cranial nerves can provide headache relief.
• Surgery: For severe cases that do not respond to other treatments, occipital nerve stimulation or deep brain stimulation may be considered as a last resort, typically under the guidance of a specialized neurologist.

Lifestyle adjustments can also be beneficial. Techniques for managing stress, maintaining consistent sleep patterns, staying hydrated, and avoiding known triggers may help reduce headache frequency and severity.

Maintaining regular follow-up appointments with your provider is necessary for monitoring how effective treatment is, adjusting medication dosages and addressing any new or worsening symptoms.