What Type of Headache is Bothering You?

We’ve all had headaches…whether during finals week in college, at the rock concert that was a bit too loud, or while watching the neighbors 2 year old. But what type of headache have you been getting lately? The one that keeps you up at night or causes you to pull over on your drive home from work.  In reality, there are different types of headaches…and different treatments for each. Let’s take a look at three different types of headaches, and then discuss what you can do to remedy the symptoms.

Migraines

Migraines are serious headaches that carry a whole slew of possible symptoms. You have to look at the big picture to see if you are experiencing migraines, including the time before the actual headaches start. This is called the Prodrome phase.

During Prodrome (1-2 days before the headaches start), you may experience symptoms such as constipation (or diarrhea), food cravings, depression, irritability, or neck stiffness.
Some severe migraines also include what is called an Aura – a sensory, motor, or visual disturbance. Auras can include seeing strange shapes and light patterns, vision loss, feeling of pins and needles on limbs, or speech problems.

Once the headaches begin, it is called the Attack phase.  The attack phase can last for up to 3 days, but the frequency of headaches varies from person to person. Most attacks include one or more of the following symptoms: pain on one side of the head, throbbing pain, nausea, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, and diarrhea.

Postdrome (the time after the attacks), leaves the person feeling drained and exhausted—for good reason! Treatment can help mitigate the debilitating effects of migraines, so stay tuned.

Cluster Headaches

Many of us have heard of migraines, but rarely do we hear about Cluster headaches. They are given their name because they occur in cyclical patterns, or clusters. These headaches can be so severe that they awaken a person from sleep because of the extreme pain. Hence their nickname, “alarm clock headaches.”

Symptoms of cluster headaches include frequent attacks, usually involving pain around one eye or on one side of the head (around the temple). The pain usually comes unexpectedly and quickly, reaching full potency in around 2-15 minutes. Subsequent attacks usually come in the same areas. The attacks periods can last for weeks or months, followed by a remission period.

These things are definitely no fun, but thankfully, cluster attacks are treatable.

Tension Headaches

Tension headaches may not be as strong as the other two we mentioned, but they can be…well…pretty tense. These types of headaches typically include a feeling like something is wrapped around your head too tightly. They are also the most common of all the headache types.

You may be experiencing a tension headache if you have a constant throbbing on the front, top, and sides, of the head. They can last for as little as 30 minutes or for as long as several days. Recurring tension headaches may indicate a chronic problem.

Tension headaches occur in up to 80% of the adult population, so you’re not alone if your head hurts! 

Treatment

The bad news is that headaches are a real…headache. But, with proper treatment, things can go much more smoothly. For instance, a non-steroidal facet injection can help to reduce inflammation in the spine that may lead to various types of headaches. Occipital nerve blocking is another treatment that is effective in relieving the symptoms of headaches (especially migraines and tension headaches). This injection relieves the inflammation in the tissue surrounding the occipital nerve.

At Novocur, we focus on finding solutions to your pain so that you can go on and enjoy your life.  Our solutions often work where steroid injections, epidurals, or even surgery have failed. To find out more about our treatment for all types of headaches, visit http://www.novocur.com.

It’s time you moved on with your life, and leave the headaches for the kids during finals week.