Headaches are usually classified into several broad categories, including muscle contraction, or tension headache, vascular, or migraine, and cluster headache. Brief descriptions of two primary headache types and treatments follow. This headache evolves over a period of hours to days and then tends to remain constant.
Sleep disturbance is common.
Headaches most frequently occur between 4am-8am and 4pm to 8pm, with females more likely to suffer. Pain specialists take into consideration the frequency and severity of headache, the results of previous therapy and diagnostic tests, and previous drug use, along with any other diseases that might affect treatment choices. If headaches are relatively infrequent, patient education directed at stress management and a trial of analgesics or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is usually successful. Frequent headaches are often treated with prophylactic antidepressants, such as Elavil. Some patients require further assistance in breaking the pain cycle, such as biofeedback, cervical epidural steroid injections, other drug regimens, and psychotherapy.