Headaches

What causes headaches?

Headaches are usually classified as primary or secondary depending on their cause. Primary headaches are a condition in themselves, while secondary headaches are symptoms of another illness or health issue. 

At Beverly Hills Migraine and Pain Management Institute, Dr. Taimoorazy diagnoses and treats:

Chronic headaches

Chronic headaches are defined as when the frequency of the headaches exceed more than 15 headache days per month. Any headache, whether migraine, cluster, or tension can eventually evolve into a chronic category.

Migraines aren’t fully understood but may be due to abnormal nerve activity. Your diet and environmental factors trigger migraines.

Cluster headaches are severe headaches that occur in waves. You have several headaches a day and then they disappear. Their patterns suggest they’re caused by abnormalities in your hypothalamus. 

Tension headaches are usually due to muscle tension in your face, head, or neck. The ideology for tension type headaches is still not clearly understood. It may be a milder form of a migraine process or it may be related to altered tension in the pericranial muscles.

Low/high cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure headaches

Your brain and spinal cord are surrounded by CSF, which cushions and protects your delicate neural tissue. If you have too much or too little CSF, it can cause headaches by either reducing the cushioning or increasing pressure on your brain.

Post-concussion headaches

If you experience a concussion or another traumatic brain injury, you might develop recurring headaches that persist after your expected recovery period. They’re usually caused by damage to your brain or your nerves’ messaging systems. 

Cervicogenic headaches

A cervicogenic headache is a secondary headache caused by anomalies in the cervical spine. This may include problems with the facet joints, the intervertebral discs, atlanto-axial joints, and basically any upper cervical pathologies. 

How do you diagnose the cause of headaches?

Dr. Taimoorazy conducts a thorough consultation and exam to diagnose your headaches. He reviews your symptoms, medical history, and lifestyle. In some cases, he might order a CT scan or MRI to look for problems inside your brain. 

How do you treat headaches?

Dr. Taimoorazy provides personalized treatment plans to reduce or eliminate your headaches. Depending on your individual needs, he might recommend dietary adjustments, stress management techniques, or medication. 

You might also benefit from nerve blocks, intra-articular injections, cervical epidural, radiofrequency ablation of the medial branch nerves, or Botox, and even possibly trigger point injections to interrupt abnormal nerve signals that cause headaches and migraines. Dr. Taimoorazy might recommend regenerative medicine treatments when appropriate. 

If you live with persistent or recurring headaches that disrupt your day-to-day life, call Beverly Hills Migraine and Pain Management Institute or make an appointment online today.