Headache Specialist

What causes headaches?

The cause of your headache pain can vary depending on your overall health, lifestyle, and even structural problems with your neck and jaw. A wide range of factors may contribute to headache pain. The most common causes include:

• Nighttime teeth grinding (bruxism)
• Problems with your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in your jaw
• Alcohol-induced hangovers
• “Brain freeze” from eating something cold
• Dehydration
• Glaucoma
• Flu
• Stress and tension
• Overuse of pain medications
• Muscle and soft tissue (myofascial) tension in your head and neck

Occasional tension headaches usually don't cause for alarm, but if you suffer from frequent headaches or they have grown more severe over time, it’s a good idea to seek medical attention.

How is headache pain diagnosed?

At BBC Health, the medical and chiropractic team work together to determine the underlying cause of your headache pain. The nurse may run comprehensive blood tests to see if you have any deficiencies that could be contributing to your headache pain. Additionally, the team performs a physical exam to evaluate any signs of stress and tension in your neck and jaw.

TMJ problems are a common cause of headaches, and many people who grind their teeth at night don’t realize they do it. If you frequently wake up with a headache or have pain in your jaw, neck, or face, TMJ could be the cause. Your provider evaluates your jaw for any signs of muscular tension and stress that could be contributing to your headaches.

How are headaches treated?

Your headache treatment largely depends on the underlying cause of your pain. The doctors take a whole-person approach to relieve pain so you get long-term relief as naturally as possible. The team may suggest that you make dietary or lifestyle changes to help prevent headaches.

They may also recommend an occipital nerve block injection or trigger point injections. Occipital nerve blocks are highly effective at relieving chronic headache pain that starts at the base of your skull as a result of irritation and inflammation in your occipital nerves.

Trigger point injections can help relieve headache pain when the muscles in your head, neck, and shoulders cause myofascial pain and headaches. Your provider injects a combination of medication and a local anesthetic into painful muscles to provide relief and reduce headaches.

Get to the bottom of what’s causing your headache pain. Call the office in Lewisville, or schedule the next available appointment online to get the help you need for long-lasting relief.