Head – Migraine Pain

Tension headaches, migraines and other chronic headaches like cluster headaches and can take a toll on everyday life. The factors that trigger headaches vary widely from person to person and headaches can be accompanied by a variety of migraine symptoms. The first step to identifying headaches is getting a detailed history of your headache experience. Expect questions about the frequency, location, and severity of your headaches. You’ll be asked what works to ease the pain of your headaches and what does not. Keeping a headache diary can help to better diagnose your symptoms.

Tension-type headache

The most common headache type in the world.

Tension-type headaches are often described as pain that feels like a tight band around your head or a weight on top of it. Your neck or shoulder muscles may also hurt along with the headache. If you have tension-type it will produce a mild to moderate pain whereas the pain of migraine can reach disabling severity.

Treatments for Tension-Type Headaches Include:

• Massage Therapy
• Trigger Point Injection Therapy
• Chiropractic Care
• OTC Medications
• Acupuncture

Migraine Pain

While it is commonly believed that migraine is a one-sided headache, many migraine sufferers have pain on both sides of their head. The pain of migraine is usually throbbing or pulsating and can last for hours to days. Associated features include nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. Some people have migraines several times a week, while others get them only several times throughout their lives.

There is no cure for migraine headaches. The focus of pain management for migraines is to reduce the severity, duration, and frequency of the migraine.

Treatment options for migraine pain include:

• Physical Therapy
• Medications
• Epidural injections
• Botox for Migraines