Headache Guide

Wisdom is knowing what to do next, skill is knowing how to do it, and virtue is doing it.

-David Starr Jordan

“Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.”

-Lance Armstrong

TeethRemoval.com's Headache Guide

If you suffer from headaches I recommend you first take steps to identify what may or may not be causing the headaches.

headache girl

If you have a migraine or tension headache there are many preventative and abortive medications that have been proven to help. You should find yourself a good neurologist who specializes in headaches.

If your headaches do not seem to be as mainstream there are a ton of other condtions and medical problems that can be causing your headaches. Acute and chronic headaches: A guide for the primary physician and the headache specialist, is a book I recommend.

I have looked at many different types of headaches and have listed a few in the headache guide. Please take a look at the headache hierarchy chart to understand how many different types of chronic headaches are currently known and to aid in your own research or personal purposes.

There are many diagnostic tests that can be done and should be done in difficult cases:

A MRI/MRV of the brain to look for tumors, hematomas, and sinusitus, an MRA of the head to look for aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations, an MRI of the cervical spine to look for cervical spondylosis, blood tests including a complete blood count, a chest x-ray to look for a metastatic neoplasm, a lumbar puncture to diagnose central nervous system lues, a 24 hour urine collection for catecholamines, 24 hour blood pressure monitoring, and a neurological exam.

Taking supplements are a great idea. A multivitamin is something everyone should take. Coenzyme Q 10, fish oil, magnesium oxide, and calcium are currently what I take. You might have a defiency contributing to the headache. Even if you don't, evidence suggests Coenzyme Q 10 and fish oil when used in combination can have a beneficial effect.

Radiologists who read the scans you have done are not always going to find what is contributing to your headache if something can be found. An incidental finding is common. Additionally compressed nerves in the nose may be overlooked. Also sometimes it can take time untill a growth or abnormality is able to be picked up on a scan. Remember that CT scans are not without risks and expose you to radiation.

If you are suffering from a headache disorder you may find the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy to be useful.