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Can You Write A Medical Opinion Differentiating Between A Migraine
Question: Can you write a medical opinion differentiating between a migraine i have a few times a month between trigeminal neuralgia that I have 2 or 3 times a year?
The reason for the question is that an examiner stated this to me. Do you agree or disagree? This is what I want the medical opinion on.
Examiner's rationale is that you have a diagnosis ofheadaches associated with your trigeminal neuralgia. According to Up to date, 2018, the symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia can include a headache. Temporal tendinitis involves
cheek pain and tooth sensitivity, as well as headaches and neck and shoulder pain. This condition is called a "migraine mimic" because its symptoms are similar to those of a migraine.
Examiner's rationale is that you have a diagnosis ofheadaches associated with your trigeminal neuralgia. According to Up to date, 2018, the symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia can include a headache. Temporal tendinitis involves
cheek pain and tooth sensitivity, as well as headaches and neck and shoulder pain. This condition is called a "migraine mimic" because its symptoms are similar to those of a migraine.
Brief Answer:
Two very different conditions, easily differentiated.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
I have read your query.
Migraine and trigeminal neuralgia are two very different conditions, in almost all aspects, such as symptoms, underlying mechanisms, treatment, etc.
While trigeminal neuralgia is characterized by shock-like, short-lasting pain in the nerve distribution area (face) triggered by activities such as chewing, shaving, washing, etc, migraine is characterized by headache preceded by an aura, triggered by noise, light, etc. lasting hours to days, accompanied by vomiting, etc.
The underlying mechanism of trigeminal neuralgia is mostly a neurovascular conflict inside the brain, migraine is thought to be linked to vascular tonus imbalances, hormonal changes, etc.
Treatment also is different, trigeminal neuralgia treatment consists mainly of antiseizure drugs, microvascular decompression, nerve blocks, migraine is treated mainly with different antiseizure drugs, antidepressants, propranolol, etc.
So, it is not difficult to differentiate these two conditions.
I don't agree with the statement that trigeminal neuralgia may mimic migraine.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Two very different conditions, easily differentiated.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
I have read your query.
Migraine and trigeminal neuralgia are two very different conditions, in almost all aspects, such as symptoms, underlying mechanisms, treatment, etc.
While trigeminal neuralgia is characterized by shock-like, short-lasting pain in the nerve distribution area (face) triggered by activities such as chewing, shaving, washing, etc, migraine is characterized by headache preceded by an aura, triggered by noise, light, etc. lasting hours to days, accompanied by vomiting, etc.
The underlying mechanism of trigeminal neuralgia is mostly a neurovascular conflict inside the brain, migraine is thought to be linked to vascular tonus imbalances, hormonal changes, etc.
Treatment also is different, trigeminal neuralgia treatment consists mainly of antiseizure drugs, microvascular decompression, nerve blocks, migraine is treated mainly with different antiseizure drugs, antidepressants, propranolol, etc.
So, it is not difficult to differentiate these two conditions.
I don't agree with the statement that trigeminal neuralgia may mimic migraine.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Answered by
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