Background: Migraine, tension type headache (TTH), and hypothyroidism are clinical problems that affect patient daily activities and quality of life. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential association between hypothyroidism in patients with migraine and TTH. Patients and methods: Two hundred and twelve patients with migraine and TTH and one hundred control subjects underwent clinical evaluation, assessment of thyroid hormones, and thyroid ultrasound. Results: Subclinical and overt hypothyroidism were significantly higher in patients with migraine and TTH (P = 0.001) than control subjects. Patients with migraine and TTH showed significantly more abnormal thyroid gland morphology than healthy control (P = 0.027). Hypothyroidism is significantly expressed in chronic TTH more than TTH with infrequent or frequent TTH (P = 0.009). Conclusions: Patients having migraine and TTH more prone to develop hypothyroidism when compared with control group. Also patients with chronic TTH are susceptible to develop hypothyroidism (either subclinical or overt) when compared with patients having frequent or infrequent TTH.

Introduction Traditionally, non-invasive and invasive techniques were used for the treatment of cervicogenic headache (CH). Greater occipital nerve block is the most frequent peripheral nerve block invasive technique used for the management of cervicogenic headache. The purpose of this prospective, double-blinded study was to compare the efficacy of two different techniques: multifidus cervicis plane block and greater occipital nerve block in the treatment of refractory cervicogenic headache by using ultrasound. Methods Sixty patients with cervicogenic headache were recruited and diagnosed according to the ICHD-III beta version. The patients were divided into two groups, one group was for greater occipital nerve block and the other group was for multifidus cervicis plane block with ultrasound-guided. Results Visual analog scale (VAS) was 2.09% in the multifidus cervicis plane block (MCPB) group and was 2.22% in the greater occipital nerve block (GONB) group with a median reduction of − 4.33 and − 3.048, respectively, at 2-week visits with a statistically significant difference better in the MCPB group (P < 0.001). At 4 weeks visits, VAS scale was better in the MCPB group than in the GONB group (3.79 and 4.44, respectively) with a median reduction in VAS scale (− 3.27 and − 3.095, respectively) and statistically significant differences between both groups (P = 0.020). Conclusion Both the ultrasound-guided multifidus cervicis plane block and greater occipital nerve block are effective as intervention techniques in the treatment of refractory cervicogenic headache. These techniques are simple, safe, more reliable with less side effects, and often reduce the requirements of analgesic drugs.

Background: The annual incidence of Bell's palsy (BP) is 15 to 20 per 100,000 with 40,000 new cases each year, and the lifetime risk is 1 in 60. For decades, clinicians have searched the prognostic tests of sufficient accuracy for acute facial paralysis. Objective: The present study was designed to verify in BP which clinical or electrophysiological parameters could be considered as predictive of the degree of recovery of normal facial muscle function. Methods: Sixty-three patients with BP were initially assessed according to the House and Brackmann facial function scoring system "HB system". All patients were followed for 3 months, the functional recovery then reassessed according to HB system. Nerve conduction studies were measured on the affected side via a bipolar surface stimulator placed over the stylomastoid foramen. Results: We could not find statistically significant differences between BP with good and poor prognosis as regard age, sex, onset, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, or the initial HB Score. Compound motor action potential amplitude (CMAP) detected during the initial electroneurography (ENoG) was statistically significant between BP with good and poor prognosis. Conclusions: The initial ENoG is more predictive of recovery of Bell's palsy than the initial clinical grading using the HB system. Age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia do not seem to correlate with the degree of recovery in Bell's palsy.

Background Hemiplegic shoulder pain (HSP) is one of the most common complications of stroke. This work aimed to evaluate and analyze the clinical and radiological features of painful shoulder in hemiplegic stroke patients with evaluating the diagnostic role of shoulder ultrasound and shoulder MR imaging in assessment of the causes of shoulder pain. Methods 210 stroke patients with shoulder affection within 3 years of stroke development were enrolled. Clinical assessment including Medical Research Council scoring, The Brunnström motor recovery and Ashworth Scale. Shoulder ultrasound and MR imaging were done for 74 patients with painful hemiplegic shoulder. Results The prevalence of HSP was 35.2% with statistically significantly higher proportion of shorter disease duration, lower muscle power, lower BMR stage with higher proportion of bicipital tendinitis and complex regional pain syndrome in major versus moderate dependence (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.011 and P = 0.001 respectively). On multivariate analysis only short disease duration was statistically significant independent predictor. Participants with disease duration ≤ 2 months have 21.9 times higher odds to exhibit major rather than moderate dependence. By imaging there was high prevalence of joint effusion (47.3%), bicipital tendinitis (44.6%), bursitis (31%) and adhesive capsulitis (29.7%) in painful hemiplegic shoulder with a very good agreement between MRI and US in diagnosis. Conclusion HSP has a high prevalence in stroke patient with increased morbidity due to various factors and US can be used as an alternative or a complementary to MRI for diagnosis of hemiplegic shoulder pain.