What is headache clinic?

It is a multidisciplinary clinic that offers medical and other supportive treatment for patients with headache by joint consultation with Neurologist and Neuropsychologist.

Who can visit?

• Patients with headache, neck pain.
• Patients with episodic migraine and chronic migraines.
• Cluster headache and other trigeminal autonomic Cephalgias.
• Facial pain /trigeminal neuralgia.
• Persistent dizziness without any response to vertigo treatment.
• Persistent headache in peoples with excess screentime.
• Tension type headache.

What treatments are offered in headache clinic?

• Medical treatments in form of anti migraine medications
• Life style modification
• Botox therapy for chronic migraine
• Neuro feedback therapy
• Cognitive behavioural therapy

Aim of headache clinic?

To provide migraine/headache treatment with less medications and more with lifestyle changes.

Migraine 

A migraine headache is a primary headache disorder that affects approximately 12% of the population, It is a headache that tends to recur in an individual if left untreated, Migraines occur about three times more frequently in women.

What causes a migraine?

Genetic and physiological factors. 

What triggers a migraine?

Emotional stress, Sensitivity to specific chemicals and preservatives in foods, Caffeine, Changing weather , Menstrual periods, Excessive fatigue, Missing meals, Changes in sleep pattern and Oral contraception 

Are migraines hereditary?

Yes, migraines have a tendency to run in families.

What are the symptoms of migraines?

Pounding or throbbing pain is usually aggravated by physical activity, location of pain can shift from one side of the head to the other, or it can affect any part of head, each migraine can last from four hours to three days. 

Associated symptoms with migraine

• Sensitivity to light, noise and odors, nausea and vomiting, abdominal discomfort, fatigue, dizziness.
• "Aura" is a physiological warning sign when headache is about to begin (in 15-20%).
• Visual auras include, bright flashing lights, distorted vision, temporary vision loss, wavy or jagged lines.   

Treatment for migraine

• Acute migraine (abortive treatmentl - oral medications and nasal spray)
• Prophylaxis of migraine (to prevent future attacks)-oral medications.
• Chronic migraine - oral medications, and for refractory migraine botox.  

How can migraines be prevented?

• Identifying and then avoiding migraine triggers.
• Stress management and cognitive behavioural therapy.
• Eat on a regular schedule and get adequate rest and sleep.
• Regular exercise and meditation.

Tension type headache (TTH)

The typical presentation of a TTH attack is that of a mild to moderate intensity, bilateral, nonthrobbing headache.

Symptoms

• Pressure or tightness around both sides of the head or neck.
• Mild to moderate pain that is steady and does not throbbing.
• Pain is not worsened by activity.
• Pain can increase or decrease in severity over the course of the headache.
• There may be tenderness in the muscles of the head, neck, or shoulders.
• People with TTH often feel stress or tension before their headache.
• However, some people have symptoms of both tension and migraine headache.

Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgias (other than cluster headache SUNCT, SUNA)

SUNCT (Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache with conjunctival injection) and SUNA (short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with autonomic symptoms/ headaches characterized by sudden brief attacks of severe unilateral head pain in orbital, peri-orbital, or temporal regions, accompanied by ipsilateral cranial autonomic symptoms /conjunctival injection and lacrimationna-sal congestion, rhinorrhea, miosis, ptosis, eyelid edema, or forehead and facial sweating and/or flushing)

Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgias (Cluster Headache)

Cluster headaches are severe, debilitating headaches that occur repeatedly for weeks to months at a time, followed by periods with no headache. Men are affected more commonly than women, with a peak age of onset of 25 to 50 years.

Symptoms

• Begin quickly without any warning and reach a peak within a few minutes
• The pain is always on one side
• The headache is usually deep, excruciating, continuous, and explosive in quality,occasionally it may be pulsatile and throbbing
• The attack may occur up to eight times per day but is usually short in duration [between 15 minutes and three hours)
• The pain typically begins in or around the eye or temple; less commonly it starts in the face, neck, ear, or side of the head
• Cluster headaches are associated with eye redness and tear production on the side of the pain, a stuffy and runny nose, sweating, and pale skin

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN)

It is a condition that causes sudden and severe pain in parts of the face.

TN is caused by a problem with the trigeminal nerve, which is a nerve that runs from the brain to the face. 

Symptoms

• Attacks of sharp and stabbing pain in the cheek, lower face, or around the eye.
• The pain lasts a few seconds to a few minutes, and usually happens on only one side of the face. The attacks can happen over and over again.
• Often, certain movements or activities make the pain attacks happen. These can include, touching the face, chewing, talking, brushing the teeth, smiling or frowning, cold air on the face.

Location: 7^th floor OPD.

Days & Timings: Monday: 11 am to 12 pm.

For Appointments Contact

Clinic Coordinator: Ms Suchita Akhade - 022 25763814 / 3949 / 8691082123