So it’s been a tough past month here in the headache program. And experience shows that this rough patch will continue for another month toward the end of the school year. This time of year triggers lots of stress for our patients, especially the high schoolers. Lots of stress = lots of headache = lots … Continue reading Self-Care and the Headache Provider
Ever notice that your kids and teens with headache/migraine also have some other symptoms? Like sweaty hands and feet? Tremor? Lightheadedness and dizziness? Dilated pupils? Palpitations? Constipation or diarrhea? Gastric upset? Cold extremities? Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet? Fatigue? What’s up with that? Well, a wide variety of these findings are very … Continue reading Dysautonomia symptoms and headaches
So it’s been just 1 year since I started this blog, posting regularly every 2 weeks. That was one of my intentions for 2018 and I am so glad I made it happen. I have learned a lot more about headache management in the process. I also learned that I do actually know a lot … Continue reading Gratitude
So in the past few posts I have talked about the effect of a concussion can have on a patient with an existing headache diagnosis. Now let’s take a look at a classic headache clinic presentation as case study. I am using a composite of patients and situations, commonly seen in primary care. Background: Joe is … Continue reading Migraine and concussion case study
In my last post I introduced the concept of concussion and the teenager with headaches. I would like to continue this topic by discussing what is helpful for these kids to help avoid disability and too much missed school. The first step we recommend is for them to see their PCP or even the ED … Continue reading Concussion and the headache patient
There is much evidence and information in the literature about the general effect of concussion on kids and teens. Most pediatric practices and schools use specific protocols for concussion recovery and these plans generally work well. Unfortunately, for patients with headache, the story of recovery can be quite different. In this post, I would like … Continue reading The Impact of concussion on teens with headache
I have recently reviewed the basics of New Daily Persistent Headache (NDPH) so providers in the community can have a better understanding of this primary headache. It is often misdiagnosed, mainly due to unfamiliarity. And now that you have a better understanding, you will be able to recognize it more readily. One of the most … Continue reading The challenge of taking care of patients with NDPH
I have spent a little time introducing and reviewing New Daily Persistent Headache (NDPH), and what a miserable headache it is. We know that traditional headache medications and treatments are not particularly useful in alleviating NDPH. But there are some new initiatives available, some research initiatives and novel approaches to NDPH treatment which may bring … Continue reading What’s new with NDPH?
Let’s talk today about the story of NDPH, a primary headache not well understood or recognized, a zebra among headaches. The more we know about it, the more it is recognized. But that does not make it any easier to deal with as a provider or a patient. The first documented description of NDPH was … Continue reading More about NDPH
So you have diagnosed your teenaged patient with tension-type headaches, what are the next steps to prevent and treat them? The same questions apply to TTH as to migraine: Does this patient need a preventive or daily medication? What is the rescue plan? And even more importantly, what about the lifestyle factors that can trigger … Continue reading Tension-type headache treatments
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