The pain of headaches and migraines, or severe headaches, can be agonizing. The team of pain management physicians at Pain Doctor NY in Midtown East, Manhattan, uses holistic and traditional treatments to manage headache and migraine pain and restore your quality of life. Call the New York City office to learn more about your treatment options, or book an appointment online today.
Headaches and Migraines
What are headaches and migraines?
Headaches involve pain in any part of your head, and migraines are headaches associated with more severe pain. They may appear as sharp pain or dull aches. Additional symptoms of migraines might include:
- Seeing an aura
- Nausea or vomiting
- Throbbing pain
- Light or sound sensitivity
- Weakness or numbness
Headaches and migraines can slowly develop over time or appear suddenly without warning. If you experience chronic head pain, the pain management physicians at Pain Doctor NY can help.
What causes headaches and migraines?
Numerous factors can contribute to headaches and migraines. Examples include:
- Genetics
- Hormone fluctuations in women
- Stress or tension
- Excessive exercise
- Dehydration
- Too much caffeine or alcohol
- Lack of sleep
- Certain medications
- An underlying health condition
If you have chronic headaches or migraines your doctor may evaluate you for an underlying medical condition, such as a brain tumor.
What is the treatment for headaches and migraines?
After reviewing your medical history and completing an exam, blood tests, or imaging tests, your doctor has a better idea of what’s causing headaches or migraines. They may recommend one or more of the following treatments:
Medications
Your provider may recommend you take over-the-counter or prescription-strength pain medications to ease pain or help prevent migraines from developing.
Lifestyle changes
If you’d rather not or are unable to take medications, your doctor might suggest making lifestyle changes to eliminate or reduce the severity of head pain.
Examples include setting regular sleep and meal patterns, drinking more water, eliminating alcohol or caffeine, and getting regular exercise.
Natural remedies
Natural remedies may also ease the pain associated with headaches and migraines or help prevent them from occurring. Your provider might recommend acupuncture, using an ice pack, cognitive behavioral therapy, biofeedback, or taking vitamin, mineral, or herbal supplements.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy involves learning behaviors that affect pain perception, and biofeedback uses relaxation techniques to monitor and control muscle tension and other stress responses.
Taking vitamin B2, magnesium, or coenzyme Q10 supplements may help decrease migraine frequency.
Ask your doctor if these or other supplements are right for you. Don’t let headache or migraine pain prevent you from enjoying life to its fullest. Schedule an appointment with Pain Doctor NY, or book one online today.