Where is the Pain?
Tension Headache
Bad Migraines
Back of Head
Pregnancy
Sudden Headache
Emergency Headache
Going Private?
Strange Headache
Sinus Headache
Orgasm Headache
Medications
Headache Episodes
Latest
Throbbing Pain
Contact
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Just a Headache or a Severe Headache?

Many people who attend my clinic suffer severe headaches.

A major problem is that they do not have a headache diagnosis.

Without a headache diagnosis, treatment may not work, and severe headaches develop.

Headache diagnosis is usually straightforward.

Nearly 99% of cases will be due to one of these 6 common causes of headaches. Every doctor who sees people with headaches and anybody who wants to know more about their head pain should be aware of the following:

  1. Tension Type Headache Symptoms - the most common headache in the world
  2. What are typical Migraine Symptoms
  3. Cervicogenic Headache - which is a common cause of pain in the side of the head
  4. Ice-pick Headache - which are short sharp pains in the head
  5. Chronic Tension Headache - is a dull pressure that never seems to let up (and brain scans are normal)
  6. Lastly, Chronic Migraine - when migraine headache relief never seems to last, and headaches keep coming back again and again.

If the headache diagnosis is not known OR is none of these 6, then working out the cause of head pain will depend on how symptoms are described.

First, what is the start of the headache like?

  • Was it a Sudden Severe Headache?
  • Is it a recurring sharp head pain?
  • Is it a frequent headache that builds up, stays for a for a while (hours to days)then goes away again?
  • Or is it a Constant Headache?

Second, you might need to consider the Location of Headache or where the head pain is worst...

Third, how the head pain feels can help make a headache diagnosis...

  • Could you be having a Stabbing Pain in the Head?
  • Or a Sharp Head Pain?
  • A Throbbing Head Pain or Pounding Headache may make you want to lie down for a while
  • Or does it feel like a Pressure in the Head?

What you were doing to bring on the headache matters....

Some severe headaches are unusual, rare or may present as an emergency...

Finally, migraine is often misdiagnosed or overlooked as a cause of bad headaches.....

  • Migraine is the most common cause of Headaches During Pregnancy. It is quite rare to find any other cause for headache in pregnancy, but diagnosis must be made with care
  • Migraine is also commonly confused with a Sinus Headache. People with failed sinus headache treatment will often get better pain relief from using migraine treatments

What you will read here is what I tell my own patients and what I teach to medical students, doctors in training and qualified family doctors.

As a practising NHS Consultant Neurologist, I've done all the hard work in the last 17 years learning about Headaches.

Hopefully you too can learn what an expert thinks, says and does for these headache conditions...and be better off for it.

Regards,

Dr Raeburn Forbes MD(Hons) FRCP

Consultant Neurologist

Author of Severe-Headache-Expert.com



Does The Location of Headache Help with Diagnosis?
The Location of Headache is an important clue to diagnosis. Read about how to use headache location to help with diagnosis.

Tension Headache Symptoms
Tension Headache Symptoms are very common - usually pressure, squeezing and tightness of the head. It is the most common headache known.

Chronic Migraine Headache
Chronic migraine. This is a pattern of increasing frequency of migraine with little time between episodes. Difficult to treat, but some options available.

Headache Back of Head
Headache back of head is most usually due to a problem in the upper spine. The other causes are described here.

Headaches During Pregnancy
Headaches during pregnancy are common. Most are migraine, but some rare, serious causes of severe headache during pregnancycan occur, like venous sinus thrombosis.

Sudden Severe Headache
Sudden Severe Headache has many causes, and is a reason to consult a doctor urgently.

Acute Headache Diagnosis and Management
There are five main acute headache types that present as emergencies, and this will tell you how to sort them out.

Attending A Private Headache Clinic - is it worth it?
Don't go to a private headache clinic until you read this.

Strange Headache
This is a compilation of conditions that may cause a strange headache. They can be difficult to diagnose or treat as they are rare.

Sinus Headache
Sinusitis, also called rhinosinusitis is an infection of the nose lining and paranasal sinuses. Migraine headache is often mistaken for sinus headache. Sphenoid sinusitis is a cause of chronic pain.

Orgasm Headache
Orgasm headache also called coital headache. You must make sure there is not a serious cause by seeking medical advice. Can be prevented by medication.

What is Trigeminal Neuralgia?
What is trigeminal neuralgia? Trigeminal neuralgia symptoms include severe, intense pain in the side of the face. Contains link to trigeminal neuralgia resources.

Thunderclap Headache Brain Scans
Thunderclap headache usually rewquires some form of brain scan to exclude a serious cause. The different types of brain scan to investigate thunderclap headaches are reviewed here.

Headache Medications
This is a compendium of headache medications that I have collected. It should cover almost all known headache treatments that have been tested clinically.

Headache Episodes
Headache episodes can be separated into short-lived and longer periods of headache. This can help decide on diagnosis and treatment of severe headache disorders

Melatonin
Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone that can be used to treat headache disorders

Headaches: Know More!
You can stay up to date on severe headache disorders and headache treatments.

What Causes a Pounding Headache?
Pounding Headache is usually due to migraine, and there are several clues that will lead you to a correct headache diagnosis.

Treatment of Sexual Activity Headache
Treatment of sexual activity headache is possible without having to abstain!

Contact
Contact details, Dr Raeburn Forbes, Severe Headache Expert, Northern Ireland, UK and Ireland

About Severe Headache Expert
About: Severe Headache Expert is a website devoted to diagnosis and management of headaches. Written by Dr Raeburn Forbes a practising NHS Consultant Neurologist

Migraine Symptoms
Migraine symptoms - how to recognise them. Written by practising neurologist Dr Raeburn Forbes MD(Hons)

Cervicogenic Headache
Cervicogenic Headache is underdiagnosed, occurs in upto 4% of adults and is a common cause of bad unilateral headaches in back or side of the head.


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