How To Know It’s Time To Consult A Neurologist For Headaches and Migraine?

Almost everyone suffers from headache either intermittently or regularly. However, if you start noticing other symptoms along with headache, then it might be a migraine. Migraines are one of the most intense and chronic headaches that even children might suffer from it. 

When to see a neurologist for migraine?

If you have a splitting headache or symptoms that are disrupting your routine, then it is time you need to see a neurologist. The symptoms may be like:

• Continuous headache for more than a day or two
• Vision changes
• Headache starts suddenly
• You start getting headache early in the day
• Experiencing seizures along with headaches.
• Severe throbbing pain around one or both the temples.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Sensitivity to light, sound, or smells. 

Looking for a good neurologist

One of the highly reputed experts in migraines and headaches is South Valley Neurology, a community-based multispecialty neurology practice. They have been serving the residents from across the greater Bay Area and beyond since 2011.

Their team understands the misery and offers a range of innovative treatments for relieving the pain and helping prevent future migraines. They have been providing neurological care even for kids of age 6 years and above.

The clinic offers routine EEGs or electroencephalograms for their patients. They also offer EMG or electromyography and nerve conduction studies, cognitive-testing and balance testing. Call their office and schedule an appointment or fill up their online form and they will get back to you soon.

There are a few things you need to do to plan before your first meeting with the neurologist.

Organize your medical records

Gather all your necessary past and present medical records. Ensure to tell your neurologist about your 

• Health conditions
• Past and current medications.
• Surgeries.
• Supplements.
• Allergies.
• Family history of headaches.

Describe your headache

Be prepared to tell them what your headache feels like, how long it lasts, and the possible triggers. List down the things you want to ask the doctor. Keeping a headache diary can be used as a reference when you go for an appointment.

Treatment plan

Once your neurologist finds that your pain is due to migraines, they will recommend a treatment plan to stop the symptoms and prevent them from recurring. They might give you medicine to relieve you from the pain or to prevent it.

Tests

 There might be some neurological tests depending upon the symptoms like:

• CT Scan: to diagnose any bleeding, tumors, or spinal problems
• MRI: if you had a recent head injury and the doctor suspects a structural problem or tumor.
• EEG: a test to measure brain waves and diagnose other brain disorders like inflammation, stroke, brain damage, sleep disorders, and brain dysfunction.
• Eye exams: to check for signs of a concussion or neurological damage.
• Spinal Tap: it is a lumbar puncture or CSF test to find out if there is an infection, tumor or the patient has a Guillain-Barre syndrome.
• Sinus X-ray: for chronic sinus problems.
• Lab tests: like blood tests for thyroid and diabetes

Going to a neurologist is a better idea for migraines as they have the tools and tests available to diagnose and provide the best treatment to cure the root cause.