Treatment for Chronic Headaches in Delray Beach, FL

If you’re experiencing chronic headaches in Delray Beach, FL, you’re not alone. Headaches can be a source of pain and discomfort, and they can affect your daily life. Fortunately, there are effective treatments available to help alleviate your symptoms and improve your quality of life.

At our pain management clinic, we offer personalized care to help you find relief from your chronic headaches. Our board-certified physician, Dr. Marcie A. Merson is board-certified and trained at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and North Shore University Hospital. She will work with you to address your specific needs. To schedule an appointment, please call us at (561) 499-7020 or use our secure form.

What are Headaches?

A headache is a pain or discomfort in the head or face. Headaches can develop gradually or suddenly, lasting from less than an hour to several days. Headaches are very common and in most cases are no reason for concern. In some cases, headaches may be a sign of an underlying condition.

Headaches may occur:

• On one or both sides of the head
• Be isolated to a certain location
• Radiate across the head from one point
• Bring a feeling of tightness or firmness
• In connection with another medical condition

Types of headaches include:

Migraine headache

• Most common type of headache
• Usually on one side of the head
• Lasts from two to seventy-two hours
• Often associated with nausea and/or vomiting
• Brings a sensitivity to light and/or sound
• Typically a throbbing pain
• Is a chronic disease or genetic condition
• May be experienced alongside an “aura” which can be flashes of light, blind spots, and other vision changes or tingling in your hand or face

Tension headache

• Second most common headache type
• Often referred to as “hatband” headaches because they typically painful around the back of the head, the temples and forehead, as if a tight hat were in place
• May feel pressure at onset and can last from hours to days
• Can co-exist with migraine, and one can transform or trigger the other
• Often responsive to physical therapy, relaxation therapy and anti-inflammatories or muscle relaxants

Cluster headache

• Relatively short-lived lasting usually between 20 minutes and two hours
• Always one-sided and is associated with symptoms such as a stuffy nose on one side, tearing, an enlarged pupil, or a droopy lid
• Occur several to many times a day for a period of days to weeks, and then disappear for a variable amount of time, usually weeks to months
• Some of the most painful headaches imaginable

Hypnic Headache

• Rare and occurs in people between the ages of 40 and 80
• Occurs exclusively at night, typically lasting between 15 and 60 minutes and usually at the same time each night
• Pain is not exclusive to one side and does not have cluster headache patterns
• Specific treatments are designed for hypnic headaches

What May Cause Headaches?

When headache triggers are known, avoiding the triggers can prevent a headache. Reducing stress can minimize or prevent headaches caused by stress. Migraine and cluster headaches may be prevented by taking a daily preventive medicines.

What is the Treatment for Headaches?

The treatment for your headache may depend on the type of headache you are experiencing.

Some common treatment options include:

Over-the-Counter Medications

• Aspirin
• Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others)
• Acetaminophen (Tylenol, others)
• Caffeine

Rest

• In a quiet, dark room
• Hot or cold compresses
• Massage
• Muscle relaxants

Other Medications

• Tricyclic antidepressants
• Injectable medications
• Prescription nasal sprays
• Preventive medications
• Calcium channel blockers (increase blood and oxygen supply to the heart)

Therapy

• Transcranial magnetic stimulation, a therapy that uses electrical currents to stimulate nerve cells in the brain
• Physical therapy
• Oxygen therapy (breathing pure oxygen via mask)

Each type of headache has different treatment methods that can be effective in treating headache pain. It is important to be open and honest with Dr. Merson to find what works for you.

You may undergo some testing like blood tests, X-rays, or an MRI to properly diagnose your type of headache and to get relief for your symptoms. We often need a process of trial and error to find effective treatment options.

When to Get Help

Almost everyone gets headaches and many are nothing to worry about.

When headache triggers are known, avoiding the triggers can prevent a headache. Reducing stress can minimize or prevent headaches caused by stress. Migraine and cluster headaches may be prevented by taking a daily preventive medicines.

If headaches are disrupting your activities, work or personal life, it’s time to see Dr. Merson. Headaches can’t always be prevented, but Dr. Merson can help you manage the symptoms.

Your age, lifestyle, and personal preference will all determine which treatment is best for you. The goal of treatment is to stop headaches from occurring, avoiding triggers, and get control quickly if they do occur.