Headache

What are common types of headaches?

Many people suffer from the occasional headache due to tension and stress. Tension headaches are one of the most common causes of head pain resulting from too much stress in your neck, shoulders, jaw, and scalp. You may also develop frequent tension headaches as a side effect of anxiety or depression.

Another common type of headache is a migraine, which causes a throbbing pain in the head and can even interfere with your vision. Migraines often make you more sensitive to light and sound and can be accompanied by vomiting or persistent nausea.

Men are more likely to experience another type of headache, known as a cluster headache, than women. This type causes piercing, excruciating pain on only one side of the head.

In some cases, chronic headaches may be a sign of something more serious. If you develop a sudden headache with severe pain, you should seek emergency medical treatment to prevent health complications.

How are headaches diagnosed?

Your Pain Medicine Consultants provider reviews your medical history and your symptoms to determine what may be triggering your headaches.

They may perform a physical examination of your shoulders and neck to determine if tension is causing your pain. Your provider may also suggest imaging tests, such as an MRI or CT scan, to identify or rule out underlying medical conditions.

What treatments are available for headaches?

If your headaches are the result of stress or tension, your Pain Medicine Consultants provider may recommend relaxation techniques to release muscles in your shoulders, neck, and head. You may also need to take over-the-counter medication to keep you comfortable. Acupuncture techniques may also be helpful in releasing painful muscle knots that lead to headaches.

For cluster headaches, you may need prescription medications to reduce the severity of your symptoms. There isn’t a cure for cluster headaches, but your provider can recommend strategies to prevent their return, such as corticosteroids or nerve blocks.

Migraine treatments range from over-the-counter medications for mild symptoms to in-office procedures, such as nerve blocks or biofeedback, for chronic pain. Biofeedback testing measures a variety of your vital processes — including blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing — to help determine what may be causing the frequency of migraine headaches.

In some cases, your provider may recommend Botox® injections to treat migraines. This prescription injection relaxes muscles that may be responsible for your headaches.

Learn more about other headache treatments by calling Pain Medicine Consultants or use the convenient online booking feature.