Headaches

Headaches range from mild discomfort to debilitating pain, leaving you unable to do anything but rest in a quiet room. No matter what type of chronic headache you experience, you can turn to board-certified pain management physician Marcie Merson, MD, at Palm Beach Pain Institute. Dr. Merson offers comprehensive care that eases your pain during a headache and prevents future headaches. Call the office in Delray Beach, Florida, or request an appointment online to begin treatments to alleviate your headaches.

What causes headaches?

Headaches cause pain or discomfort in the head and face. They may originate from muscle, nerve, or blood vessel problems in the neck or head. Alternatively, they could be due to an underlying health condition, such as a concussion.

What are the different types of headaches?

Headache pain can develop gradually or appear suddenly, vary in intensity and location, and last for less than an hour or perhaps months. Here’s a rundown of five different headaches:

Tension headaches

Tension headaches cause pain and pressure (tension) around your head like you’re wearing a tight hat or headband. Though they’re common and usually cause mild to moderate pain that improves with medication, you can develop chronic tension headaches that last hours to days.

Migraine headaches

Migraines cause severe throbbing pain in one or both temples. Without treatment, migraines can last for days. They also cause nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light.

Cluster headaches

Cluster headaches cause excruciating pain around one eye or one side of the head. They occur in cycles and clusters, with several headaches lasting up to three hours every day for weeks, a year, or longer.

You may also have other symptoms on the affected side of your face, such as a stuffy nose (in one nostril), enlarged pupil, eye tearing, or a droopy eyelid.

Cervicogenic (cervical) headaches

These headaches begin due to a neck injury or degenerative condition. Cervical headaches are often chronic and may be confused with tension headaches or migraine.

Occipital headaches (occipital neuralgia)

Occipital headaches develop when the occipital nerves become inflamed, irritated, or pinched. These nerves travel from your upper neck to the back of your scalp, causing headache pain behind one eye or in the back of your head. 

Your pain may ache, burn, throb, or feel like an electric shock.

How are headaches treated?

Dr. Merson has extensive experience treating all types of headaches with the most advanced and effective therapies. Your personalized treatment plan may include any of the following:

• Medications (to reduce headache pain and duration and prevent future headaches)
• CGRP monoclonal antibody injections
• Occipital nerve blocks
• Sphenopalatine ganglion nerve blocks
• Botox® injections (for chronic migraines)
• Neuromodulation (blocks nerve activity associated with headaches)
• Identifying and eliminating triggers
• Behavioral modifications
• Stress management
• Oxygen therapy
• Physical therapy
• Nutritional counseling
• Osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMT)
• Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

To seek headache relief, call Palm Beach Pain Institute or request an appointment online today.