Headaches

Headaches that won’t go away can affect your entire life. If headaches keep you from doing your job, spending time with family and friends, or taking care of yourself or your children, our doctors can help. We specialize in treating migraines, cluster and tension headaches, and headaches from other causes. You should not ignore pain in your head, especially when you have other symptoms like nausea, vision problems, and dizziness. Our neurologists listen to understand you and your health concerns. We talk about what might be triggering your headaches. Then, we deliver a care plan that’s right for you.

Care for any kind of headache

A chronic headache is a headache that may come and go for at least 15 days a month for three or more months. Our specialists diagnose and treat headaches from all causes. Our first step is to figure out the type of headache you are having, which could include:

• Migraine, often a throbbing pain on one side of the head, and may include nausea, sensitivity to smells, sounds and light, and seeing spots or wavy lines, called auras
• Cluster headache, a pounding pain that often isolates around one eye
• Tension headache, a dull, non-throbbing pain
• Trigeminal neuralgia, a headache that causes electric-shock-like pain on one side of the face because facial changes are pressing on a nerve

Helping you manage the frequency of your headaches

Sometimes, simple changes may make a big difference in your headaches. We will help you manage the triggers that make them worse, like poor sleep, stress and hormone changes. We will also help you manage the pain -- from medication therapy and relaxation exercises to healthy eating and better sleeping habits. Our care team considers and helps explain therapy and movement to help avoid neck muscle strain, especially if you look down a lot at a computer screen or mobile device.

Care for more serious causes of headaches

Sometimes a headache may be a symptom of a more serious health concern. Let your doctor know if you have a sudden, excruciating headache.

Our neurologists diagnose and treat a range of headache disorders, including more complex conditions caused by blocked or narrow blood vessels to the brain, a cerebrospinal fluid leak or infection. At many of our brain and spine centers at Ascension sites of care, we also offer neurorehabilitation therapy to help improve head and neck pain caused by compressed nerves and tight muscles in your neck.

When your headache becomes an emergency

Ascension sites of care provide emergency care for brain and spine emergencies. Warning signs of traumatic brain injury may include a persistent headache and other symptoms, including:

• Balance problems
• Dizziness
• Feeling tired, having no energy
• Fuzzy or blurred vision
• Sensitivity to noise or light

If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, go directly to the ER or call 911.