Headaches

While common, headaches can be disabling and destroy your quality of life. At Border Pain Institute in El Paso, Texas, board-certified pain management specialist Carlos Viesca, MD, and his team offer pain-reducing treatments for headaches and migraines. To learn more about treatments, schedule an in-person or telehealth evaluation at Border Pain Institute today by phone or online.

What are headaches?

Headaches are characterized by discomfort in your head, face, or neck. Headaches are common, but you don’t have to live in pain. Treating headaches and migraines can dramatically improve your life, allowing you to spend more time doing the things you enjoy.

Which symptoms can headaches cause?

Headaches can cause the following symptoms:

• Mild aching
• Sharp pain
• Throbbing discomfort
• Pain on one side of your head
• Pressure in your head or face
• Muscle tension

The pain can be short-lived or last a day or longer. It ranges in severity from minor to extreme. Sometimes, headaches are just a nuisance. Other times, they indicate an underlying medical problem.

What are the risk factors for headaches?

The following factors contribute to headaches:

• Hormone fluctuations
• Alcohol use
• Processed foods
• Nicotine use
• Poor posture
• Sleep changes
• Dehydration
• Skipping meals
• Extreme physical exertion
• Sinus problems
• Some medications
• Head injuries
• Strong odors
• Stress
• Caffeine use or caffeine withdrawal

The exact cause of headaches isn’t always clear. Your risk of headaches could increase if you have a family member who struggles with headaches or migraines.

How does my provider diagnose headaches?

The Border Pain Institute team discusses your symptoms, medical history, lifestyle, and medication use to determine how severe your headaches are and how to best treat them. They check your vital signs, complete a physical exam (including a neurological exam), and might order bloodwork and imaging procedures.

Your provider then discusses treatments.

How are headaches treated?

Your Border Pain Institute provider could suggest one or more of the following treatments for headaches and migraines:

• Physical therapy
• Meditation
• Medication
• Stress management
• Dietary supplements
• Botox® injections
• Healthy lifestyle counseling
• Biofeedback
• Treating the underlying cause
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)

Some medications reduce headache pain, while others lessen the risk of experiencing headaches or migraines. Your pain specialist customizes a medication regimen that offers the best chance of relief. 

It’s also necessary to eat nutritious foods, limit or avoid alcohol and caffeine, get enough sleep, stay hydrated, minimize stress, and not use nicotine.

The Border Pain Institute team follows up to ensure that your treatment plan works effectively and can adjust it or refer you to another specialist for any underlying complex medical problems.

Schedule an in-person or telehealth evaluation at Border Pain Institute today by phone or online for headache relief.