Migraine and Headache Pain Management

Headaches are classified into 12 categories, but the most common forms of headaches are stress or tension headaches. During a tension headache, pain is most often located near the forehead and/or the back of the head. As a result of contracting muscles, a tension headache often causes constricting pressure pain.

Migraines are more intense headaches and can be accompanied with nausea and vomiting, as well as light sensitivity and blurred vision. Migraine headaches give off a throbbing, pulsating pain usually found in the forehead or temple that can occur on one or both sides of the head.

A proper exam from a specialised physician is a must to avoid misdiagnosis.

Which types of headaches do we treat?

Tension-type headache

The most common headache of all. It feels like a tight band or a helmet of pressure on both sides of the head, of mild to moderate intensity, and it often spreads to the neck and shoulders. Stress, long hours in static positions, screen work, and poor sleep are the usual triggers, and tender muscle points in the neck and scalp frequently keep the pain going.

Cervicogenic headache

This headache actually starts in the neck. Dysfunction of the upper cervical joints and muscles refers pain to the head, typically on one side, from the base of the skull toward the forehead or the eye. It is triggered or worsened by neck movements and sustained postures, and rotation of the neck is often reduced. Because nerves from the upper neck converge with the trigeminal nerve, it can closely mimic a migraine, which makes a careful clinical examination essential.

Migraine

Migraine produces throbbing, pulsating pain on one or both sides of the head, frequently with nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. Attacks can last from hours to days and are disabling enough to interrupt work and daily life. Migraine is a medical diagnosis and its management is physician-led, with non-drug approaches used alongside medication.

Jaw-related headache

Clenching or grinding the teeth overworks the jaw muscles and the temporomandibular joint. The result is pain around the temples and the side of the face, jaw fatigue, and sometimes clicking. This type of headache often responds well to manual release of the jaw and neck muscles combined with relaxation techniques.

How does headache treatment work at Active Health?

Every plan starts with a thorough medical assessment to identify the type of headache and to rule out warning signs that need further investigation. Our family medicine physician coordinates this first step. Treatment is then matched to the diagnosis:

• Tension-type headaches are managed with osteopathic treatment of the neck, jaw, and shoulder muscles, relaxation techniques, physical therapy, and posture correction. Manual treatment can reduce how often the headaches occur and how intense they are, and lower reliance on painkillers.
• Cervicogenic headaches respond to manual therapy of the cervical spine with our osteopath, combined with rehabilitation exercises that strengthen the deep neck muscles for lasting relief.
• Migraine care is physician-led: medication management first, supported by osteopathy and rehabilitation to address neck-related triggers.
• Persistent or frequent headaches benefit from pain psychotherapy, since stress and mood strongly influence headache frequency, and from the coordinated follow-up of our chronic pain management service.

Treatment options at a glance

Depending on your diagnosis, your treatment plan may combine one or more of the following approaches:

• Medication management
• Osteopathy
• Relaxation techniques
• Rehabilitation
• Physical therapy
• Pain psychotherapy

Headaches and migraines that keep coming back over months are also managed within our chronic pain management service, where a coordinated, multidisciplinary plan addresses both the pain and its physical and psychological consequences.

When should you seek medical advice for a headache?

Most headaches are benign, but some patterns need prompt medical evaluation. Consult a physician without delay if you experience:

• A sudden, extremely intense headache that reaches its peak within minutes
• Headache accompanied by fever and a stiff neck
• New visual disturbances, weakness, numbness, or difficulty speaking
• Headache following a head injury or accident
• A clear change in the pattern or severity of your usual headaches
• A new headache that starts after the age of 50