Headache specialist Perth
Similar headaches, different treatments: Real patient stories from Perth
- Author: Dr Reza Feizerfan
- First published:
Cervicogenic headache and occipital neuralgia Perth
Case 1: Mary: “Pain from the back of my head to my eyes”
Mary is an 82-year-old lady who loves knitting. Recently, she started having headaches that begin at the back of her head and travel to the front. Sometimes, she even felt the pain behind her eyes. This pain stopped her from knitting and made her feel uncomfortable in bed. Besides these headaches, Mary is very healthy.
Her GP diagnosed her with occipital neuralgia and gave her cortisone injections to her occipital nerves. The first two injections helped, but the following ones didn’t work as well.
“When Mary came to see Pain Specialists WA, I organised scans, which confirmed severe arthritis in her upper neck. I explained that her headaches were coming from her neck and suggested physiotherapy.”
Mary did ten sessions of physio and felt her neck become more flexible and mobile, but she still had the headaches.
“I then organised an injection for her upper neck and repeated the occipital nerve block. The procedure was very successful, but the pain returned nine months later, which was to be expected. She had the same procedure again, and got great relief.”
Mary’s case shows how arthritis in the neck can lead to severe headaches, and how targeted treatments can provide relief.
Stress headache Perth
Case 2: Sarah: “Headaches and eye pain from stress and overuse”
Sarah is a 47-year-old married lady with three children. Two of her children have autism, and her husband works as a FIFO. Sarah has been taking painkillers for headaches every day for the past two years. She has headaches all over her head, her eyes hurt, and she also has stiffness in her neck.
Her GP tried a few painkillers with no success and did scans of her brain and neck, but they all came back normal. At that point, Sarah was referred to Pain Specialists WA.
“I assessed Sarah and reviewed the brain and neck scans. I suggested that her headaches were partly due to social circumstances and stress, and partly due to taking painkillers regularly. So her treatment plan focused on addressing both the physical and emotional aspects of her headaches.”
Sarah’s management plan involved physiotherapy, assessment by a clinical psychologist for pain education, and a plan to reduce her painkillers. This multi-faceted approach aimed to tackle the root causes of her headaches.
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These two real cases, Mary and Sarah, show that even if their headaches appeared similar, the causes and treatments were different.
Mary’s headaches were caused by arthritis in her neck, which responded well to injections. However, since there is no cure for arthritis, her pain returned after nine months, requiring a repeat injection.
Sarah’s headaches, on the other hand, were caused by stress, anxiety, and medication overuse. Her treatment needed support from allied health services to address the different factors contributing to her pain.
“Each patient’s headache is unique, and so is the treatment plan. As a pain specialist, I work to identify the root cause of your headaches and create a tailored treatment plan to address it. This might involve different types of therapies, medications, or other treatments, all focused on managing your specific pain.”
Finding relief from chronic headaches requires a comprehensive approach that considers all aspects of your health. With the right strategies and support, you can manage your headaches effectively and improve your quality of life. If you’re dealing with persistent headaches, reach out to Pain Specialists WA who can help you find the best path to relief.