Decreasing Headache Pain Secondary to a Subarachnoid Hemorrhage with the use of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine

Abstract

Abstract Background: Controlling a headache (HA) secondary to a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) can be challenging for most physicians. At Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine, the neurointensivist and staff noticed a trend in decreasing HA pain caused by a SAH in patients treated with osteopathic cranial manipulative medicine and osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM), more so than those treated solely with the traditional opioid approach. It was requested that a chart review of these patients be evaluated for an objective analysis of this observation. Hypothesis: A decrease in HA caused by SAH will be observed in the group treated with OMM in comparison to those treated with opioids alone. Methods and Materials: A retrospective, IRB approved, and exempted study reviewed 21 subjects with a SAH that were treated with OMM. This population was analyzed for a decrease in pain score following osteopathic treatment as well as for adverse events 6-month post treatment. Results: Pain scores were consistently reduced when comparing pre-and-post OMM treatment. After the first treatment, pain scores decreased by an average of 4 points, after the second treatment scores decreased by an average of 3 points and after the third treatment pain scores decreased by an average of 2.5 points. The number of adverse events recorded were found to be less than the national averages. Conclusion: The use of OMM as an adjunct with traditional treatments for a SAH can lead to a decrease in HA pain caused by a SAH. Minimal adverse events were observed.