What causes the compression?
Dr. Ducic: Compression of the nerve can be due to either the hyperactive muscles that can irritate the nerve for the long time or it can be a trauma. I see lots of patients with whiplash injuries, after motor vehicle accident or traumas who subsequently develop a headache because their nerves do not function normally anymore and cause migraine occurrent headaches. Is it stress or something else? Dr. Ducic: They can have associated or true migraine components of their headaches which can compress nerves to go back and forth between the two causative factors and create either true migraine or chronic headaches. How long has it been known that compressed nerves cause migraines? Dr. Ducic: It has been known for several years. I would say there were reports already published in the early 90s about nerves in this anatomic distribution that causes headaches. The biggest problem is that it may be difficult for an everyday physician to know exact inclusion criteria, who should qualify for the s
