• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.4-13
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• 2022

Changes in diagnostic criteria, for example, the various International Classification of Headache Disorders criteria, would lead to changes in the outcomes of epidemiological studies. International Classification of Headache Disorders-1 was based mainly on expert opinion, yet most of the diagnostic criteria were reliable and valid, but it did not include chronic migraine. In its second version, the classification introduced chronic migraine, but this diagnosis resembled more a high-frequency migraine rather than the actual migraine transformation process. It also introduced medication overuse headache, but it necessitated analgesic withdrawal and subsequent headache improvement to be diagnosed as such. Hence patients having medication overuse headache could only be diagnosed in retrospect, which was an awkward situation. Such restrictive criteria for chronic migraine and medication overuse headache omitted a high proportion of patients. International Classification of Headache Disorders-3 allows a diagnosis of medication overuse headache due to combination analgesics if taken for at least 10 days per month for more than three months. Hence the prevalence rate of medication overuse headache and chronic migraine can increase compared to the previous version of the headache classification. Different criteria have been used across studies to identify chronic migraine and medication overuse headache, and therefore the information acquired from previous studies using earlier criteria becomes uncertain. Hence much epidemiological research would need to be interpreted cautiously or repeated with the most updated criteria, since the subjects in studies that apply the latest criteria may be phenotypically different from those in older studies.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.272-278
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• 1995

Headache is a common disease of the general population. But the main problem in any study of headache has been that of defining the disease entities. In 1988, the Headache Classification committee of the International Headache Society introduced operational diagnostic criteria for all headache disorders into 13 major group; migraine, tension-type headache, cluster headache and chronic paroxysmal hemicrania etc. Sjaastad was the first to describe "cervicogenic headache", one of various head pain syndromes that probably originate in the cervical spine. Between March 1995 and June 1995, we studied 78 out-patients of the Department of Neuro pain clinic, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Inje university. We divided the patients into three study group: Fifty-three patients with tension-type headache, 13 with cervicogenic headache, and 12 with migraine headache. The reponse of trigger point injection and $C_2$-ganglion block in patients was investigated. We paid particular attention to the response of trigger point injection in patients of the three group. The effect of trigger point injection was more marked in tension-type headache group than in the other categories. The pain reduction after $C_2$-ganglion block was more marked in cervicogenic headache group than in the others.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.71-75
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• 2006

Purpose : Because migraine in children has different characteristics from that in adults, it is inappropriate to apply migraine criteria for adults to children. Recently, the International Headache Society(IHS) revised criteria regarding children's characteristics. Therefore, we reviewed the characteristics of childhood migraines without auras based on the revised criteria and compared the data with the findings of childhood migraine by the previous criteria. Methods : Among 102 children who visited the outpatient clinic of Kangbuk Samsung Hospital for the chief complaint of headache, we analyzed the clinical findings of 34 patients, who were diagnosed as migraine without aura, and probable migraine based on the revised criteria. Results : Migraines without aura were diagnosed in 27 patients(26.5 percent) and probable migraines were observed in seven patients(6.8 percent). The usual duration of headache attacks over 2 hours was observed in 12 patients(44.4 percent). On the contrary, 15 patients(55.6 percent) usually experienced headaches for one to two hours. According to the location of headaches, there were temporal areas in 14 cases, frontal areas in nine cases, occipital areas in two cases and diffuse areas in two cases. The striking point in probable migraines is that the length of headache was below one hour in five patients. Nine patients were diagnosed as migraine without aura, when the first edition criteria was applied to same patients. Conclusion : We found that the prevalence of migraine without aura increased by the revision of IHS criteria. We hope that migraines in children will be diagnosed correctly by the new IHS criteria.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.507-511
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• 2011

Objective : Cervicogenic headache (CGH) is known to be mainly related with upper cervical problems. In this study, the effect of radiofrequency neurotomy (RFN) for lower cervical (C4-7) medial branches on CGH was evaluated. Methods : Eleven patients with neck pain and headache, who were treated with lower cervical RFN due to supposed lower cervical zygapophysial joint pain without symptomatic intervertebral disc problem or stenosis, were enrolled in this study. CGH was diagnosed according to the diagnostic criteria of the cervicogenic headache international study group. Visual analogue scale (VAS) score and degree of VAS improvement (VASi) (%) were checked for evaluation of the effect of lower cervical RFN on CGH. Results : The VAS score at 6 months after RFN was $2.7{\pm}1.3$, which were significantly decreased comparing to the VAS score before RFN, $8.1{\pm}1.1$ ($p$<0.001). The VASi at 6 months after RFN was $63.8{\pm}17.1%$. There was no serious complication. Conclusion : Our data suggest that lower cervical disorders can play a role in the genesis of headache in addition to the upper cervical disorders or independently.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.263-273
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• 1999

