Headaches, Migraines & Facial Pain
Headaches, Migraines & Facial Pain
If your quality of life is impacted from migraine, chronic head pain, or nerve pain in the face you need a plan of action from a team of highly experienced specialists.
Headaches: Overview
Headaches are one of the most common pain-related health problems in both children and adults. You may have a headache along with another minor health problem such as a sore throat, a cold, or a sinus problem.
Types of headaches
Most types of headaches usually aren't dangerous. Some headaches may occur again and again, such as:
- Tension headaches. These are the most common type of headache. They are often caused by stress and emotional strain. Most adults have tension headaches from time to time, and everyone may have different areas of pain.
- Cluster headaches.
- Migraine headaches.
Common causes of headaches
Common causes of headaches may include:
- Stress.
- Skipping meals or not getting enough to eat.
- Sleeping too much or not enough.
- Alcohol use.
- Sinus problems.
- Getting too much or too little caffeine.
- Certain foods or drinks.
In rare cases, a headache may be a symptom of a serious illness or injury.
What are migraine headaches?
Migraines are painful, throbbing headaches that often start on one side of the head. They may cause nausea and vomiting and make you sensitive to light, sound, or smell.
Without treatment, migraines can last from 4 hours to a few days. Medicines can help prevent migraines or stop them after they have started. Your doctor can help you find which ones work best for you.
Our Approach
At the University of Michigan Health, we provide a collaborative approach combined with the latest technology resulting in individualized care. Our goal is to provide effective, compassionate care to improve your quality of life. Our multidisciplinary team of headache and pain neurologists, advanced nurse practitioners, anesthesiologists, pain psychologists, addiction specialists, neurosurgeons, specialized dentists for TMD and facial pain, pharmacologists and physical therapists treat the full scope of headache and facial pain, including:
- Migraine
- Chronic headache syndromes including hormonal associated headache and New Daily Persistent Headache
- Neck-related headache
- Cluster headache
- Facial pain of all types including trigeminal neuralgia
Appointment Information
Schedule an appointment by calling us at 734-998-1513.
How are headaches & migraines diagnosed?
To assure an accurate diagnosis, we collect an extensive medical history and conduct a comprehensive neurological exam. At times we request a specialized MRI of the brain and neck or blood tests that search for causes of headache including hormone levels, vitamin levels, or markers of an overactive immune system. After the evaluation, treatment options are discussed including medications, lifestyle modification, pain relieving procedures and alternative therapies.
How are headaches & migraines treated?
Our team cares for many patients each year which empowers countless people to achieve substantial improvement. Some of our specialized treatments include medications, as well as peripheral nerve injections, which numb the nerves of the scalp to shut off chronic migraine. On average, the injections can give patients weeks to months of benefit. In rare cases, our team provides occipital nerve stimulation by a surgically implanted device that delivers an electric charge to nerves in the back of the scalp to treat migraine, cluster headache, and other types of facial pain that doesn’t respond well to other treatments. This is a treatment few other centers offer.
We also offer a number of alternative therapies with special focus on nutraceuticals – nutritional supplements – and vitamin therapies that have anti-pain or anti-migraine suppressing properties. Also available is pain psychology which uses relaxation strategies and biofeedback to reduce migraine. Our clinic embraces a specialized hormone therapy, called bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. This is where a patient’s hormonal status is monitored and individualized hormonal therapy is provided to normalize the body’s natural cycle and reduce migraine or head pain associated with hormonal dysfunction. We also offer acupuncture.
Locations
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Headache & Neuropathic Pain Clinic | Burlington Building 325 E Eisenhower Pkwy
Floor 1
Ann Arbor, MI 48108-3364Get Directions -
Neurology Clinic | Taubman Center 1500 E Medical Center Dr
Floor 1 Reception C
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5322Get Directions -
Neurosurgery Clinic | Taubman Center 1500 E Medical Center Dr
Floor 2 Reception G
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5338Get Directions
Doctors
Kevin Showen Chen, MD
Assistant Professor
Neurological Surgery
Michael James Popovich, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Neurology
Charles Edward Schultz, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Neurology, Sleep Medicine, Pain Medicine, Clinical Neurophysiology
Anne Blair Shea, MD
Clinical Instructor
Neurology
Matthew Steven Willsey, MD
Assistant Professor
Neurological Surgery
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