Dealing with persistent or severe headaches can significantly disrupt your daily life. If you’re experiencing head pain that’s interfering with your well-being, it might be time to consult a specialist. Knowing when to seek help from a Head Pain Doctor, specifically a neurologist, is crucial for effective diagnosis and treatment. Here’s when you should consider making an appointment with a neurologist specializing in head pain.
Recognizing When to Seek Expert Help for Head Pain
It’s important to understand that not all headaches require a neurologist’s attention. However, certain headache patterns and accompanying symptoms are red flags that warrant expert evaluation. You should consider seeing a head pain doctor if you experience any of the following:
- Persistent Headaches: If your headache lingers for more than 48 hours, it’s essential to seek medical advice. A headache that is continuous for a prolonged period could indicate an underlying issue that needs to be addressed by a specialist.
- Sudden Onset Headaches: Headaches that strike suddenly and intensely, often described as “thunderclap” headaches, require immediate medical attention. These could be symptoms of serious conditions and should be evaluated by a head pain doctor promptly.
- Headaches Worsened by Physical Activity: If your head pain intensifies when you strain, cough, bend over, or engage in other forms of physical exertion, it could be a sign of increased intracranial pressure or other neurological issues. A neurologist specializing in head pain can investigate these symptoms.
- Early Morning Headaches: Headaches that consistently occur early in the morning can be associated with various conditions, including sleep disorders, hypertension, or even brain tumors. Consulting a head pain doctor is advisable to determine the cause.
- Vision Changes with Headaches: Experiencing changes in vision, such as blurred vision, double vision, flashing lights, or temporary vision loss, along with headaches, is a significant warning sign. These symptoms could indicate migraines with aura or more serious neurological conditions requiring a head pain doctor’s expertise.
- Seizures and Headaches: If you’ve had a seizure in conjunction with your headaches, it’s crucial to see a neurologist. Seizures are a serious neurological symptom, and when combined with head pain, they necessitate expert evaluation from a head pain doctor.
Diagnostic Tests Performed by Head Pain Doctors
When you visit a neurologist, or head pain doctor, for headache evaluation, they will conduct a comprehensive assessment. This typically includes a detailed medical history, a thorough physical examination, and specific neurological tests to pinpoint the cause of your head pain. These tests may include:
- CT Scan: Computed Tomography (CT) scans of the head are valuable for visualizing the brain and skull. A head pain doctor may order a CT scan to detect structural abnormalities, bleeding in the brain, sinus issues, spinal problems, or tumors that could be responsible for your headaches.
- MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) provides more detailed images of the brain compared to CT scans. A head pain doctor might recommend an MRI, especially if there’s a history of recent head injury, or if they suspect structural issues, tumors, or soft tissue abnormalities as the cause of your head pain.
- EEG: Electroencephalography (EEG) is a test that measures brain electrical activity using electrodes placed on the scalp. A head pain doctor uses EEG to diagnose conditions like epilepsy, sleep disorders, and assess brain function in cases of stroke, head injury, or brain damage that may contribute to headaches.
- Eye Exams: Neurological eye exams are crucial in evaluating headache patients. A head pain doctor will examine your pupils, eye movements, and visual fields to check for signs of concussion, increased intracranial pressure, or neurological damage affecting vision that could be linked to your head pain.
- Spinal Tap (Lumbar Puncture): In certain situations, a head pain doctor may perform a spinal tap. This procedure involves collecting a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to analyze its characteristics. Spinal taps help detect infections like meningitis, bleeding in the brain, or conditions like Guillain-Barré syndrome that can cause head pain and neurological symptoms.
- Sinus X-rays: If sinus infections or chronic sinusitis are suspected as the underlying cause of your headaches, a head pain doctor may order sinus X-rays to visualize the sinuses and identify any blockages or inflammation.
- Lab Tests: Depending on your overall health and headache symptoms, a head pain doctor may request various lab tests, such as blood tests and urinalysis. These tests can help rule out or confirm systemic conditions like thyroid disorders, diabetes, or infections that can contribute to or trigger headaches.
While your primary care physician can address many health concerns, a head pain doctor possesses specialized knowledge and diagnostic tools to accurately determine the cause of complex or persistent headaches and provide targeted treatment.
Beaumont: Your Destination for Headache Treatment
If you are struggling with frequent, severe, or debilitating headaches, or if your headaches are accompanied by concerning symptoms, the neurologists at Beaumont Health are here to help. As leading head pain doctors in Southeast Michigan, Beaumont neurologists utilize cutting-edge diagnostic technologies and evidence-based treatments to care for patients of all ages with neurological conditions. From acute brain injuries to chronic headache disorders, Beaumont is a trusted destination for comprehensive neurology services.
Specialized Neurology Centers
Beaumont Health’s specialized neurology centers offer convenient access to the head pain doctors and specialists you need, all in one place. Whether you require a detailed neurological evaluation or advanced headache management strategies, Beaumont’s integrated centers streamline your care.
Don’t let head pain control your life. Call 800-633-7377 today to schedule an appointment with a Beaumont head pain doctor and take the first step towards effective diagnosis and relief.
