Long period results and effectiveness of medical therapy, dry needling and greater occipital nerve blockade in the tension type headache.

Aim: The most common form of headache, it may be related to muscle tightening in the back of the neck. The aim was to investigate the effectiveness of drugs, dry needling and greater occipital nerve (GON) blockade in the tension type headache.Methods: The ethical committee has approved the study. The study groups consisted of 66 patients. Group M (n=22) received antidepressant (amitriptilin 10 mg/day) and nonopioids (Parasetamol, NSAID), Group K (n=22) received antidepressant+nonopioids+dry needling to cervical area muscles, and Group G (n=22) antidepressant+nonopioids+GON blockade. Analgesic efficiency was evaluated in the 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 weeks after treatment with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).Results: Demographic data were similar between the groups. Heart rate decreased in 10 and 15th minutes in the group G. VAS scores of Group G were similar to all groups before the procedure. However the scores decreased 20 min after the procedure. All groups have been found to be similar in headached day number weekly and in analgesic consumption. After treatment, significant decrement in headached day number monthly have been seen. But no difference between groups have been detected. Patient satisfaction in the Group K was better than the other groups. Loss of sensation, drowsiness in the Group G was much more then other groups.Conclusion: Addition of dry needling and GON blockage to medical treatment in tension type headache treatment is efficient in decreasing pain intensity and frequency.But they have no evident priority to medical treatment.Key Words: Tension type headache, greater occipital nerve blockage, dry-needling. Communication address: dr_gulen_76@hotmail.com