Headache
Many people experience an occasional headache. But if you suffer from severe headache pain, you know how debilitating it can be. Fortunately, Prisma Health can help.
Regain control over your headaches
We offer comprehensive evaluation and treatment for migraines, tension headaches, sinus headaches and other types of headaches. With multidisciplinary expertise and a compassionate approach, our experts work with you to find the most effective treatment for your individual needs.
Find a Headache Specialist Location
Whether you are experiencing your first migraine, or have ongoing headaches with a history of unsuccessful treatments, our specialists can help you manage your symptoms, ease your pain and improve your quality of life.
Headache conditions we treat
We offer comprehensive treatment services to manage a range of headache conditions in children and adults, including:
- Cluster headaches
- Medication overuse headaches
- Migraines
- Post-traumatic headaches
- Sinus headaches
- Tension headaches
Headache treatments and services
We offer a wide range of services to treat your headache, including:
- Acupuncture
- Botox injections
- Infusion therapy
- Lifestyle modifications (diet and exercise)
- Neuroimaging
- Neurosurgical referral
- Pericranial nerve blocks
- Pharmacological treatments
- Physical therapy
- Psychological and behavioral therapy
Types of headache
Migraines
The most common type of primary headache (not caused by another medical condition) is migraine. Migraine headaches are usually characterized by severe pain on one or both sides of the head, an upset stomach and, at times, disturbed vision. Women are more likely than men to have migraine headaches. Migraine headaches may last a day or more and can strike as often as several times a week or as rarely as once every few years.
Tension headaches
Tension headaches are dull pain, tightness, or pressure around your forehead or the back of your head and neck. Some people say it feels like a clamp squeezing their skull. They’re also called stress headaches, and they’re the most common type for adults.
Cluster headaches
Cluster headaches are rare when compared with other types of headaches. The pain they produce is severe and tends to recur in the same way each time. They occur in groups or clusters. Each attack lasts about 1 to 3 hours on average. They may occur every other day, up to multiple times a day. Cluster periods are followed by remissions where there are no headaches. These may last months or years.
Sinus headaches
Sinus headaches include headache, face pain, and nasal drainage. True sinus headaches are actually uncommon and are the result of a prior sinus infection. More often, a “sinus” headache is actually a migraine or tension headache.
Post-traumatic headaches
Post-traumatic headaches happen because of muscle tensing as the result of a brain or head injury. Or your blood vessels may narrow, keeping blood from flowing to your head like it normally does. When you get a post-traumatic headache that feels like a migraine, it could be moderate to severe in intensity.
Medication overuse headaches
Medication overuse headaches or rebound headaches are caused by regular, long-term use of medication to treat headaches, such as migraines. Pain relievers offer relief for occasional headaches. But if you take them more than a couple of days a week, they may trigger medication overuse headaches.