Headache is a symptom with varied etiologies and extraordinarily frequent. Headaches can be a symptom of another diseases, such as meningitis, subarachnoid hemorrhage or brain tumor, may represent the disease entity itself as the case in migraine. The international Headache Society criteria were the first to distinguish between primary and secondary headache disorders. When evaluating a patient who presents with headache, the physician abviously needs to identify or exclude the myriad conditions that can cause secondary headache and initial diagnostic workup should be considered. If patient meets the criteria for a primary headache disorder, treatment commonly initiated without additional neurodiagnostic tests. The headache type, its associated feature, and the duration and the intensity of the pain attack all can influence the choice of acute therapy in migraine. Pharmacologically, such as NSAIDs, combination analgesics, vasoactive antimigraineous drugs, neuroleptics, antidepressants, or corticosteroids. Other approches to managing headache include a headache diary to identify triggers, biofeedback, relaxation technique and behavioral modification. Daily preventive medication should be considered by his attack frequency and intensity, and maintained for 4 to 6 months. Tension-type headaches are distinguished between episodic and chronic tension-type headache, but physician must make sure that patient is not drug-overuse or independent during symptomatic abortive therapy or preventive medication. The most difficult headache patients to treat are those with chronic daily headache. They often have physical dependency, low frustration tolerance, sleep problems, and depression. So discontinuation of overused medication is crucial. New developments in migraine therapy are broadening the scope of abortive and prophylactic treatment choices available to the physician. The enhanced ease of the use of sumatriptan and DHE will likely increase patient compliance and satisfaction.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.117-123
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• 2020

Purpose : VDT (visual display terminal syndrome) can affect individuals who monitor or who work or play using video screens, including those of smartphones. In general, headache symptoms from overuse of these screens can appear due to eye fatigue, muscle pain in the joints of wrists or fingers, and muscle pain in the neck or shoulders. Many studies in the literature have supported standards that seek to prevent these symptoms. The incidence of musculoskeletal diseases caused by the use of smartphones is expected to increase rapidly, particularly among children and young adults, and these diseases are expected to develop into a societal problem. Therefore, in this study we investigate whether tension headaches that develop from smartphone usage can affect forward neck posture, neck pain, and quality of life. Methods : A total of 93 students from University participated in this study. We divided participants into two groups, those with tension headaches (n = 25) and those without (n = 68) and took forward neck measurements. Headaches were classified according to criteria from the International Headache Society and involved bilateral headache position, quality of pressing or tightening pain, mild or moderate pain intensity, and none due to daily physical activity. We surveyed participants using the smartphone addiction diagnosis questionnaire, the Neck Disability Index (NDI), the Headache Impact Test (HIT-6), and the Quality of Life Questionnaire. Results : Although we found no significant differences in tension headaches due to smartphone addiction diagnosis (p = 0.25), SF-36 life quality assessment (p = 0.06), and cranio-vertebral angle (p = 0.07), we found significant differences from the HIT-6 and the NDI (p <.05). Conclusion : Tension headaches are not correlated with smartphone addiction, quality of life, and forward neck angle but do have a correlation with the degree of cervical dysfunction and the effects of the headaches.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.176-182
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• 2017

Background: Current evidence suggests that intravenous magnesium sulfate might be effective for reducing migraine pain. In a recent pilot study, we showed that intravenous caffeine citrate could reduce the severity of migraine headache. The objective of this study is to investigate the efficacy of intravenous caffeine citrate vs. magnesium sulfate for management of acute migraine headache. Methods: We conducted a prospective quasi-experimental study from January until May 2016 in two educational medical centers of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (Shoahadaye Tajrish Hospital and Imam Hossein Hospital), Tehran, Iran. The study included patients who were referred to the emergency department and met the migraine diagnosis criteria of the International Headache Society. Patients were allocated into 2 groups receiving either 60 mg intravenous caffeine or 2 g intravenous magnesium sulfate. The pain scores, based on the visual analog scale, were recorded on admission, as well as one and two hours after receiving the drug. A Chi-Square test and student t-test were used for analysis of baseline characteristics. A Mann-Whitney U test and Wilcoxon singed rank test were used to analyze differences in the visual analogue scale (VAS) score between and within the groups respectively. Results: In total, 70 patients (35 patients in each group) with the mean age of $33.1{\pm}11.3years$ were included (64.3% female). For the Caffeine citrate group, the median pain score decreased from 9.0 (2.0) to 5.0 (4.0) after one hour and to 3.0 (4.0) after two hours. For the magnesium sulfate group, the pain score decreased from 8.0 (2.0) to 2.0 (2.0) after one hour and to 0.0 (1.0) after two hours. Both intravenous caffeine citrate and intravenous magnesium sulfate reduced pain scores significantly but the magnesium sulfate group showed more improvement than the Caffeine citrate group after one hour (P < 0.001) and after two hours (P < 0.001). Conclusions: It is likely that both intravenous caffeine and intravenous magnesium sulfate can reduce the severity of migraine headache. Moreover, intravenous magnesium sulfate at a dose of 2 g might be superior to intravenous caffeine citrate 60 mg for the short term management of migraine headache in emergency departments.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.107-118
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• 2024

