Hyperbaric Oxygen in the Treatment of Migraine With Aura

Cephalalgia is one of the most common mediil com plaints and the search continues for relief. Early treatments for migraine included inhalation of 100% oxygen. It has been theorized that the increased levels of oxygen in the blood act as an alpha-adrenergic agent to alleviate headache pain through vasoconstriction and local metabolic effects. The presence of muscle tenderness during some migraine head aches has also been established. The purpose of this study was to document relief of cephalalgia through use of a visual analog pain scale, algometry, and manual palpation. Female subjects with confirmed miwaine 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 spscialist Pain was evaluated with a visual analog scale. Resolution of tenderness and edema following both treatments was observable by manual paipation while al gometry showed no differences between the two. Subjective pain was significantly decreased following hyperbaric oxy gen treatment but not following the control treatment. Re sults suggest that hyperbaric oxygen treatment reduces migraine headache pain and that the patient’s subjective assessment was the best indicator of relief.