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Catamenial synkinetic retroauricular pain
1Franklin Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Greenfield, MA, USA. dj@crocker.com
Cephalalgia : an International Journal of Headache
|March 29, 2003
Summary
Persistent retroauricular pain and cranial synkinesis can be rare complications following Bell's palsy, particularly in women. This pain may occur or worsen during menstruation and be linked to facial synkinetic dystonia.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Bell's palsy, a common cause of unilateral facial nerve paralysis, typically resolves within weeks.
- Retroauricular pain is a known symptom associated with Bell's palsy, usually transient.
Observation:
- Two female patients presented with chronic unilateral retroauricular pain and cranial synkinesis after Bell's palsy.
- Pain in both patients was linked to their menstrual cycles, occurring or worsening during menses.
Findings:
- Electromyography revealed facial synkinesis, characterized by tonic motor unit discharges, in both patients.
- Brain MRI in one patient showed non-specific white matter hyperintensities; the other had a normal MRI.
- The chronic pain and synkinesis suggest a potential rare complication of Bell's palsy.
Implications:
- Chronic retroauricular pain, especially when exacerbated by menses, may represent a rare sequela of Bell's palsy.
- This condition can be associated with subclinical facial synkinetic dystonia and trigemino-facial synkinesis, requiring further investigation.