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Query: UMLS:C0018681 (headache)
 56,091 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Motor vehicle accidents with a whiplash mechanism of injury are one of the most common causes of neck injuries, with an incidence of perhaps 1 million per year in the United States. Proper adjustment of head restraints can reduce the incidence of neck pain in rear-end collisions by 24%. Persistent neck pain is more common in women by a ratio of 70:30. Whiplash injuries usually result in neck pain owing to myofascial trauma, which has been documented in both animal and human studies. Headaches, reported in 82% of patients acutely, are usually of the muscle contraction type, often associated with greater occipital neuralgia and less often temporomandibular joint syndrome. Occasionally migraine headaches can be precipitated. Dizziness often occurs and can result from vestibular, central, and cervical injury. More than one third of patients acutely complain of paresthesias, which frequently are caused by trigger points and thoracic outlet syndrome and less commonly by cervical radiculopathy. Some studies have indicated that a postconcussion syndrome can develop from a whiplash injury. Interscapular and low back pain are other frequent complaints. Although most patients recover within 3 months after the accident, persistent neck pain and headaches after 2 years are reported by more than 30% and 10% of patients. Risk factors for a less favorable recovery include older age, the presence of interscapular or upper back pain, occipital headache, multiple symptoms or paresthesias at presentation, reduced range of movement of the cervical spine, the presence of an objective neurologic deficit, preexisting degenerative osteoarthritic changes; and the upper middle occupational category. There is only a minimal association of a poor prognosis with the speed or severity of the collision and the extent of vehicle damage. Whiplash injuries result in long-term disability with upward of 6% of patients not returning to work after 1 year. Although litigation is very common and always raises questions of secondary gain in patients with persistent symptoms, most patients are not cured by a verdict. Acute treatment of neck pain consists of ice for 24 hours followed by heat applications, pain pills, NSAIDs, and muscle relaxants. Trigger point injections can be beneficial in both the acute and the persistent phases. Use of cervical collars should probably be kept to a minimum during the first 2 to 3 weeks after the injury and then avoided. Early passive mobilization and range of motion exercises may accelerate recovery. Physical therapy and transcutaneous nerve stimulators may be helpful in reducing pain and improving movement.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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PMID:Some observations on whiplash injuries. 143 66

Twenty-four women employed as computer operators were evaluated for complaints of occipital headaches, as well as neck and shoulder pain. Although the symptoms were highly variable with respect to duration, intensity and distribution, they were mutually consistent in that they started or intensified with the resumption of the work week. The patients varied in age from 25 to 58 with a median average of 48 years. Fifteen demonstrated radiographic evidence of cervical degenerative disc disease and in an additional four, electromyographic evidence of cervical root compromise was present. Multiple precipitating factors were identified in Monday's headache including the predisposing presence of unrecognized impairment of visual acuity in 4 and cervical radiculopathy in 16. Mechanically, prolonged postural cervical hyperextension frequently combined with repetitive head rotation appeared to trigger the discomfort complaints. Undue elevation of the CRT screen, prolonged copying of laterally displaced hard copy, the wearing of bifocals, as well as seating either excessively soft or with a tendency to pitch the operator forward were identified as additional aggravating factors.
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PMID:Computer-generated headache. Brachiocephalgia at first byte. 276 10

Lyme disease is a multisystem disorder resulting from infection by the tick-borne spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi. Fever, chills, malaise and headaches; a characteristic rash; and subsequent polyarthritis typically herald the onset of this condition. Neurologic involvement may occur with skin and joint manifestations or present alone as meningitis, cranial neuritis, and radiculopathy known as Bannwarth's syndrome. We report the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytomorphologic and immunocytochemical features of four patients who presented with isolated meningitis, cranial neuritis, and painful neuropathy without initial history of specific skin rash or previous tick bite. Initial CSF findings of significant numbers of markedly atypical plasmacytoid mononuclear cells suggested CSF non-Hodgkin's malignant lymphoma. Immunocytochemical studies on CSF specimens, however, revealed polyclonal surface immunoglobulin patterns consistent with an inflammatory reaction. Follow-up clinical history and/or peripheral blood serologic testing for antibody titers with B. burgdorferi antigen confirmed the diagnosis of Lyme disease in all four cases. We conclude that Lyme disease may present as atypical spinal fluid lymphoplasmacytic cellular infiltrates that simulate malignant lymphoma and that appropriate immunocytochemical studies and peripheral blood serologic testing be performed to establish this diagnosis and direct appropriate therapy.
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PMID:Lyme disease meningopolyneuritis simulating malignant lymphoma. 322 55

The clinical syndrome of meningeal carcinomatosis includes headache, dementia, radiculopathy, and cranial nerve palsies. Blindness may be the first, or most prominent, symptom. When blindness occurs in adult life, meningeal carcinomatosis should be included in the differential diagnosis, even in the absence of other symptoms and in the absence of known malignancy. Although all pathophysiological mechanisms of the blindness in meningeal carcinomatosis have not yet been elucidated, optic nerve involvement by meningeal tumour-cuffing, by chronic papilloedema, and by direct tumour infiltration represent the likeliest causes. In the neuropathological analysis of such cases, the importance of analysing the intra-orbital portion of the optic nerves, in addition to the portions of the optic nerve and chiasm usually examined at routine necropsy, is emphasized. A case is described to illustrate this point, with the only pathological abnormality in the optic nerves being found within 6 mm of the retina.
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PMID:Meningeal carcinomatosis and blindness. 470 55

