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Migraine vs. Headache: What’s Causing Your Pain?
From pounding forehead pain and sinus inflammation to light sensitivity and nausea, a headache can put a halt to any day. Or…is it a migraine? Sometimes it’s not so easy to distinguish exactly what type of chronic headaches you are suffering from. Being able to identify a migraine headache from one of the other various types of headaches that exist can help you find the chronic pain relief that you need.
A Closer Look at the Different Types of Headaches
Painful Pressure of the Head: The Tension Headache
Causes: Stress, squinting, poor posture, clenching or grinding of the teeth, dehydration, and starvation
Symptoms: Forehead and upper neck pressure, feeling similar to having a band wrapped tightly around the head
Timeframe: Pain typically lasts anywhere from a few hours to a few days, with its severity ranging throughout that span of time
Cyclical Pain in One Area: The Cluster Headache
Causes: The causes of cluster headaches are unknown, but medication may trigger attacks
Symptoms: Severe pain behind one eye or on one side of the head, occurring at specific times of the day or of the year
Timeframe: Pain is often experienced in “clusters,” felt in and out throughout the span of a few days
Stuffiness, Runny Nose, and Pounding Pain: Sinus Headaches
Causes: Sinus headaches are caused by inflammation or infection of the sinuses, often a result of a cold or virus
Symptoms: Pain in the cheekbones, forehead, or nose, usually accompanied by a runny nose, congestion, or fever
Timeframe: A sinus headache generally lasts for as long as the sinuses are inflamed
Pain After Medication: The Rebound Headaches
Causes: Sensitivity to or overdose of a medication or painkiller
Symptoms: Pain typically feels similar to a tension headache, occurring a few hours after taking medication
Timeframe: Generally, pain is felt for as long as you take the medication that is causing them, and may continue for a few days after the medication is stopped
Reoccurring Throbbing, Sensitivity, and Nausea: Migraine
Causes: What causes migraine headaches remains unknown, although they are often associated with heredity or a sensitivity to light or smell
Symptoms: Throbbing pain in the head, sensitivity to light, nausea, blurred vision, and light-headedness
Timeframe: Migraine headaches can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days, many experiencing them at very specific times of day
There is no denying that any one of the above headaches can be undeniably painful, destroying your ability to enjoy any day. Fortunately, there are pain treatments available for each! Our skilled headache and migraine specialists in Dallas can help you identify what is causing your pain and offer alternative pain management solutions that will offer relief.
Discover what kind of a headache you may be suffering from and successfully manage its associated pain by scheduling an appointment with our headache and migraine specialists throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area! You may also contact us online or call us to find the pain management clinic nearest you.
