Headaches & Migraines

Helping you get your head back in the game

Headaches and migraines are not only painful, but they can also be disruptive, even debilitating. If the pain of headaches or migraines has become unbearable or is affecting your work and life, the specialists at Comprehensive Pain & Neurology Center can help.

Our Headache specialists

Headache & Migraine FAQs

Are there different types of headaches and migraines?

Yes! Headaches and migraines cause pain in the face and head, as well as other symptoms, such as vision changes and sensitivity. Here are a few of the headaches we treat:

Cluster headaches: Severe pain around one eye or one side of the head. Bouts of frequent attacks, known as cluster periods, can last from weeks to months, usually followed by remission periods when the headaches stop.
Migraine headaches: These are moderate to severe, often one-sided and throbbing. They can be associated with nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound.
Trigeminal neuralgia: A condition that causes intense, painful sensations on one side of the face. This chronic pain condition affects the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensation from your face to your brain.

How do you diagnose headaches?

To diagnose your headache, our providers will talk with you about your symptoms, and do physical and neurological exams. A neurological exam checks your sensory and motor responses. Your provider may also complete blood and imaging tests to rule out other medical conditions. Imaging tests may include a CT scan or an MRI to examine the blood vessels, muscles and tissues in your neck and head. To help pinpoint the cause of your headaches and determine what is triggering them, you may also be asked to keep a headache log. This helps your provider identify triggers or other common factors causing your pain.

What are common triggers of headaches?

Headaches, and especially migraines, can be triggered in a variety of ways. Here are a few common triggers, but this is not an exhaustive list:

Stress
Caffeine (too much or withdrawals)
Dehydration
Diet, both food choices and not eating
Alcohol intake
Your environment, including odors, noise and lights
Weather changes

Regular exercise and drinking plenty of water can help prevent headaches. Exercise reduces stress and helps relieve muscle tension.
Keeping a log of your headaches can help you identify your triggers. The more you know about what causes your headaches, the better prepared you are to prevent and stop them.

What treatment options do you offer for headaches and migraines?

We take a comprehensive approach to pain management to headaches and migraines. Dr. Schneider is the only board-certified neurologist in the state of Tennessee who offers medication management as well as interventional treatment options. We can treat headache disorders with nerve blocks, nerve ablations, and neuromodulation techniques, and a variety of other treatments.