Nociplastic pain by the "International Association for the Study of Pain" is defined as pain that arises from altered nociception despite no clear evidence of nociceptive or neuropathic pain. Augmented central nervous system pain and sensory processing with altered pain modulation are suggested to be the mechanism of nociplastic pain. Clinical criteria for possible nociplastic pain affecting somatic structures include chronic regional pain and evoked pain hypersensitivity including allodynia with after-sensation. In addition to possible nociplastic pain, clinical criteria for probable nociplastic pain are pain hypersensitivity in the region of pain to non-noxious stimuli and presence of comorbidity such as generalized symptoms with sleep disturbance, fatigue, or cognitive problems with hypersensitivity of special senses. Criteria for definitive nociplastic pain is not determined yet. Eight specific disorders related to central sensitization are suggested to be restless leg syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, temporomandibular disorder, migraine or tension headache, irritable bowel syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivities, and whiplash injury; non-specific emotional disorders related to central sensitization include anxiety or panic attack and depression. These central sensitization pain syndromes are overlapped to previous functional pain syndromes which are unlike organic pain syndromes and have emotional components. Therefore, nociplastic pain can be understood as chronic altered nociception related to central sensitization including both sensory components with nociceptive and/or neuropathic pain and emotional components. Nociplastic pain may be developed to explain unexplained chronic pain beyond tissue damage or pathology regardless of its origin from nociceptive, neuropathic, emotional, or mixed pain components.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.8
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• pp.869-874
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• 2009

Purpose : Short attacks of headache are present in the pediatric age group. Short-lasting headaches (SLH) have been infrequently reported in children and adolescents. This study aims to assess the prevalence, clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of short-lasting headaches in children and adolescents. Methods : One hundred twenty-three consecutive patients attended the Chosun University Hospital Headache Center between March 2006 and July 2007. Among 123 headache patients, 44 patients with one key criterion, namely, recurrent headaches episodes of a few seconds to less than 30 minutes, were selected. Results : Of the 123 headache patients, 44 (35.8%, males 18, females 26) had SLH. The mean age was 9.24 years (range 2.3-14.2). The mean headache frequency was $11.50{\pm}10.30$ per month, mean severity was $4.86{\pm}1.36$ out of 10, and the mean PedMIDAS score was $7.97{\pm}17.51$. SLH was significantly more common in children <6 years old (10/22, 45.5%) than in ${\geq}6$ years old (34/101, 33.7%) (P=0.015). The nature of pain was pressure in 30.2%, stabbing in 27.9%, throbbing in 18.6%, and dull in 11.7%. In 52.4% patients, the pain occurred in the front, one side of the temple in 28.5%, both sides of the temple in 7.1%, and back in 4.8% patients. The duration of attacks was <6 minutes in 38% and ${\geq}6$ minutes in 61.4%. The intensity of the pain was 4-6 out of 10 in 75.0%, in 13.6% 1-3, and in 11.4% 7-10. Treatment was significantly effective in reducing the frequency, duration, and severity of headaches and the PedMIDAS score after 3 months (P<0.05). Conclusion : Short attacks of headache are common (35.8%) in children and adolescents. These are difficult to classify according to International Headache Society criteria. The outcome, after a period of 3 months to 2 years, was favorable in most patients. Further studies are needed to gather more data and to obtain a better description of these forms of headache in the pediatric group.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.281-285
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• 2012

Objective : Occipital neuralgia is characterized by paroxysmal jabbing pain in the dermatomes of the greater or lesser occipital nerves caused by irritation of these nerves. Although several therapies have been reported, they have only temporary therapeutic effects. We report the results of pulsed radiofrequency treatment of the occipital nerve, which was used to treat occipital neuralgia. Methods : Patients were diagnosed with occipital neuralgia according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders classification criteria. We performed pulsed radiofrequency neuromodulation when patients presented with clinical findings suggestive occipital neuralgia with positive diagnostic block of the occipital nerves with local anesthetics. Patients were analyzed according to age, duration of symptoms, surgical results, complications and recurrence. Pain was measured every month after the procedure using the visual analog and total pain indexes. Results : From 2010, ten patients were included in the study. The mean age was 52 years (34-70 years). The mean follow-up period was 7.5 months (6-10 months). Mean Visual Analog Scale and mean total pain index scores declined by 6.1 units and 192.1 units, respectively, during the follow-up period. No complications were reported. Conclusion : Pulsed radiofrequency neuromodulation of the occipital nerve is an effective treatment for occipital neuralgia. Further controlled prospective studies are necessary to evaluate the exact effects and long-term outcomes of this treatment method.