Medication Overuse Headaches
What are medication overuse headaches?
Medication overuse headaches are caused by excessive use of acute medications and affect individuals that are more prone to headaches.
What are the symptoms of medication overuse headaches?
The frequency and severity of symptoms from medication overuse headaches vary from person to person, however, the most common symptoms include:
- Daily headaches
- Headache that's usually present upon waking up
- Nausea
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Restlessness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory problems
- Depression
How are medication overuse headaches diagnosed?
Your primary care provider will review the medications you're taking to determine which may be causing the problem. Your provider may also perform tests and lab work to provide an accurate diagnosis.
What are treatment options for medication overuse headaches?
Typically, your provider will create a plan for you to discontinue the use of the medication causing your headaches. Your provider may recommend steps to make the transition off the medication easier including:
- Pharmacological therapy
- Non-pharmacological therapy
- Biofeedback
- Physical therapy
- Support groups
Finding an appropriate pain management plan
When determining an appropriate pain management plan, it is important to take the following steps.
When developing an appropriate pain management plan for chronic pain, the most critical factor is to determine the stressor and the cause of the pain. For example, if you are having back pain - where is the pain coming from? Is it related to your posture? Is it related to stress? Maybe you regularly lift heavy objects?
Once the stressor is identified, short-term interventions may be added to your pain management plan to help ease your pain, so you are comfortable enough to make adjustments to your lifestyle. Medications, injections, or surgery are some options that can help reduce inflammation. It is very important to know that opioids should not be used to treat chronic pain - they are not the answer for this type of pain.
The next step is to make lifestyle adjustments. These may include physical and occupational therapy to increase strength, daily exercise, massage therapy, chiropractic care, etc. Treatment with exercise will provide a long-term pain solution.
Inactivity leads to stiff muscles, decreased mobility, and decreased strength - all of these can worsen the symptoms of chronic pain. Gradually becoming more active will improve flexibility, reduce inflammation, and strengthen the muscles around joints.
The first step to finding an appropriate treatment plan for chronic pain is to talk with your primary care provider. If your provider finds it appropriate, referrals can be made to the Pain Clinic at Crossing Rivers Health.
Request a referral to the Pain Clinic