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‘Headache’ (or cephalgia) is a broad term that encompasses a number of conditions related to the head and neck. The brain itself lacks pain receptors; headache pain is caused by disorders of the structures surrounding the brain (thus a wide variety of headache types and symptoms exist).

The most common types of headache include:

• Migraine Headache: This type of headache is a symptom of a larger neurological disorder, and is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and visual disturbances (among other symptoms). The headache itself usually occurs on one side of the head and can be debilitating.

• Tension Headache: Tension Headaches are experienced as a constant pressure on the head. They are distinguished from Migraine headaches in that they produce a dull, non-throbbing ache and tightness, and are usually experienced on both sides of the head. The pain of a tension headache can range from mild to severe.

• Cluster Headache: Cluster headaches are diagnosed less frequently than migraine or tension headaches. This condition produces painful attacks that range in length from five minutes to an hour. They occur in clusters, in which a sufferer may experience several headaches every day for weeks or even months at a time.

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation for Headaches: Reducing Drug Use

Many headache sufferers rely on painkilling medications to treat symptoms. Unfortunately, drug use for headache pain is problematic for several reasons. Some problems with the use of painkillers may include:

• Medications treat pain while ignoring the cause of the problem;
• Addiction;
• Damage to the gastrointestinal tract and kidneys; and
• Rebound headaches, a phenomenon in which the treatment actually causes a recurrence of the original complaint.

What is the alternative to drug use? Many patients suffering from headaches often find relief with the help of a Physiatrist (a specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation). This type of doctor is concerned with the non-surgical treatment and management of pain related to the nerves, muscles, and bones of the body.

Physiatrists often recommend the use of a combination of therapies, including physical therapy, massage therapy, acupuncture, or chiropractic (all of which are offered at Monmouth Pain and Rehabilitation Center). When these more conservative therapies have been exhausted, and headache symptoms persist, Physiatrists may perform minimally invasive procedures such as Trigger Point Injections or Epidural Steroid Injections.

Trigger Point Injections for Muscle-Related Headaches

Trigger Point Injections are used to alleviate headaches associated with myofascial pain (myofascial trigger points), which are hypersensitive areas in the muscles that can lead to headache. Trigger Point Injections involve the use of a local anesthetic medication and/or cortisone.

To increase the accuracy and effectiveness of Trigger Point Injections, some Physiatrists (including the doctors at Monmouth Pain and Rehabilitation Center) use Ultrasound technology to guide injections with real-time, moving images of the affected areas. This helps to increase the accuracy and effectiveness of Trigger Point Injections.

Epidural Steroid Injections for Cervicogenic (Neck-Related) Conditions that may cause Headaches

In some cases, patients with neck pain also experience headaches. When neck pain is treated properly, headache pain is often alleviated. Neck pain can be caused by auto accidents or sports injuries (whiplash); poor posture; obesity; arthritis; degenerative disc disease; herniated discs; emotional or mental health issues; or workplace trauma.

Physiatrists perform Epidural Steroid Injections to relieve the pain and inflammation associated with neck pain-related headaches. This treatment involves the injection of a long-lasting steroid (cortisone) into the epidural space—the area that surrounds the spinal sac and provides cushioning for the nerves and spinal cord.

Fluoroscopic imaging technology assists with the process of performing Epidural Steroid Injections. This imaging technology uses intermittent x-rays to produce real-time, moving images of the observed body part; the technique of administering Epidural Steroid Injections with Fluoroscopy ensures that medicine is delivered as close to inflamed nerve roots as possible.

Medical Treatment for Headaches at Monmouth Pain and Rehabilitation Center

At Monmouth Pain and Rehabilitation Center, our medical staff is dedicated to providing the most conservative, least invasive treatments for headaches. Chronic headaches are not only extremely disruptive to an active, productive lifestyle, but they pose a serious health threat to patients who rely on painkilling medications.

We have built a progressive facility dedicated to integrating the best of both Western and Eastern medical techniques for pain management. As stated above, we incorporate the ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture in the treatment of headaches. Acupuncture encourages the body to harness its own natural resources to manage pain.

Through the stimulation of certain points on the body, acupuncture can help with the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkilling chemicals. Acupuncture also increases serotonin levels, which can boost both the mood of pain sufferers and suppress the stimulation of nerve signals that cause headache pain.

When minimally invasive procedures (such as Trigger Point Injections and Epidural Steroid Injections) are necessary, Our Red Bank, NJ pain management and rehabilitation facility incorporates both Ultrasound technology and a cutting-edge Fluoroscopy suite to ensure the accuracy and effectiveness of all related procedures.

If you are interested in learning more about conservative medical care for headaches in Monmouth County, please contact our Red Bank, NJ pain management office.