Understanding Chronic Headaches and How They're Treated

If you suffer from chronic headaches, then you know how debilitating the symptoms can be.

Experiencing headaches on a daily basis for 15 days or more every month for 3 months or longer means you have chronic daily headaches. Headaches can be broken down into 4 categories that include:

• Chronic migraine
• Tension-type headache
• New daily persistent headache
• Hemicrania continua

Here, at Regenerative Spine and Pain Institute, we have the expertise to understand the nature of your chronic headaches and offer our expert care and treatment.

Symptoms of chronic headaches

Depending on the type of chronic headaches you have, your symptoms can include:

• Pain on one side of your head
• Aching on both sides of your head
• Pulsating, throbbing sensation
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Sensitivity to light and sound
• Sensation of pressing or tightening on your head, but not pulsating
• Daily and continuous pain that doesn’t let up
• Moderate pain with spikes of severe pain
• Redness or tearing of the eye on the affected side of your head
• Nasal congestion
• Runny nose
• Drooping eyelid
• Restlessness

If you experience any of these signs or symptoms, book an appointment with our team as soon as possible. We can effectively evaluate you and begin a treatment plan right away.

Treatment for chronic headaches

Depending on the type of headache you have, treatments vary. Ways to calm or eliminate symptoms of a headache include:

• Resting in a quiet, dark room
• Applying a compress (hot or cold) to your head or neck
• Massaging your head
• Taking small amounts of caffeine
• Taking over-the-counter medications (ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or aspirin)
• Prescription medications including triptans

Alternative therapies of treatment might help also, which include cognitive behavioral therapy, biofeedback, massage therapy, and acupuncture.

We can also prescribe medications that include tricyclic antidepressants to manage certain types of headaches. In most cases, one drug is preferred, but if just one doesn't work well enough, we may need to combine medications.

When headaches call for emergency medical attention

You need to seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following:

• Sudden, very severe, headache
• Head injury
• Stiff neck
• High fever
• Seizure 
• Double vision
• Difficulty speaking

These symptoms might indicate you have a more serious issue that needs an accurate diagnosis and treatment.

If you suffer from chronic headaches, let us help you put an end to them. Reach out to our friendly office staff by phone today to book an appointment at the location nearest you in Plainsboro or Manalapan Township, New Jersey. You can also book your visit online.