What Causes Headaches & MIgraines?
The cause of headaches varies dramatically from person to person, which is exactly why cookie-cutter approaches to providing headache relief so often fall short. Your nervous system is incredibly complex, and the signals that create head pain can originate from dozens of different sources. Some patients discover their headaches stem from neck tension that’s been building for years. Others trace their pain back to environmental triggers, hormonal fluctuations, or even subtle changes in barometric pressure that their body seems especially sensitive to.
Many patients have been told their headaches are “just stress” or that they need to drink more water and get better sleep. While lifestyle factors absolutely matter, dismissing chronic pain this way ignores the genuine medical conditions that often drive persistent headaches. Migraines, for instance, involve actual neurological changes in your brain chemistry and blood vessel function. When someone experiences migraine symptoms like visual disturbances, intense nausea, or sensitivity to light and sound, that’s not weakness or overreaction. Their nervous system is responding to specific physiological triggers that deserve medical attention.
The relationship between your spine, nervous system, and head pain is another factor that often goes unaddressed in conventional treatment approaches. Misalignments in your cervical spine can create pressure on nerves that contribute to recurring headaches, while muscle tension patterns in your neck and shoulders can refer pain directly into your head and face. Blood flow restrictions, sinus inflammation, jaw problems, and even certain medications can all play a role.
We take time to understand your specific triggers, pain patterns, and how your headaches actually interfere with your daily life so we can build a treatment plan that makes sense for you.
Know the Difference: Common Types of Headaches
Not every headache develops the same way or responds to the same treatment, which is one reason why understanding what type of pain you’re experiencing matters so much.
Tension headaches are probably the most common variety. They typically feel like a tight band wrapping around your head, often starting at the base of your skull or in your temples. These frequently develop from stress, poor posture, or prolonged time hunched over a computer, and while they’re usually manageable with over-the-counter medication, they shouldn’t be a constant presence in your life.
Migraines are a different kind of headache entirely. These intense, often one-sided headaches come with a constellation of symptoms that go well beyond just pain. Many people experience warning signs before a migraine hits, like visual disturbances called auras, mood changes, or food cravings that signal trouble ahead. Once the migraine symptoms fully develop, you might deal with severe throbbing pain, nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to any kind of stimulation. Some people can push through their day with a migraine, but many find themselves completely unable to function until it passes.
Cluster headaches are less common but notoriously painful, often described as one of the most intense pain experiences people can have. These typically strike in patterns or “clusters” over weeks or months, often waking you from sleep with severe pain concentrated around one eye. Then there are sinus headaches, cervicogenic headaches that originate in the neck, hormone-related headaches, and rebound headaches that actually result from overusing pain medication.
Each type has distinct characteristics, and what works brilliantly for one kind might barely touch the pain of another. That’s why getting an accurate diagnosis is so important before jumping into treatment.
Get Treatment for Chronic Headaches in North Dallas
At Pain Management of North Dallas, our approach combines multiple treatments because chronic headaches rarely respond to one-size-fits-all solutions.
For some patients, targeted trigger point injections in the neck and shoulder muscles provide immediate relief by releasing tension patterns that have been fueling their headaches for months or even years.
Others benefit from nerve blocks, medication management protocols, or physical medicine techniques that restore proper alignment and function to your cervical spine. We also look at lifestyle factors, sleep quality, stress management, and other elements that influence your overall pain patterns. The goal isn’t just to get you through today, but to give you tools and treatments that reduce both the frequency and intensity of your headaches over the long term.
Our locations throughout Frisco, McKinney, Plano, and Dallas make it convenient to access the specialized care you need without driving all over the DFW metroplex. Call our office today or request an appointment online to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions About Headaches in North Dallas
How quickly can I expect results from headache treatment?
Timeline varies based on what’s causing your pain and which treatments we use. Some patients notice improvement within days, especially with interventional procedures like nerve blocks or trigger point injections. For others, particularly those with long-standing chronic patterns, building sustainable relief takes a few weeks as we adjust medications, address biomechanical issues, and identify your specific triggers. We set realistic expectations from the start and adjust your treatment plan based on how you respond.
Will I need to take medication long-term?
Not necessarily. While some patients do benefit from ongoing preventive medications, many of our patients reduce or eliminate their medication use once we address underlying causes. If spinal misalignment is driving your headaches, correcting that mechanical issue might mean you don’t need daily medication at all. Our goal is always to use the minimum effective treatment to control your pain, not to keep you dependent on pills indefinitely.
Can you treat migraines even if I've tried everything else?
Many of our patients come to us after years of unsuccessful treatments elsewhere, and we’re often able to help them find relief. The difference usually comes down to thorough diagnosis and willingness to try combination approaches rather than relying on a single treatment method. We don’t give up easily, and we stay current on emerging treatment options.
Do I need a referral to schedule an appointment?
Most insurance plans don’t require a referral to see a pain management specialist, but it’s worth checking with your specific insurer to be sure. We can also help navigate insurance questions when you call to schedule. The important thing is not to let paperwork delay getting the care you need.
