Understanding the Different Types of Headaches

According to the World Health Organization, headaches are among the most common ailments and affect almost everyone on the planet from time to time.

At Integrated Spine & Pain Care, our skilled team, led by practice president and board-certified interventional pain management specialist Dr. Mikael Sarij, offers our expertise to help, treat and manage the headaches impacting your productivity and quality of life. Let’s take a closer look at the different headaches and treatment options that might be right for you.

Headaches 101

A headache is defined as pain anywhere in your head. Headaches can also be sudden and sharp, throbbing constantly, or immediate and persistent.

The many types of headaches

Not all headaches are alike. There are many types and causes of headaches, such as:

Stress and tension headaches

Feels like a tight band is compressing your whole head; triggered by worry, anxiety, or physical strain.

Cluster headaches

A prolonged and intense pain on one side of your head or behind your eyes. Strikes in clusters, or cyclical patterns and usually prompted by smoke, alcohol, or strong smells.

Headaches from face pain

Swelling and inflammation from a problem with your temporomandibular joint causes pain in your head. TMJ headaches typically occur in your forehead or temples.

Migraines

While we treat all types of headaches here in our state-of-the-art pain clinic, we specialize in migraine care. Migraines cause a unique kind of pain that can last for days and can be completely debilitating. Symptoms include light and sound sensitivity, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, blurred vision, slurred speech, and numbness in your feet and hands.

Other headaches

Other types of headaches we treat here in the office are:

• Sinus headaches
• Allergy headaches
• Exertion headaches
• Hypertension headaches

Many times, headaches can be associated with fluctuations in your hormones as well.

Help for your headache

Dr. Sarij customizes your treatment after he conducts a full exam and review to determine the cause, type, and severity of your headaches. Together you’ll come up with a plan to avoid triggers and modify lifestyle factors. When intervention is necessary, he may recommend:

• Pain medicine
• Occipital nerve blocks
• Stellate ganglion blocks
• Physical therapy
• Trigger point injections

If headaches interrupt your daily routine and keep you from enjoying your life, turn to Integrated Spine & Pain Care for relief. You can schedule a visit by calling one of our New York locations in Farmingdale or Deer Park or by booking an appointment online today.