Persistent or painful headaches can be more than an inconvenience. For some patients, they may be alarming, disorienting, an intrusion on daily life, or downright frightful due to their severity and frequency.
If you suffer from frequent or painful headaches, it may be more than just taking an over-the-counter medication and lying down in a dark room. Consulting with your primary care doctor is advised if your headaches are so overwhelming you worry they could be more.
Note: Content on neuromedpa.com is not doctor’s advice and should not be taken as such. Always contact your primary care doctor for medical services, diagnosis, treatment, and more.
When to See a Doctor for Headaches
Persistent Headaches
Headaches that keep persisting without relief can be a sign of a larger underlying condition. Even if it is consistent stress, eye strain, or another factor, you want to address this before it becomes more severe or worsens over time.
Call your doctor if you have headaches that are consistent, long-lasting, and continue past a day with no or minimal relief.
Quality of Life is Suffering
If nothing else, when your headaches are interfering with your daily life, it is time to visit a doctor and schedule a consultation for headache relief. While 1 in 6 people experience headaches, these should be brief, rare, and relieved by rest or medication.
When headaches are stopping you from resting, sleeping, eating, being active, or completing your daily tasks, you should consult with a doctor on headache relief to find the underlying cause and start a treatment plan.
Over-the-Counter Medications Don’t Help
For many patients, over-the-counter medications for headache relief can dramatically improve their headaches. However, these should not be a consistent medication or go-to.
If you find you are constantly taking headache medication, or headache medication isn’t helping at all, it is time to talk to a doctor about headache relief and get a personalized treatment assessment.
You Experience Vision Changes with Headaches
Most headaches do not come with a loss of vision. However, some migraines, known as ocular migraines or migraine with an aura, can impact vision for a brief period of time, usually less than 20 minutes but can last up to an hour. These vision changes involve a blind spot, flashes of light, or shimmering spots and the symptoms are alleviated with over-the-counter medications and pass relatively quickly.
When should you see a doctor for headaches with vision changes? When the vision changes persist, they affect only one eye, or continually impact your daily life. While migraines with an aura are generally not serious, they can be alarming. If you experience headaches with vision changes that don’t subside with an hour, only affect one eye, are not relieved by medications, or are blurry or otherwise odd, you should consult a doctor.
Aggressive, Sudden Onset of Pain with a Headache
Headaches typically have a gradual onset with a dull or throbbing pain that increases bit by bit. When a headache is sudden, aggressive, or feels violent, it is important to seek medical attention immediately.
Headaches caused by stress, tension, or lights have a dull sensation, but violent or aggressive headaches with severe pain indicate something more than a standard headache. When a headache is sudden and very painful, do not wait to try medications but go to your emergency treatment center.
Headaches That Affect Motor Function
Headaches that also impact vertigo, cause confusion, affect memory loss, have slurred speech, create slow limbs, throw off coordination, or have vision changes are a cause to consult your doctor and talk about visiting a neurologist for headache treatments.
Headaches should not impact motor function, speech, or cognitive behavior. Reach out to your doctor or emergency team quickly if you notice any of those symptoms with your headaches.
Visiting a Neurologist for Headache Relief
When visiting your primary care doctor or a neurologist for headache relief treatments, you will want to have a list of your symptoms ready to find the best course of treatment or right diagnosis. If possible, while preparing for your headache appointment with a neurologist, put together notes about your headaches to get as much help as possible.
Take Note:
- When headaches occur
- If noise or light makes it worse
- Recent sleep patterns
- Vision changes
- Recent activities
- Recent injuries
- Recent food and drink consumed
- Any previous diagnosis
Talk To Your Doctor Today if You are Concerned About Headaches
Headaches affect almost half of Americans, but some headaches can be an indicator of something more. Pay attention to the severity of your headaches, any changes in motor function or cognitive behavior, if there was a recent injury, or if the headaches do not subside or impact quality of life.
Always talk to your doctor and ask for a neurologist consult for headache treatment if your headaches feel alarming. Neurologists and your primary care doctor will work together to find the underlying cause and provide headache relief treatments.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I see a neurologist for my headaches?
You should see a neurologist if your headaches happen very often, are really painful, or make it hard to do daily activities. If your headaches come with blurry vision, trouble speaking, or feeling weak, you should see a doctor right away.
What will a neurologist do for my headaches?
A neurologist will ask you questions about your headaches and check how your brain and nerves are working. They might order tests to learn more. With your primary doctor, neurologists put together a recommended treatment.
Can a neurologist stop my headaches?
A neurologist can help figure out what is causing your headaches and suggest treatments. They may recommend medicine, changes in your diet, or ways to lower stress. If there is an underlying cause, they will tackle the primary diagnosis.
Do I need a referral to see a neurologist?
Some insurance plans need a referral from your regular doctor. You can call your doctor’s office to ask if you need one.
Are headaches always a sign of something serious?
Not always! Many headaches are caused by stress, dehydration, or not getting enough sleep. But if your headaches are very strong, happen a lot, or feel different from normal, it’s a good idea to see a doctor.
Neurological Medicine, P.A.
Neurological Medicine, P.A., provides comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services to patients with conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles. We have been serving the Prince George’s and Montgomery County area since 1975, with two offices: Greenbelt and Laurel. We offer complete adult neurological care as well as in-office neurodiagnostic studies.
