title: Pain referral patterns of the C1 to C3 nerves: implications for headache disorders.
abstract: The cervical nerves may play a significant role in primary headache disorders. We reviewed the patterns of pain evoked by stimulation of the first 3 cervical nerves (C1-C3) in 10 patients with chronic occipital pain, 6 of whom also had migraine. Stimulation at the C1 level evoked periorbital and frontal pain in 6 of 6 patients with migraine but evoked occipital or cervical pain in those without migraine. C2 and C3 stimulation resulted in occipital or cervical pain in all patients. The C1 nerve may have an important sensory function in headache disorders that have orbital and frontal pain as a prominent feature.
authors: Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA.
authors: Mollie M
authors: MM
authors: Johnston
authors: Sheldon E
authors: SE
authors: Jordan
authors: Andrew C
authors: AC
authors: Charles
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D020773:Headache Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013127:Spinal Nerves / Q000502:physiology*