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Limb pain in migraine and cluster headache
1Department of Neurology, Westminster Hospital, London, UK.
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
|August 1, 1988
Summary
Limb pain can occur alongside migraine and cluster headaches. This pain, often on the same side as the headache, may originate from central nervous system dysfunction during headache attacks.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pain Medicine
- Headache Disorders
Background:
- Migraine and cluster headaches are primary headache disorders.
- Associated symptoms like aura, nausea, and photophobia are common.
- Limb pain is not a commonly recognized symptom of these headache types.
Observation:
- Twenty-two cases reported upper limb pain temporally associated with migraine, cluster headache, or cluster-migraine attacks.
- Seven patients also experienced lower limb pain.
- Limb pain was typically ipsilateral to the headache but could switch sides.
Findings:
- Limb pain was consistently ipsilateral to associated paresthesia/numbness and weakness.
- The distribution of limb pain mirrored sensory symptoms.
- Peripheral or autonomic nervous system dysfunction could not explain the limb pain.
Implications:
- A central origin for limb pain during headache attacks is proposed.
- Temporary dysfunction in the somatosensory cortex or thalamic connections may mediate this pain.
- This suggests a novel presentation of headache-associated neurological symptoms.