A Real Pain: When to Seek Further Medical Treatment for Your Headaches

Everyone, at some point in their lives, has experienced the pain of a headache. For most, it is a rare occasion that isn’t too disruptive to their daily life. For others, it is a constant battle that seems to make it nearly impossible to go about their day without a headache rearing its evil head. The biggest mistake that people make when it comes to headaches is not having the problem fully examined at an Oklahoma neurosurgery center by specialists who can find the root of the problem. Many do not seek medical intervention because they believe that a headache is just a fact of life, but the truth is you do not have to continue to suffer through them.

When Do I Know If I Should See a Neurologist?

The basic way of knowing if you should see a doctor about your headaches is if they seem to be happening on a regular basis and they are disrupting your life. Being able to identify what type of headaches you are suffering will also assist your doctor at an Oklahoma neurosurgery center to identify the problem.

Some headache types include:

– Tension Headaches: these headaches stem from muscle tightness in your upper body including your neck, shoulders, scalp, and jaw. This is the most common type of headache people suffer, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.  It is also the easiest to treat.  Usually, over-the-counter drugs such as Advil or Tylenol are enough to make it go away.

– Migraines: migraine headaches are considered the most severe type, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. They sometimes start off with an aura or warning to the person that a migraine is coming and tend to be a reoccurring problem. Once it is full-blown, one will typically experience extreme sensitivity to lights and sounds, intense pain, and nausea. For many who suffer from migraines, over the counter treatments do not make a significant enough impact. A neurologist can prescribe medicine that can help reduce the symptoms of a migraine.

Other headaches such as sinus headaches most likely go away with the help of over the counter treatments and probably do not require the assistance of a neurologist. It is important that when your headaches are disrupting your life, you take charge and seek the medical assistance you need. Together, you and your neurologist can overcome these crippling headaches and allow you to live your life without the pain of headaches.