Headaches and Chiari Malformation

Headaches and Chiari Malformation comments : I am 25 years old and am suffering from headaches. I have had a headache every second of every day for the past 11 months. I saw a neurosurgeon who diagnosed me with a small Chiari Malformation that was constricting the flow of my spinal fluid. He performed a decompression surgery with the hope that my headaches would be relieved. It has been almost 8

Can TMD/TMJ Be Successfully Treated?

The pain of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD/TMJ) is not a life sentence. With the correct diagnosis and treatment, you can live a life free of the pain of TMD/TMJ. One of the most important aspects of being able to treat TMD/TMJ successfully is getting a correct diagnosis for the cause of your headache pain so the correct treatment can be initiated. The use of pain medication alone does

Treating Cluster Headaches with High Flow Oxygen appears effective.

According to a new study in the December 9, 2009 issue of JAMA treatment of cluster headaches with high-flow oxygen created pain free relief with-in 15 minutes. The study by Anna S. Cohen, Ph.D., M.R.C.P., of the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London was a randomized, placebo (room air)-controlled trial of high-flow oxygen for the treatment of acute attacks of cluster

Addex Pharmaceuticals ends migraine prevention study due to live damage.

The problem with drug therapy for migraines and tension-type type headaches is advers drug effects. This current study was discontinued to a higher than expected amount of liver disorders in patients. The company stated "abnormalities of liver function tests that is higher than expected in this population." Previous studies with this drug had not shown this problem.the drug being tested

severe migraines after surgery.

comments : I first started having very severe headaces about 10 years ago. I went to the doctor and he said I had to see a neurologist. I found out that I had hydrocephlus. I had the surgery and things got better for a little bit. Now the headches are worse. I went back to the neurologist and now he tells me it's migraines. He put me on replax and topomax but they aren't working at all. He just

BOTOX VS TOPOMAX IN MIGRAINE TREATMENT

This study in Headache. 2009 Nov-Dec;49(10):1401 was evaluating effects of Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) vs Topomax (topiramate) on 60 patients (90% female). The reports site that they have similar success however only 40-42% of patients had a 50% decrease in symptoms. 24% in the topiramate had adverse effects from the drugs compard to only 7% in the onabotulinumtoxinA group.There were adverse

The Treatment of TMD/TMJ

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research states that over ten million people suffer from the pain of TMD/TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder).The causes of TMD/TMJ are varied and include trauma to the jaw, disease, aging and habitual behaviors such as grinding and clenching of the teeth.Common symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder include headache, neck, back and

TMJ AND MIGRAINES

comments : I have TMD - diagnosed by MRI, significant anterior and lateral displacement of the disc on my left side. I have migraines, stomach issues, constant neck and back pain and stiffness and allergies. I also have trigeminic neuralgia - undiagnosed, but the shooting pains in my ear can be nothing else. The ENT specialist says my ears are fine. I had my last migraine for 7 days and I would

How Does TMD/TMJ Cause Headaches?

Millions of Americans suffer from the pain of TMD/TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder) each and every day and are often misdiagnosed and treated with massive amounts of pain medication and other inappropriate treatments because the disorder is misunderstood even by some healthcare professionals. Temporomandibular joint disorder is a term used to describe a category of disorders that involve the

An article in Science daily states "To main tain muscle strength with age, cells must get rid of garbage that slowly accumulates in them", TMJ problems and headaches are usually from unhealthy muscles that have taut bands and trigger points. Breaking up of trigger points by injection, massage or other means frequently is referred to as "releasing toxins" and can be associated with diarrhea,

PERIODONTAL DISEASE, CHRONIC PAIN AND SLEEP DISRUPTION

An abstract in SLEEP, Volume 32, Abstract Supplement, 2009 looks at periodontal disease, an extremely common and chronic inflamatory condition and its effect in animal studies on sleep. The conclusion of the authors was "Our results suggest that PD resulted in marked sleep disruption, especially in non-REM sleep, probably due to the development of orofacial pain."This is probably a direct result

Posture correction,PPM Mouthguard, leg length and A/o or NUCCA Chiropractic

Slightly rewritten from an LVI forum post explaining to new neuromuscular dentists the importance of body posture and a few of the ways t can be addressed.I had the supreme honor of studying with Janet Travell and watched her magically turn long legs into short legs and vice-versa. A trick I picked up from her 30 years ago was to correct the standing leg posture, have the patient walk and

Coming to Chicago for Treatment

I have had numerous patients come to Chicago for treatment at my Gurnee office. We do have a hotel close to the office that offers special rates to our patients. It is the same hotel that I hold my courses at ane they give us a discounted rate. Patients flying in can use O'hare Airport or Milwaukee's Mitchell Field. We have found that treatment is more efficient for long distance patients if

Sleep and TMJ Disorders

Patients with TMJ disorders should be evaluated for sleep disorders according to a new article in Sleep. Primary Insomnia was associated with hyperalgesia or an increased pain response. It may also be associated with central senssitazation that is found in migraines, fibromyalgia and TMD and may be a causitive factor in idiopathic pain (pain of unknown orgins)The NHLBI (National Heart Lung and

Trigger points and referred pain

Dr. Shapira, Thank you for taking the time to answer my question. This answer is one that has help me know what is definately going on in my head and given me a posible remedy to my misery. THANK YOU!!!The sore spots are from tender muscles and trigger points that cause the headaches.Neuromuscular dentistry can frequently correct the problem that causes both the headaches and the muscle pain.

