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Headaches services offered in Kingwood, Kingwood, TX
Headaches are a nuisance when you get them now and again. But if you suffer frequent, severe headaches, it can disrupt your entire life. Contact board-certified pain management specialists Chandler Mann, MD, and Leonard Trahan, MD, at the North Houston Pain Center in Kingwood, Texas, if you’re limited by repeated headaches or migraines. They offer advanced treatments for severe headaches that include nerve block injections. Call the North Houston Pain Center today or book an appointment online to find relief from constant headaches.
Headaches Q & A
What causes headaches?
Headaches have many causes. Spending too long in the sun, stress and muscle tension, not drinking enough water, and blows to the head can cause headaches. They’re often symptoms of fevers and infections like colds, flu, and sinusitis (inflamed sinuses).
Of the 150 or so kinds of headaches, some are more common than others. Conditions like occipital and trigeminal neuralgia are caused by problems with the large nerves in your head and face. They tend to cause brief attacks of sharp, shooting pain. Cervicogenic headaches stem from problems in your neck that spread into your head.
In many cases, the root cause of the headache is unknown. Cluster headaches cause sudden attacks of severe pain on one side of your head, usually around one eye. Migraines, the most common recurring headaches, can cause overwhelming pain, nausea and vomiting, weakness, dizziness, and visual disturbances.
How are headaches diagnosed?
Diagnosing headaches can sometimes take a while, as there are a lot of different kinds of headaches. Your doctor needs to exclude possible causes like diseases, brain tumors, and other conditions affecting your head.
After discussing your symptoms and looking through your medical history, your doctor examines your head and face and checks your blood pressure, heart rate, and other health indicators. Depending on what they find, you might need X-rays, an MRI, or a CT scan.
Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) tests and an electromyogram (EMG) can help diagnose neuralgia. These tests measure nerve activity so that if an injured or faulty nerve is causing your pain, the North Houston Pain Center team can find it.
How are headaches treated?
Most everyday headaches respond to over-the-counter medications. You can also help prevent headaches by reducing stress, drinking more water, and adopting a better posture. If you have recurring headaches like migraines, you might need prescription medication. These medicines reduce the number of migraines you get and make the symptoms less severe.
The North Houston Pain Center team also offers injectable treatments for headaches, including:
Occipital nerve blocks
The occipital nerve runs from the base of your skull up the back of your head. A nerve block is a local anesthetic injection that numbs the pain in the occipital nerve.
Sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) block
An SPG block contains a local anesthetic that numbs pain from the sphenopalatine ganglion. This is a bundle of nerves often involved in migraines, cluster headaches, and trigeminal neuralgia.
Call the North Houston Pain Center today or book an appointment online to learn more about the best treatments for headaches.