Migraine & Headache Treatment Specialist Q&A

If you have never experienced a migraine before, you may not know what symptoms to look for. While migraines and headaches share many of the same basic symptoms, migraines are typically much more intense and often involve additional sensory symptoms. Many patients with migraines will also have an aura that can cause vision changes, tingling in the limbs or even speech difficulty as part of their migraine experience. Patients who have migraines will likely also exhibit intense sensitivity to light and sound as well as nausea or vomiting in addition to the typical head pain associated with a headache. There are different types of headaches a person can experience including tension headaches and cluster headaches. By speaking with an experienced doctor, you can better understand the type of headache or migraine you are experiencing and how best to prevent them before they start.

Speaking with a specialist about your treatment options can be the best way to work toward preventing migraines before they start. Treatments like Botox injections can relax some of the muscles that may be responsible for your migraine symptoms. Learning to identify and understand your migraine triggers can give you the information you need to avoid these triggers. Common triggers include smoking, extreme fatigue, stress, bright or flickering lights, too much caffeine, hormonal changes, changes in weather, or fasting, among others. Of course, not all of these can be avoided, but by minimizing your stress, ensuring you get enough sleep, and protecting yourself from certain smells or sights, you may be able to reduce your migraine recurrence. 

The treatment you choose to address your headache symptoms may depend on the type of headache you are experiencing. Tension headaches are most often treated with simple over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Some other types of headaches may be caused by dehydration or over-exertion and still, others may be induced by congestion in the sinuses. For these occurrences, reducing your exercise, hydrating properly, or treating the underlying illness or allergy condition may be more beneficial. The doctors at our practice can help you better understand how to identify the type of headache you have, so you can administer effective treatment. For patients with chronic headaches, acupuncture, biofeedback therapy, and massage may be useful techniques for reducing overall tension and stress and minimizing the number of headaches you experience regularly.

If you are interested in discussing treatment for migraines and headaches, contact Immediate Care of Oklahoma today to schedule an appointment with one of our doctors. We serve patients from West Moore OK, Norman (HealthPlex) OK, Norman (24th) OK, Edmond OK, Yukon OK, I-240 & Sooner RD OK, Tecumseh OK, and Bethany OK.