The pattern and frequency of patient encounters during the Boston (Mass) University adult neurology residency program (1988 to 1991) for one resident was compared with that in general neurology practice as well as with the frequency of neurologic disorders in the US population. A total of 1332 new patients (85% adult, 15% pediatric) were seen during a 3-year period. This total represented 970 inpatients (73% of all patients) and 362 outpatients (27%). The resident encountered more patients in the hospital (7.5 admissions or 13 consultations per week) and fewer patients in the clinic (2.5 new outpatients per week) than does the average community neurologist (two admissions, 8.7 consultations, and 13.2 new outpatients). The most common diagnosis for an admission encounter was acute ischemic infarct; for a consultation, metabolic encephalopathy; and for an outpatient encounter, radiculopathy. Less prevalent neurologic disorders in the United States (eg, cognitive, demyelinating, movement, and neoplastic disorders) were encountered more frequently in residency than were very prevalent neurologic disorders (eg, headache and trauma). This is the first reported summary of all patients one resident actually encountered during neurology training. The patient encounter profile suggests that this residency training overemphasized acute inpatient care of less prevalent neurologic disorders compared with outpatient care of more prevalent disorders commonly seen in a neurology practice. Accumulation of similar data from other residencies and practicing neurologists can help residency directors assess the changing needs of residents in training and guide curriculum in response to changes in practice patterns.
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PMID:Profile of a neurology residency. 748 65

A postsurgical pseudomeningocoele (PSPM) forms when cerebrospinal fluid extravasates through a dura-arachnoidal tear and becomes encysted within the wound. Patients may become symptomatic with wound swelling, headache and radiculopathy. A uniform method of repairing PSPMs is described which includes separation of the dura from the arachnoid, dural repair under operating microscope control, and the use of overlapped local flaps to reinforce the dura and obliterate the PSPM sac. Four recent cases are presented which were successfully treated using this method.
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PMID:Thecal repair in post-surgical pseudomeningocoele. 771 67

To be consistent with a diagnosis of TIA or stroke, a focal neurologic deficit must have occurred suddenly. The differential diagnosis of TIA includes migraine aura (possibly without a headache), a hypotensive episode, radiculopathy, and an unusual seizure. Vascular risk factors (eg, hypertension, diabetes, smoking) and the extent of their control should be determined. Cardiac examination and ECG may provide important clues, as atrial fibrillation and valvular heart disorders are well recognized potential sources of emboli. During an acute stroke, CT is the best test to reliably distinguish between ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Other tests that may be indicated on an individual basis include MRI,, echocardiography, carotid duplex ultrasound, and arteriography.
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PMID:Ischemic stroke, Part 1: Early, accurate diagnosis. 844 19

The prevalence of all neurological disorders in a Japanese town was calculated, with a result of 91.1 per 1,000 population. The prevalence of cerebrovascular disease was 28.8; myelopathy and/or radiculopathy caused by deformity of the spine or disc herniation, 23.9; neuralgia, 11.5; dementia, 10.4; peripheral nerve disturbance, 5.5; epilepsy, 4.4; Parkinson's disease, 2.0; mental retardation, 2.9; brain/spinal tumor, 1.4; headache, 10.8, and vertigo/dizziness, 4.4. The prevalence of headache and vertigo/dizziness was also calculated from the results of the questionnaires sent to inhabitants: headache, 79.6, and vertigo/dizziness, 60.8. Neurological disorders are common in Japan and likely to continue to increase.
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PMID:Prevalence of neurological disorders in a Japanese town. 881 3

Five myofascial pain syndromes, some mimicking more serious diseases, have been presented. They were diagnosed as and treated for: headache, shoulder bursitis, lumbar herniated disc with radiculopathy, angina pectoris and appendicitis. An understanding of these pain problems, produced from trigger points in muscles and ligaments, is important in order to differentiate myofascial pain syndromes from more dangerous diseases and to avoid unnecessary and expensive diagnostic procedures.
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PMID:Myofascial pain syndromes--the great mimicker. 892 61

Ambulatory AIDS patients participating in a quality of life study were recruited for an assessment of pain syndromes. Of 274 patients with pain, 151 (55%) consented to the assessment which included a clinical interview, neurologic examination, and review of medical records. The number, type, and etiology of pains were evaluated in terms of risk factors, age, sex, CD4+ lymphocyte count, and performance status. The average number of pains per patient was 2.7 (range, 1-7), yielding a total of 405 pains. The most common pain diagnoses were headache (46% of patients; 17% of all pains), joint pain (31% of patients; 12% of pains), pain due to polyneuropathy (28% of patients; 10% of pains), and muscle pain (27% of patients; 12% of pains). Pathophysiology was inferred for all pain syndromes (except for headache), 45% of pain syndromes were somatic in nature, 15% were visceral, 19% were neuropathic, and 4% were unknown, psychogenic, or idiopathic; 17% of pains were classified as headache, hence pathophysiology could not be determined. Pain resulted from diverse etiologies, including the direct effects of HIV/AIDS-related conditions (30%) pre-existing unrelated conditions (24%), and therapies for HIV/AIDS and related conditions (4%). The latter category, pain related to HIV therapies, occurred in 11% of patients. In 37% of the pains, the etiology could not be determined from the information available. In univariate analyses, lower CD4+ cell counts were significantly associated with polyneuropathy (P < 0.05) and headache (P < 0.05), and female gender was significantly associated with the presence of headache (P < 0.05) and radiculopathy (P < 0.001). These data confirm the diversity of pain syndromes in AIDS patients, clarify the prevalence of common pain types, and suggest associations between specific patient characteristics and pain syndromes. The large proportion of patients who could not be given a diagnosis underscores the need for a careful diagnostic evaluation of pain in this population.
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PMID:Pain syndromes and etiologies in ambulatory AIDS patients. 915 Feb 84


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