Short-Lasting Unilateral Neuralgiform Headache with Conjunctival Injection and Tearing Secondary to Head and Neck Trauma: Literature Review and Case Report

J Oral Facial Pain Headache. 2016 Winter;30(1):68-72. doi: 10.11607/ofph.1549.

Abstract

This article reports a case of secondary short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache with conjunctival injection and tearing following head and neck trauma due to a violent assault. Following the incident, the patient began experiencing 4 to 30 shooting/sharp pain attacks per day in the left anterior temporal and supraorbital areas, with an intensity of 10/10 on a numeric rating scale. Each attack lasted between 10 and 60 seconds. These attacks were accompanied by ipsilateral conjunctival injection, tearing, ptosis of the left eye, blurry vision, and occasional rhinorrhea. Significant improvements in sleep, autonomic symptoms, and pain were observed with a combination of melatonin 10 mg per day, gabapentin 300 mg twice daily, physical therapy, and psychotherapy. This case highlights the relevance of a multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of challenging cases when there is evidence of more than one contributing factor, with the aim of reducing pain and improving the patient's quality of life.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amines / therapeutic use
  • Central Nervous System Depressants / therapeutic use
  • Craniocerebral Trauma / complications*
  • Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / therapeutic use
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Exercise Movement Techniques
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Gabapentin
  • Humans
  • Melatonin / therapeutic use
  • Middle Aged
  • Neck Injuries / complications*
  • Psychotherapy
  • Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / diagnosis
  • Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgias / diagnosis*
  • Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgias / etiology
  • Violence
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Amines
  • Central Nervous System Depressants
  • Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
  • Gabapentin
  • Melatonin