Neuromuscular Headache Blog - I Hate Headaches

Headaches can be a red flag that your body sends up to let you know there is a problem. But how can a doctor tell what that flag means?

The first thing a doctor does to properly diagnose and treat a headache is to take a patient history. He or she will focus on the frequency and duration of your headache, when it occurs, how painful it is, what may have triggered it and if there were any other prior symptoms.

After taking your history, your doctor will examine you and possibly run additional tests, to determine what type of headache you are experiencing. He or she will want to establish if this is a primary headache or a secondary headache, which means that there is an underlying medical condition that should be addressed.

Some of the tests used to rule out secondary headaches include: x-ray, spinal tap, MRI, CT scan, EEG or PET scan. Your doctor may also refer you to a neuromuscular dentist for further evaluation.

Most importantly, you should let your doctor know if you are experiencing a headache accompanied by weakness, numbness, visual loss, or difficulty speaking, a headache that becomes measurably worse with time or a sudden headache accompanied by fever and a stiff neck. These are all extreme conditions that are your body’s way of letting you know that there is a problem and may require immediate medical attention.

If you experience chronic headaches and live in Alabama, Nebraska, California, Illinois, Texas, Utah or Northern Virginia, please contact us at I Hate Headaches to meet with one of our headache specialists, today.