Prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome in cases with migraine and tension type headache
Keywords:
Carpal tunnel syndrome, Primary headaches, Tension type headache, Migraine, Body mass index, DepressionAbstract
Background: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is the most frequent entrapment neuropathy; also Tension Type Headache (TTH) and migraine headache are the most common forms of headaches. The aim of this study is to determine whether there is a relationship between carpal tunnel syndrome and migraine and/or TTH, and if so, to determine the factors causing this relationship.
Methods: This study included 201 patients who were electro-physiologically diagnosed with idiopathic CTS and 100 controls. In addition to being examined for headaches, each patient’s Body Mass Index (BMI) was determined, and each was evaluated with Boston Questionnaire Form (BQF) and a Beck Depression Scale (BDS).
Results: The CTS group had significantly more patients with TTH and migraine headache than did the control group. In addition, the CTS group had a significantly higher frequency of headaches, and significantly higher BDS and BMI than did the controls. There were no significant differences in headache type and frequency of headache between those with mild CTS and those with mild-serious CTS. In addition, the Boston scores of CTS patients with headache were higher than those CTS patients without headache. Further, the monthly income levels of patients with CTS were lower than those of the control group.
Conclusion: We found that primary headache is more frequent in CTS patients than in controls. This may be due to somato-autonomic reflexes and other common risk factors that can be seen in both CTS patients and those with headache, including obesity, depression and low level of income.
Metrics
References
Ertekin C. Pleksus Brakiyalisten Çıkan Sinirler. In: Santral and Periferik EMG, eds. Anatomi-Fizyoloji- Klinik. İzmir: Meta Basım Matbaacılık; 2006: 387-453.
Atroshi I, Gummesson C, Johnsson R, Ornstein E, Ranstam J, Rosén I. Prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome in a general population. JAMA. 1999;282:153-8.
O’Flynn N, Ridsdale L. Headache in primary care: how important is diagnosis to management? Br J Gen Pract. 2002;52:569-73.
Rasmussen BK, Jensen R, Schroll M, Olesen J. Epidemiology of headache in a general population--a prevalence study. J Clin Epidemiol. 1991;44:1147-57.
Mondelli M, Passero S, Giannini F. Provocative tests in different stages of carpal tunnel syndrome. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2001;103:178-83.
Giannini F, Cioni R, Mondelli M, Padua R, Gregori B, D'Amico P, et al. A new clinical scale of carpal tunnel syndrome: validation of the measurement and clinical-neurophysiological assessment. Clin Neurophysiol. 2002;113:71-7.
Mondelli M RF, Sicurelli F, Padua L. Relationship between the self-administered Boston questionnaire and electrophysiological findings in follow-up of surgically-treated carpal tunnel syndrome. J Hand Surg Br. 2000;25(2):128-34.
Sakhel J, Ahlhelm F, Schwerdtfeger K, Steudel WI, Kelm J, Loew C, et al. Atypical symptoms in carpal tunnel syndrome - treatment and results. Fortschr Neurol Psychiatr. 2002;70:46-51.
Sato A. Neural mechanisms of autonomic responses elicited by somatic sensory stimulation. Neurosci Behav Physiol. 1997;27:610-21.
Sato A. The reflex effects of spinal somatic nerve stimulation on visceral function. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1992;15:57-61.
Yoon MS, Katsarava Z, Obermann M, Fritsche G, Oezyurt M, Kaesewinkel K, et al. Prevalence of primary headaches in Germany: results of the German headache consortium study. J Headache Pain. 2012;13:215-23.
Seror P SR. Prevalence of obesity and obesity as a risk factor in patients with severe median nerve lesion at the wrist. Joint Bone Spine. 2013;80(6):632-7.
Bland JD. The relationship of obesity, age, and carpal tunnel syndrome: more complex than was thought? Muscle Nerve. 2005;32:527-32.
Schramm SH, Obermann M, Katsarava Z, Diener HC, Moebus S, Yoon MS. Epidemiological profiles of patients with chronic migraine and chronic tension-type headache. J Headache Pain. 2013;14:40.
Tepper DE. Migraine and obesity. Headache. 2013;53:719-20.
Cheatle MD. Depression, chronic pain, and suicide by overdose: on the edge. Pain Med. 2011;12(Suppl 2):S43-8.
Rist PM, Schurks M, Buring JE, Kurth T. Migraine, headache, and the risk of depression: Prospective cohort study. Cephalalgia. 2013;33:1017-25.
Öyekçin D. Güleç, Sarıkaya Özyıl, Duraklı Meltem, Erol Almıla. The evaluation of the association between headache type and psychiatric comorbidity, depression and anxiety levels. Anatol J Psychiatry. 2007;8(4):281-6.
Kocabas Z CA. Migren, Gerilim Başağrısında Anksiyete. Depresyon and nörotik eğilim düzeyleri. J Psychiatry Neurol Sci. 1997;10(3):17-21.
Ring D, Kadzielski J, Fabian L, Zurakowski D, Malhotra LR, Jupiter JB. Self-reported upper extremity health status correlates with depression. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2006;88:1983-8.
Hobby JL, Venkatesh R, Motkur P. The effect of psychological disturbance on symptoms, self-reported disability and surgical outcome in carpal tunnel syndrome. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2005;87:196-200.
Lozano Calderon SA, Paiva A, Ring D. Patient satisfaction after open carpal tunnel release correlates with depression. J Hand Surg Am. 2008;33:303-7.
Mattioli S, Baldasseroni A, Bovenzi M, Curti S, Cooke RM, Campo G, et al. Risk factors for operated carpal tunnel syndrome: a multicenter population-based case-control study. BMC Public Health. 2009;9:343.
Haque B, Rahman KM, Hoque A, Hasibul Hasan ATM, Chowdhury RN, Khan SU, et al. Precipitating and relieving factors of migraine versus tension type headache. BMC Neurol. 2012;12:82.
Carod-Artal FJ, Irimia P, Ezpeleta D. Chronic migraine: definition, epidemiology, risk factors and treatment. Rev Neurol. 2012;54:629-37.