Slipping through the cracks between medicine and dentistry

i read your article and found it enjoyable. i can empathize with mary and joyce; losing track of medications which only work to a moderate degree, and seeing countless practitioners. it can be discouraging.i often say TMD should be reworked into its own field of dental neurology. people with our symptoms very often slip through the cracks between medicine and dentistry. too often my neurologist

No pain prior to having anterior appliance

thank you very much for replying.my family dentist told me i was grinding at night. i had no pain or obvious problems, so i told him to forget it, but he kept insisting. he made me a night guard which looked like a retainer i wore in 7th grade after i had braces. he instructed me to wear it at night, and if i was stressed to wear it during the day.i wore it from march of 08 and my pain started in

Facial Pain and Bite Changes after anterior appliance

comments : i wore an anterior nightguard which changed my bite. i now have an open bite. only one molar touches down. a few months into wearing this night guard, i had a sudden onset of excruciating tooth pain which started on one side of my teeth and spread to the other side within one week. the nerves in my face were also affected as my cheeks ache and also my forehead and scalp. my neuro says

Headaches after subdural hematoma

I had brain surgery for a subdural hemotoma on the left frontal lobe. I have recurring ten point headaches that hit like a meteor and dissapate quickly and some that are a nagging, spreading pain that goes down my neck and sometimes back.It sounds like you have recovered from the surgical proceedures after the Hematoma. You did not say how long ago it originally happened or what the originally

Aqualizer

Patient Inquiry:My now 25-year old daughter was poisoned by ethylene glycol which was placed in her drink at a party. She almost died and was in the ICU for several days. She lost her hearing and since that time has had a constant, severe headache with ear pressure which is worsening over time. This is so severe I had to resign from my paralegal position to care for her and her child. So far, no

Natural Headache Treatments

Natural headache treatments offer fewer side effects and can be combined to increase their benefits over the use of pain medications. Taking pain medication over long periods of time for the pain of chronic headaches does more harm than good.Some of the simplest natural headache treatments are a hot shower, sleeping on your back without a pillow, and slow gentle neck rolling exercise. Acupuncture

How Can a Dentist Treat My Headache?

Headaches are one of the most common complaints of mankind, and it is safe to say everyone has had a headache at least once in their lives. Over 45 million people in the United States complain of headaches every year, with over 8 million of those seeking medical treatment for their pain.Most people who suffer from the pain of chronic headaches are anxious to relieve that pain at any cost and

Patient Question: migraine sufferer

PATIENT QUESTION:I’m 29 years old. I've been a severe migraine sufferer since I was about five.2years ago I broke and dislocated my right jaw. My pain is horrific now. At least 3to4 days out of the week I’m sick with them now, when it only used to be maybe 2 a week. It’s really messed up my life. I can’t raise my children like I need to; I can't even hold down a job now. I’ve been on and off

Blood Pressure-Related Headaches

Hypertension (high blood pressure) and hypotension (low blood pressure) can both cause headaches.Hypertension can be present with no discernible symptoms and is usually discovered during a routine medical examination. Headache is only one indicator of high blood pressure that usually feels like a band tightening around your head, with the headache worse in the morning, and feelings of fatigue,

QUESTION: My 14 year old daughter has had chronic daily headaches since May 2009. They started a week after she had her braces removed and started wearing the retainer. Her braces were put on to correct an overbite. She has been tested pretty thoroughly and we have not found anything else that could be causing her headaches. She complains about her neck hurting and has also complained about her

Migraine Headaches

"Migraine" headache has become the universal term for a very intense, incapacitating headache even though the headache may not be a true migraine. The causes of a true migraine headache are still debated in the medical community even though almost 25% of the population suffers from this type of headache.A classic sign of migraine headaches is a pre-headache sensory warning in the form of what is

Stress vs. Tension Headaches

Tension headaches are often referred to as stress headaches for a very good reason. Stressful situations make a person tense, and, this, in turn, causes actual physical changes in a person's body that can cause a headache. Some factors that contribute to stress in our everyday lives are work-related problems, poor eating and sleeping habits, chronic medical conditions, and constant worrying

Cluster Headaches

Cluster headaches are said to be one of the most painful and debilitating headaches suffered by countless people. Cluster headaches strike without warning and stop you in your tracks. They get their name from the fact they tend to strike sporadically in clusters, rotating through periods of intense pain and then abating. Cluster headache periods can last from weeks to months with long episodes of

Tension Headaches

One of the most common headaches from which people suffer is the tension headache in which pain is felt over the entire head, not localized to one area. Tension headaches are caused by a variety of factors such as stress, depression, changing sleep patterns, or poor posture.Tension headaches are often caused by TMD/TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder) and jaw dysfunction. People who have been

Welcome!

Welcome to the Illinois neuromuscular dentistry blog for Dr. Ira Shapira. Please check back for additional posts.

Welcome!

Welcome to the neuromuscular headache blog for iHateheadaches.org. Please check back soon for additional posts.