Decades-Long Medical Mystery Solved: Woman’s Rare Headache Condition Identified After Years of Misdiagnosis

More than 25 years after the first episode, Patti Glover finally received a definitive diagnosis for her rare headache condition that had baffled doctors for nearly a decade.

Glover, who resides in Las Vegas and had battled post-traumatic stress disorder from her childhood, vividly recalled the intense pain she experienced, resembling an ice pick piercing her head. The misdiagnosis journey started with multiple neurologists ordering MRI and CT scans that showed nothing alarming, leading them to believe she had migraines.

After years of ineffective migraine treatments, a compassionate neurologist in Cincinnati referred Glover to a headache specialist who asked crucial questions that ultimately unraveled the mystery. The specialist diagnosed her with SUNCT, a rare form of headache characterized by excruciating bursts of pain, conjunctival injection, and tearing.

The diagnosis brought immense relief to Glover, who had felt misunderstood and accused of exaggerating her symptoms in the past by some doctors. The rarity of SUNCT made it difficult for many neurologists to identify, with only a handful of cases reported over the years.

Dr. Susan O’Brien, a Cincinnati headache specialist and board member of the Alliance for Headache Disorders, emphasized the challenges in diagnosing and treating SUNCT due to its rarity. Proper documentation of symptoms and patterns is crucial to accurate diagnosis.

Despite the struggles with finding an effective treatment, Glover expressed gratitude towards the specialist who finally unraveled the mystery that had haunted her for years. With a better understanding of her condition, Glover feels more in control and hopeful for managing her SUNCT headaches in the future.