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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> nerve damage?
        
(Message started by: Dragonwynd on Oct 15^th, 2005, 8:15am)

Title: nerve damage?
Post by Dragonwynd on Oct 15^th, 2005, 8:15am

Hey i am new here, but not new to CH's! I have been having them since I was 17 and I am now 44 going on 45. Mine have not started yet but with the days getting shorter they are just around the bend. My question is does anyone know about themselves or anyone else have nerve damage caused by CH's? The reason I ask is that my father had these and later on developed..(just going to spell it as it sounds) Tickdellaroo. In his face and the pain wasnt good either. If anyone knows anything I would like to know...Thanks for reading...........Dragonwynd

Title: Re: nerve damage?
Post by eyes_afire on Oct 15^th, 2005, 9:19am

I believe you are referring to:
tic douloureux

... which is known by the more common name:
trigeminal neuralgia

There is no known relationship between trigeminal neuralgia and cluster headache. The current thinking among the medical community is that both disorders have entirely separate causes. The only known similarities are that both affect the trigeminal nerve and are excruciatingly painful.

Having said that, it wouldn't surprise me if somebody were to discover that clusterheads are at greater risk to develop trigeminal neuralgia... it's just that there's no evidence indicating this to be so.

Here's a link or two about trigeminal neuralgia:

http://www.headaches.org/consumer/topicsheets/trigeminalneuralgia.html

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/trigeminal_neuralgia/trigeminal_neuralgia.htm

--- Steve

Title: Re: nerve damage?
Post by floridian on Oct 16^th, 2005, 1:01am

The most common nerve damage associated with cluster headaches is a drooping eye lid on the side that gets hit - it is possible for the inflammation to affect the trigeminal nerve.

I get twitching when the cluster nerves are irritated - technically this is a tic, but not Tic Douloureux. I guess it is possible for a clusterhead to develop Tic Douloureux, but it does not seem to be common.

Title: Re: nerve damage?
Post by burnt-toast on Oct 16^th, 2005, 8:13am

From the research I have gathered - there is no permanent physical damage tied directly to CH. Even the Horners Syndrone (drooping eyelid) is referenced as a tempory issue that occurs during periods of attacks.

Those with long or chronic periods of attacks will obviously experience this condition for longer periods of time.

Being chronic my only real physical concern is the effects of sleep deprivation which can cause all sorts of physical/mental problems. I believe this should be a serious concern but I don't believe it is delt with very effectively (if at all) in most research I have found.

Tom

Title: Re: nerve damage?
Post by BarbaraD on Oct 17^th, 2005, 6:31am

It's kinda weird tho -- when we meet a clusterhead, we can usually "tell" which side hits them. The eye is different - droopy or red or something.

I think my left eyelid is "permanently" drooped. At least from the inside.

Don't know about CH and TN having anything to do with one another. I had a Trigeminal Riziotomy (microwaved the trigeminal nerve) back in 99 and it didn't stop the CH. Dr. Wayne Hurt in Houston has had a lot of success with this on Clusterheads, but it didn't work on me. All he treats is CH and TN so I'd say there is something in common there.

Hugs BD

Title: Re: nerve damage?
Post by Kate in Oz on Oct 17^th, 2005, 8:13am

I was reading the medical info on this site earlier this evening and it did mention TN....

" Clinically, the concurrence of cluster headache and trigeminal neuralgia, the cluster-tic syndrome, in which both disorders are ameliorated by microvascular decompression of the sensory root of the trigeminal nerve, also points to a centrally mediated pain mechanism".

out of context it doesn't seem to make much sense - but I guess there is some connection??? have a look for yourself (link on left)

Kate

Title: Re: nerve damage?
Post by zanychef on Oct 17^th, 2005, 8:04pm

the droopy eye is coz its tired i think :-[ its goes through a lot of pain :'(