Innovations in Treating Headache

If you suffer from chronic headache pain, you are not alone. Millions of adults and children have headache pain and it can often be debilitating. Whether from migraines, tension or sinus headaches or headaches from arthritis, jaw pain or unknown reasons, all headaches have one central thread that weaves them together: triggers that cause the body to react with pain. In the pursuit of knowledge, treatment and answers, our headache experts are committed to headache research and delivering personalized care to patients with headaches or facial pain disorders.  

Most Headaches are Not Life-Threatening

Fortunately, most headaches are not life-threatening, although the pain itself can be very severe. If your headache is significant or persistent, you should seek medical advice, as it may be a sign of a more serious problem. Especially if your headache pain worsens or you have headache with nausea, blurred vision, slurred speech, dizziness or difficulty in standing or sitting, seek emergency treatment right away.

Common Headache Triggers

Some common headache triggers include:

• Chemicals
• Environment
• Foods
• Hormones
• Stress
• Tobacco

Uncommon Causes of Headache

Uncommon causes of headache include:

• Diseases of the eye, ear, nose or teeth
• Infections
• Inflammation of the nerves and arteries
• Injuries to the head

Making a Definitive Diagnosis

Before doctors can successfully treat headaches, our fellowship trained specialists first rule out more serious causes by making a definitive diagnosis, using:

• Complete medical history
• Cranial MRI or cranial CT scan
• Laboratory tests
• Physical exam

Providing a Multifaceted Headache Treatment Program

Our team of headache experts collaborate to diagnose and treat headaches such as migraines as well as those caused by medical conditions that require quick diagnosis and treatment. A multifaceted headache treatment plan may include:

• Acupuncture
• Diet
• Exercise
• Hydrotherapy
• Lifestyle changes
• Medication
• Interventional Procedures
• Sleep hygiene
• Stress management
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)

How to Make an Appointment 

To see one of our headache specialists, please call (804) 828-9350 to schedule your appointment. To refer a patient or to find out more about our services, please contact one of our team members in the Department of Neurology at (804) 828-9350.