Headache

What is a headache?

A headache refers to discomfort you feel in your head, jaw, or neck. This condition is prevalent, and one of the most frequent reasons people miss work or school.

Though many people only experience headaches on occasion, some people have chronic headaches that negatively impact their well-being. 

What are common types of headaches?

Many types of headaches develop from a range of causes. The experts at Advanced Pain Management specialize in the varients that cause chronic pain, including:

Migraine headaches

Migraine headaches cause severe throbbing sensation on one side of your head. Migraines can cause pain that lasts for a few hours or a few days. In addition to the head pain, your migraines may also cause sensitivity to light, nausea, or weakness.

Cervicogenic headaches 

A cervicogenic headache develops due to an issue related to your neck, such as arthritis or disc degeneration. With this type of headache, you may feel a throbbing sensation on one side of your head that lasts for hours or days. You may also experience neck stiffness.

The experts at Advanced Pain Management address every kind of headache differently, even though cervicogenic and migraine headaches may cause similar types of pain.

What treatments can help my migraine?

The pain specialists at Advanced Pain Management provide comprehensive care for migraine headaches. In addition to treatment aimed at alleviating your symptoms during an attack, the team also focuses on developing a plan that prevents your migraines altogether. 

For symptom management, the team may recommend:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or acetaminophen 
• Ergotamines
• Triptans

The team recommends you take these medications as soon as you start to experience migraine symptoms to get the most effective relief.

Your migraine prevention plan may include a combination of medications and lifestyle changes. Medications the team may suggest to prevent your migraines include:

• Beta-blocker drugs (propranolol or timolol)
• Anti-seizure drugs (divalproex or topiramate)
• Tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline)

The pain specialists also work closely with you to identify your migraine triggers, which may include specific types of food, weather changes, or stress, and techniques to help you avoid or manage these triggers.

For chronic migraine sufferers, the specialists at Advanced Pain Management also offer Botox® injections, which may alleviate the frequency of your head pain.  

What treatments can improve my cervicogenic headache?

The team develops individualized treatment plans for the management of cervicogenic headaches. Your treatment may include:

• NSAIDs
• Physical therapy
• Injections
• Nerve blocks
• Ablations

The goal of cervicogenic headache management is to treat the underlying cause of your head pain.

Headaches are common and can be debilitating. For an evaluation and treatment plan from the pain specialists at Advanced Pain Management, call the office or request an appointment online today.