Headache

What are the primary causes of headaches?

Headaches occur for different reasons, but the most common causes include stress, illness, trauma, vision problems, muscle tension, and neurovascular issues. Some headaches are acute, occurring and resolving suddenly, while others can be chronic and persistent, often resulting in debilitating pain that can interfere with everyday activities.

What are migraines?

Migraines are severe, chronic headaches typically associated with debilitating pain that can be accompanied by nausea, hypersensitivity to light or sound, and manifestations of visual aura symptoms like tunnel vision or prismatic “splotches.” The specific causes of migraines have not been determined but scientists believe nerves and blood vessels play a role.

What causes tension headaches?

The term “tension headache” typically refers to headaches that occur from a combination of psychological stress and physical strain in the back or neck that causes muscles to tighten up, increasing the tension on the muscles that support the head. As the muscles tighten, inflammation and “knotting” can occur in the muscles, sometimes causing nerves and blood vessels to become compressed. While massage can be effective in providing temporary relief for some symptoms, other types of medical care including injections in the back and neck are usually needed to help keep tension headaches at bay.

How are headaches treated?

Headache treatment begins with a physical evaluation and a review of symptoms, sometimes accompanied by diagnostic imaging and lab tests to confirm or rule out specific causes. Depending on the type of headache that's occurring and its cause, treatments can include:

• BOTOX® injections to help prevent migraine attacks
• nerve blocks aimed at controlling and regulating nerve signaling that can trigger headaches
• muscle injections to control painful spasms
• trigger point injections to release tense muscle knots that can cause neck muscles to tighten, causing pain and restricting blood flow
• other injections aimed at reducing inflammation and irritation in the neck or back that can cause or contribute to headache symptoms

Injections have proven to be very effective not only in managing and relieving painful symptoms of headaches but also in preventing headaches from recurring and in lessening the frequency of chronic headaches.

*Individual Results May Vary