Headache

Many health care facilities across the country have headache clinics which specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of headaches. At a headache clinic, you can find health care professionals who will target your symptoms and other factors that may be causing your trouble with headaches. If you are having severe problems with headaches that are affecting your daily life, a headache clinic might be a good option to explore. Here are some typical questions you might have if you are debating whether to go to a headache clinic.

How severe do my headaches have to be in order to be seen at a headache clinic?
If you struggle with debilitating migraine or cluster headaches, seeking the targeted treatment of a headache clinic might be a good option. Health care professionals at headache clinics will perform a full analysis of why you are suffering from headaches with a focus on prevention and treatment. However, some seek the counsel from a headache clinic when traditional treatments have not yielded relief from their headaches.

What can you expect from your visit to a headache clinic?
Your evaluation at a headache clinic will include a full review of your medical history, x-rays, laboratory tests and our history with headaches. A headache clinic will also likely perform a comprehensive neurological examination. It may take more than one visit for the doctor to determine the proper treatment plan for you.

What kind of doctors and specialists will I find at a headache clinic?
Health care professionals at headache clinics come from a diverse background. Some are doctors that specialize in headache treatment, neurologists or physiatrists. Depending on the headache clinic’s philosophy for treatment, they may have other specialists to assist you. The collective approach of different types of doctors at a headache clinic can perhaps give you the well-rounded treatment plan to reduce the severity of your headaches.

What are some of the treatment options available at a headache center?
The treatment options vary from clinic to clinic and depending on the clinic’s philosophy. At the Houston Headache Center in Houston, Texas, they offer an array of state of the art treatments in addition to pharmacological treatments including psychological and behavioral therapy, biofeedback therapy and relaxation techniques, trigger point injections, chemo denervation and surgical options. The San Francisco Headache Clinic in San Francisco, California focuses on a preventative approach to lessen the severity and frequency of headaches. The San Francisco Clinic also does not employ any treatment that would be considered addictive or potentially harmful if abused.

Would I need to be hospitalized for evaluation at a headache clinic?
The San Francisco Headache Clinic reports on its Web site that hospitalization is not usually necessary to attain a full review of one’s headache condition. However, the clinic does explain that a short visit may be necessary for some testing if warranted. If you have been hospitalized in the past for headache problems, this should be noted when visiting the headache clinic.

What if I don’t live near a headache clinic but could use that type of expertise?
If you have a severe problem with headaches, there are many doctors who can help you or refer you to someone locally to help. There are also resources online for renowned headache clinics that may be able to suggest a health care professional in your area.

Treatment through a headache clinic has brought many people relief from their headaches. However, it’s important to remember that the symptoms and causes of headaches really depend on the person’s physical make-up and health condition therefore making treatment and diagnosis a delicate and individual determination.