This rare type of migraines occur often and can cause constant migraine headaches on one side of your face or head. Doctors don’t know what causes
hemicrania continua or so called as "continuous headache." But women seem to get it more often than men.
With the right treatment, though, most people can get nearly complete relief from the pain.
Symptoms
People with hemicrania continua describe a dull ache or throb that’s interrupted by pain that is:
These attacks usually happen three to five times a day. Some people will have these headaches steadily for months or years. For others, the pain will go away for weeks or months, then come back.
Like migraines, they can cause:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sensitivity to noise or light
- Throbbing pain
Treatments
Indomethacin, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), often gives fast relief. A common side effect of the drug is irritation of the lining of the stomach and digestive tract. So, people who take it may also need medication to help their stomach make less acid.
If the side effects of indomethacin are too much for you, another NSAID,
celecoxib, may also help.
Tricyclic antidepressants, like amitriptyline, can also prevent these headaches.
Keyword: constant migraines; hemicrania continua; migraines often
