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.
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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
When you get headache pain, you may experience a range of symptoms. The primary head pain may feel dull and achy or sharp and intense. The pain may occur on one side of your head or the other, or it may manifest at the back of your head. This head pain may be accompanied by other symptoms, including nausea and vomiting, sinus pressure, or a feeling of tightness around the head.
With chronic migraine headaches, other head pain symptoms develop, including things like:
- Sensitivity to light and sound
- Pounding or throbbing pain on one side of the head
- Hot and cold sensations
- Blurred vision
- Fatigue
- Visual disturbances like flashing dots, wavy lines, or blind spots (auras)
Some migraine sufferers also experience a pre-migraine stage, called prodrome, where they may have food cravings, concentration issues, and irritability, among other symptoms.
Headaches and migraines may occur on their own, called primary headaches, or they may be a side effect of another condition. These are called secondary headaches.
Headaches may occur with an infection, such as a sinus or ear infection, or with conditions like glaucoma and meningitis. Dehydration can cause headaches, as can high blood pressure.
Chronic headaches, including migraines, can result from extreme stress and carrying tension in and around the neck. They can also be brought on by certain foods, food additives, or alcohol.
Your pain management specialist at Metro Denver Pain Management (MD Pain) finds a solution that can reduce the severity and frequency of your headaches and migraines. Depending on the specifics of your case, your doctor may suggest:
- Over-the-counter pain relievers
- Prescription headache medications
- Hot or cold compresses
- Therapeutic massage
- Relaxation techniques
- Occipital Nerve Blocks
- Trigger point injections
In many situations, your doctor may take a multidisciplinary approach and combine migraine treatment approaches.