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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> CT scan, MRI, etc.
        
(Message started by: Robert_C. on Aug 9^th, 2004, 8:37am)

Title: CT scan, MRI, etc.
Post by Robert_C. on Aug 9^th, 2004, 8:37am

Most of us (if not all) have gone thru some kind of head scan, CT, MRI, EEG, etc. It's a typical procedure when people are having chronic "headaches". But I've never read that any results of those scans would have helped find anything useful for cluster headaches. Does anybody have information on this?

Robert

I which they could find that little guy going around in my head with a screwdriver

Title: Re: CT scan, MRI, etc.
Post by Giovanni on Aug 9^th, 2004, 9:11am

I believe the purpose of these particular tests are to rule out secondary causes of the headaches, ie tumors, etc.

John

Title: Re: CT scan, MRI, etc.
Post by synergy2120 on Aug 9^th, 2004, 9:25am

Marc was given a CAT scan to rule out a brain tumour and an MRI to rule out any obvious abnormaltites in the brain - no signs on either.

Title: Re: CT scan, MRI, etc.
Post by Ronny on Aug 9^th, 2004, 1:36pm

hi,

I have to second that, only to be sure there is nothing else going on.

Ronny.

Title: Re: CT scan, MRI, etc.
Post by pubgirl on Aug 9^th, 2004, 1:48pm

Robert

CAT's and MRI's are precautionary only but there is one area that can show up on brain imaging (our wonky hypothalamuses/thalami (never know which it is)

You might find this interesting:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/380497.stm

Oldie, but a goodie!

Wendy

Last time this was shown, people saw an alien in there! Yeeeeuccchhh! Worse than a man with a hammer ;;D

Title: Re: CT scan, MRI, etc.
Post by Robert_C. on Aug 9^th, 2004, 9:27pm

Pubgirl,

I think they should put it back in the oven 10 more minutes. [smiley=smartass.gif]

On a similar topic, a Chiropractor (that I'm seeing for my back) told me that my neck was pretty messed-up and that it could, MAYBE, put a pressure on the nerve (forgot the name) that connects to the trigerminal nerve and not help with the CH. She also said that an X-Ray would show if it's the case or not.

She, of course, also offered me to fix the problem with 12 sessions and…..$500. :o [smiley=smug.gif] [smiley=slowlaugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif]

Once again, I'M NOT SAYING IT COULD BE A CURE! (for those of you so quick to judge), but in MY case it could be worth checking.

Finally, I also found this information on the OUCH website. It looks like MRI could be useful at some point.

http://www.clusterheadaches.org/library/hypothalamus/hypo_deform.htm

Thanks for the picture; I think I'll skip diner tonight. [smiley=hurl.gif]

Robert

Title: Re: CT scan, MRI, etc.
Post by ExplodingEyeBall on Aug 16^th, 2004, 10:46am

My neuro put me through the same tests.

After looking at the results, he told me that I have seizure activity (I had petite mal seizures when I was younger) and that he would keep that in mind when thinking about medications for me.

This make me pretty sure that these tests DO actually have some use other than just getting a bunch of money from my insurance company.

Pat

Title: Re: CT scan, MRI, etc.
Post by Gator on Aug 16^th, 2004, 1:24pm

I would agree that the scans are needed. There have been a few people passed through here who had them and actually found they had tumors, aneurysms or the like. Most, however find "nothing unusual." Which does not necessarily translate to everything is okay. I hate it when the docs get vague on you.

Here is another link for you. It shows the brain via MRI/PET scan and you can choose the slices you want from 3 different angles.

http://www.med.harvard.edu/AANLIB/home.html

Gator

Title: Re: CT scan, MRI, etc.
Post by Robert_C. on Aug 17^th, 2004, 7:18am

But still, nobody ever found anything related to CH (?) :-/

Title: Re: CT scan, MRI, etc.
Post by ExplodingEyeBall on Aug 17^th, 2004, 9:04am

on 08/17/04 at 07:18:08, Robert_C. wrote:

But still, nobody ever found anything related to CH (?) :-/

I don't think so.

My neuro told me that these tests were strictly for ruling out other things and for the safety factor when trying meds.

Title: Re: CT scan, MRI, etc.
Post by Tom K on Aug 24^th, 2004, 2:36pm

I went for my MRI a few years ago, during an attack. What fun that was, let me tell you. We found (like I had a hand in it, HA) that during the attack the vein running along the front of my head on the side of the attack was HUGE!!! It looked like a earth worm (insert your own joke here) running across my head. It was pretty unnerving. My old Neuro said that was the vein that would lead to my death, either from a stroke or anerism(or how ever it is spelled). My wife hit the roof and within about 1 minute he became my old neuro. Don't know if anyone else has seen this on their MRI's or if they had their scans during an attack, but it would be interesting.