Headaches
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Headaches—whether tension, cluster, sinus, rebound or migraine headaches—can cause moderate to excruciating pain and can take the pleasure from your life.
Treatment of headache pain depends, to a large extent, on the type of headache you are experiencing:
- Sinus headaches are usually caused by inflamed sinuses, and sometimes, an infection of the sinuses. Antibiotics are the usual treatment for sinus headaches, or, for less serious sinus headaches, decongestants and antihistamines may be sufficient.
- Tension headaches are the most common type of headache, and most often feel like pressure around the temples or the back of the head and neck. While tension headaches are not as severe as migraines, the constant ache can prevent you from engaging in your regular activities.
- Rebound headaches are generally caused by overuse of painkillers, ironically, usually used to treat other types of headaches. Patients may take larger and larger doses of over-the-counter pain meds, then suffer rebound headaches, making it a merry-go-round that can be difficult to step away from. Some believe rebound headaches are simply the symptoms of withdrawal when the levels of pain killers drop, while others believe too many painkillers can cause the brain to shift into “excited” mode, triggering even more headaches.
- Cluster headaches are more likely to strike men than women, and are recurring headaches that tend to run in cycles. Cluster headaches appear suddenly, and usually bring severe, debilitating pain to one side of the head. Those who suffer from cluster headaches can be restless, and may find it impossible to find a comfortable position. Cluster headaches may have a genetic component.
- Migraine headaches are generally the result of a neurological disorder which tends to run in families. Migraines can last from four hours to 72 hours, may be primarily on one side of the head, bring moderate to severe pain or throbbing pain, and tend to interfere with regular daily activities. Migraine sufferers may also experience nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound.
Treatment of Headaches
Once it is determined which type of headache you suffer from, the interventional pain management specialists at Seattle Pain will work with you to develop a comprehensive pain treatment program. At Seattle Pain, we use both traditional and non-traditional treatments, including:
- Medications
- Nerve blocks
- Cervical epidural steroid injections
Is headache pain causing you to miss out on life?
Contact Our Pain Management Specialists
At Seattle Pain, we can help relieve your headache pain, and significantly improve your quality of life. We believe in treating the whole patient – and not just the injury. You do not have to live in pain.
