Headache and Migraine Specialist Denver

Migraine and headaches can rob a person of living a quality life. Some people experience debilitating headaches that last for days. Some headaches or migraines debilitate for hours.

In addition to pain, tension headaches can feel as if a vice is squeezing the entire forehead. Cluster headaches tend to focus on one side of the head, often behind an eye, and cause tearing. Migraines cause sensitivity to sound and light. Sinus headaches can worsen with position change. TMJ headaches can be dependent on chewing or clenching of the jaw and can cause neck pain.

What Is a Migraine?

If you’re here on this page, you’ve probably been dealing with migraines and are eager to find a solution. The good news is that you’re not alone. It’s estimated that 10% of us experience migraines at some point in our lives.

So, what is a migraine exactly? While many people equate migraines with headaches, the two are vastly different things. A headache is one of many symptoms of a migraine. Further, the headaches associated with migraines are described by sufferers as debilitating.

Migraines have a long list of symptoms, including:

• Severe, throbbing headache
• Worsening pain with movement or activity
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Sensitivity to light and sound
• Mood changes
• Uncontrolled jerking motions
• Visual disturbances

While having a headache is uncomfortable, most people can still function to a degree. Migraines, on the other hand, are complete life disruptors and can interfere with a routine for up to three days.

Common Causes of Migraines

While headaches are often caused by food, alcohol, stress, or dehydration, the causes of migraines are often complex and may be harder to isolate.

Stress and food additives are common triggers of migraines, and these other triggers may be problematic for patients:

• Increased stress levels
• Sleep disturbances
• Low blood sugar
• Alcohol and caffeine
• Hormonal changes
• Weather
• Medication
• Environmental factors (light and noise)

Understanding what triggers your migraines can go a long way toward controlling them when they appear and avoiding a chronic migraine. If you are a regular migraine sufferer, meaning you’ve had eight or more migraines per month for the past three months, you have chronic migraine.

About Common Types of Headaches

Headaches come in different varieties, and each can command different forms of treatment. At MD Pain, we treat all types of headaches, ranging from the most common to the most unusual.

Tension Headaches

Whether a person gets migraines, cluster headaches, primary headaches, sinus headaches, tension headaches, or TMJ headaches, there are various potential methods that can bring relief. Because headaches have various etiologies, an expert in pain management is an excellent place to seek migraine treatment. Skilled physicians understand how various headaches evolve and therefore understand various methods for treatment.

Cluster Headaches

Cluster headaches are relatively rare. Further, while headaches tend to plague women more than men, cluster headaches are more common in males.

These headaches are characterized by a series of headaches that usually occur on one side of your head or near the eye area. The series of attacks come in clusters lasting from 15 minutes to three hours and can be a daily occurrence for weeks or months on end.

The cause of cluster headaches is still an unsolved scientific mystery, but it’s believed that cluster headaches are caused by the body suddenly releasing histamine as an allergic response near the trigeminal nerve (a facial nerve).

Headache Pain Relief

In addition to prescribing medication, such as tricyclic antidepressants, which are well known to help with headaches, other medication options exist, as well as injections, and even prescription nasal sprays that can help interrupt a headache or prevent their onset.

If you experience debilitation from headaches or migraines, please create an appointment online or call Metro Denver Sport, Spine, and Pain Management (MD Pain) to discuss the various treatment options that exist for your type or types of headaches. Our headache expert will perform a physical examination and look at your medical history to determine what treatment plan or preventive medicines to take with your headache medical condition.

Why Choose MD Pain for Migraine and Headache Pain Relief

About 50% of headache and migraine sufferers try to tough it out and let headaches run their course, but this prolongs discomfort and can even increase the frequency of symptoms.

Instead of suffering in silence, you can find a solution by contacting a migraine specialist in Denver. At MD Pain, we utilize custom treatments that work quickly to end headaches and help prevent them from coming back. Contact us to learn more about treatment options or schedule a new patient appointment.