Your Treatment Options When It Comes to Common Headaches

Headaches come in many different forms, from chronic migraines to a dull head after a late night out with friends. 

Of the dozens of different types of primary headaches, a few account for the majority of cases, and these are the ones that lead to missed workdays, never mind the missed time with family and friends. 

In fact, someone goes to the emergency room every 10 seconds in the United States complaining of head pain.

At Pain Medicine Consultants, our team of headache specialists has an in-depth understanding of the primary causes of head pain, and more importantly, we offer solutions.

Here’s a look at the more common headaches and how we can help you find relief from your head pain.

Defining headaches

Before we dive into the more common types of headaches, let’s quickly review what we’re discussing, which are primary headaches. Headaches are divided into two categories: Primary and secondary. 

Primary headaches are those that stand alone and aren’t part of another condition.

Secondary headaches, on the other hand, are head pain caused by other issues, such as a cold, dehydration, or caffeine withdrawal. Treatments for these types of headaches involve treating the underlying issue first.

Now let’s take a look at how we can go about treating the most common primary headaches.

Migraines

Let’s start with, arguably, the most debilitating type of primary headache. Migraines affect a whopping 12% of our population, both young and old.

While the primary symptom of a migraine is intense throbbing in your head, usually on one side, it can also come with a host of other problems, including blurry vision, visual disturbances, nausea, and more.

If we find that you’re suffering from migraines, we offer several treatment avenues, including:

• Nerve blocks
• Biofeedback
• Botox® injections

Each of these procedures is minimally invasive or noninvasive, which means we can tackle your migraines using a combination of these approaches for best results. We also work with you to help you do your part by having a trigger-avoidance plan in place.

Tension headaches

Of all the headaches, tension headaches are the most common, which is little wonder given the stressful times we live in. Tension headaches feel like your head is being squeezed, and you can also feel tension in your neck and shoulders.

If we find that tension headaches are the problem, our goal is to relieve the tension, which we can accomplish through acupuncture, over-the-counter medications, and trigger release techniques. 

Since stress is usually at the core of these headaches, we also recommend any steps you can take to reduce stress, such as relaxation or deep-breathing exercises.

Cluster headaches

Cluster headaches are frustrating because they can be a moving target, coming and going in painful episodes. Unfortunately, there’s no cure for cluster headaches, but there are ways that we can reduce their impact on your life by tackling their frequency and severity.

In most cases, we turn to prescription medications to address your current head pain, as well as corticosteroids and/or nerve blocks to prevent them from returning.

As you can see, we have a wide range of options for your head pain that can allow you to regain your quality of life. To get started treating your headaches, simply contact one of our locations in Pleasant Hill, Pleasanton, or Madera, California, to set up a consultation.