HYPERBARIC-OXYGEN IN THE TREATMENT OF MIGRAINE WITH AURA

Cephalalgia is one of the most common medical complaints and the searc h continues for relief. Early treatments for migraine included inhalat ion of 100% oxygen. It has been theorized that the increased levels of oxygen in the blood act as an alpha-adrenergic agent to alleviate hea dache pain through vasoconstriction and local metabolic effects. The p resence of muscle tenderness during some migraine headaches has also b een established. The purpose of this study was to document relief of c ephalalgia through use of a visual analog pain scale, algometry, and m anual palpation. Female subjects with confirmed migraine were randomly assigned to begin with either the control (100% oxygen, no pressure) or hyperbaric treatment (100% oxygen, pressure). Manual palpation and algometry of 10 sites were done, bilaterally, by a trained specialist. Pain was evaluated with a visual analog scale. Resolution of tenderne ss and edema following both treatments was observable by manual palpat ion while algometry showed no differences between the two. Subjective pain was significantly decreased following hyperbaric oxygen treatment but not following the control treatment Results suggest that hyperbar ic oxygen treatment reduces migraine headache pain and that the patien t's subjective assessment was the best indicator of relief.