Are you looking for a Chicago migraine specialist? Chicago dentist Dr. Kelly has evaluated symptoms and underlying causes of chronic headaches to prescribe effective treatment plans for his guests.
Headache Treatment Chicago: Primary Headaches
Major headaches in Chicago include muscular (tension), vascular (migraines), or neuropathic (e.g., “pinched” nerves/damaged nerves) in origin. These are examples of primary headaches. Primary headaches may show pain in the oral and facial regions, and around the head and neck regions. As a result, the central nervous system can become more sensitive, leading to even more severe pain. This can be a trigger for migraines. It can also increase both muscle tension and pain in head and neck muscles. When this pain lasts for more than several months it is often considered to be chronic irritation. Chronic pain can, and often does, become its own entity even after the structural damages (muscle/joint) have healed. Patients then need the help of a clinician trained in pain management to break the cycle of pain.
Headache Treatment Chicago: Secondary Headaches
Secondary headaches are “new” headaches, or headaches of sudden onset (i.e., the “worst” headache you have ever had). These can be caused by tumors, hemorrhage, or other intracranial problems and should not be ignored. Immediate evaluation by a medical doctor is needed to determine their nature.
Migraine Specialist Chicago
If you are looking for a Chicago migraine specialist, a visit to Dr. Kelly’s Edgebrook office may be your first step to relief. Dr. Kelly is a Chicago dentist with extensive experience in diagnosing and treating various types of headaches, including migraines. A migraine is a severe headache that lasts anywhere from two hours to two days. Other symptoms usually develop along with the headache. The most common are sensitivity to light and sound, dizziness, nausea/vomiting and disturbances of vision. Over 23 million people suffer from migraines. Women are much more likely to experience chronic migraines – over 75% of the patients treated for migraines are women. The genesis of these headaches is traced to a biochemical substance called serotonin, which is stored in the blood platelets produced naturally in the body. When serotonin is released, the blood vessels narrow. As the serotonin is expelled by the natural processes of the body, its level in the brain is depleted, causing the blood vessels to expand. This change in blood vessel size causes a reaction in the surrounding nerves, which we see as migraines. A Chicago migraine specialist will most likely categorize your migraine as one of two typical types: either common or classic. The common migraine takes longer to develop and may give indicators of its impending arrival such as fatigue, food cravings, yawning, depression, irritability and anxiousness. In most cases, the pain of a common migraine usually focuses on one side of the head. The classic migraine develops in four distinct stages. During the first stage, prodrome, the person may feel fatigued and cranky, and could experience decreased concentration or even depression. Prodrome commonly occurs about 24 hours prior to the aura stage. During the aura stage, the migraine sufferer will notice a distinct change in their vision. A slowly expanding area of blindness may cover up to one half of the field of vision of each eye. The namesake of this stage, the aura, is a sparkling edge that surrounds the area of blindness. Along with the aura, flashing lights, colors or zig-zags of light may appear, or the headache sufferer may experience a burning or tingling sensation and/or muscle weakness on one side of the body. The next stage is the headache itself, which is characterized by a severe throbbing pain that is often intensified by bright light or noise and may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. The final stage is post-headache, which is identified by heavy feelings of exhaustion and fatigue. One or both sides of the head may be affected by the classic migraine. Less common types of migraines are:
- Hemiplegic migraine – involves muscle weakness or partial paralysis lasting less than an hour.
- Ophthalmoplegic migraine – which causes temporary eye inconveniences such as droopy eyelids and changes to the pupils, lasting from several days to multiple weeks.
- Basilar artery migraine – resulting in neurological spasms lasting for about six to eight hours.
- Status migraine – which indicates a severe migraine attack lasting longer than 24 hours.
Having migraines or other types of headaches in Chicago can completely disrupt your lifestyle. With your Chicago dentist, you can get headache treatment that is effective and tailored to your needs. Make an appointment today with your Chicago dentist.