Centers of Excellence Physician Services Support Services

Headache

Many people choose to suffer through the pain, thinking, "It's just a headache." But when over-the-counter medications are no longer effective, or if headaches increase in frequency, it may be time to seek further help.

The Walton Pain & Headache Center advises patients to consult a headache specialist if:

  • You have two or more disabling headaches a week that impede your ability to function well at work or make you unable to go to work.
  • You have four to six headaches a month and find it difficult to function at work or must take medication in order to function at work.
  • You have never had headaches, but start to develop a pattern of escalating headaches. Everyone can have a bad month, but if a trend develops, for example, you have two headaches one month, then four, then more the next month, you should considering seeing a specialist.

Before your initial visit

Prior to your visit to Walton's Pain and Headache Center, we recommend tracking your headaches through a headache diary or calendar, which can help identify a pattern to your headaches, and assist in diagnosis and treatment. Your diary should include information such as:

  • Triggers. Your sleep patterns, food choices, when you eat, stress levels, and for women, when you have your period, can all trigger a headache. It's important that you note these types of daily activities.
  • Headaches. Along with the date and length of time of your headache, note the severity. Describe other symptoms, including nausea, seeing auras, dizziness or more.
  • Medication. Include information on what medication you took to relieve your headache, and whether or not it was successful.
This information can help our specialists determine what type of headache you're experiencing. A headache diary can also pinpoint some preventative measures to help patients avoid a throbbing head. For example, your physician might determine that strong scents like smoke or perfume, or food products that contain caffeine or MSG, might be at the root of your headaches.

Conditions

Treatments

Usually patients do not begin to experience relief from their headaches for two to three weeks after the initial injection. Thereafter, the effect may increase and last for three to four months. When a second injection is performed, the effect appears to last longer - up to four to six months.

Results at the Walton Pain & Headache Center show that about 70 percent of patients have significant reduction, and in some cases, complete elimination of their headaches as a result of these injections. Overall, this is believed to be an effective, risk-free treatment.