Treatment for Pain Within the Head and Neck Available in New Jersey

Pain in the top of the head or the back of the head is a common condition that many people experience at some point in their lives. While headaches are often acute and resolve on their own, certain types of causes can become chronic and may indicate a condition that requires medical treatment. Mild persistent pain can negatively impact a person’s quality of life and may be the first sign of a more significant medical condition.

Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine & Orthopedics (CNSO) is a premier rehabilitative treatment provider offering head pain diagnoses and treatment solutions for patients in New Jersey. Conservative treatment options for a headache-related structural change in the brain include physical therapy and pain management, which can help patients achieve long-lasting relief from symptoms. Structural changes, which may be either vascular or tumors, may require surgery to treat.

Causes of Pain in the Head or Face

Some causes of head pain are temporary, such as stress, lack of sleep, or chronic caffeine intake, then a decrease in consumption similar to alcohol consumption. In other cases, persistent headaches or jaw pain may be symptoms of an underlying health condition, such as temporomandibular joint pain, for which physical therapy can greatly help. For this reason, patients with chronic head pain should visit a doctor for guidance. Possible causes of pain include:

Headaches

Cervicogenic headaches (arising from conditions in the neck)
Migraine headaches
Cerebral Aneurysm
Arteriovenous Malformation
Hypertension
Brain tumors
Cysts
Hydrocephalus

Facial Pain Neuralgias

Neuralgias are sharp, burning pains caused by damaged or irritated nerves.

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia (severe pain in the ear, nose, or throat)
Trigeminal neuralgia (severe facial pain)

Malformations

Chiari malformation
Misaligned jaw
Temporomandibular Joint Pain (Pain on one or both sides of the jaw) due to joint malformation

Traumatic Injuries

Bone fractures
Jaw dislocation

Other Causes

Rheumatoid arthritis
Infections
Dental conditions
Tooth grinding
Chronic sinusitis

Risk Factors for Head Pain

Nearly everybody experiences a headache at some point in their life. Certain people, however, are at higher risk of developing a serious condition that results in head pain. Factors that may compound risk include:

Genetics: Certain causes of head pain, such as migraines and some tumors, are hereditary. If a person has a family member with a pain-causing head condition, they may be at greater risk of developing the same condition.
Diet: Certain foods may cause headaches if consumed in large quantities. This includes caffeine, alcohol, other fermented foods and beverages, and cheese.
Environment: Head pain may also be the result of exposure to environmental causes such as secondhand smoke, airborne allergens, or strong odors from perfumes or household chemicals.
Stress: Migraine headaches and hypertension are often triggered by high stress levels. In addition, symptoms of other head conditions may become more intense when under stress.
Age: Some head conditions, including tumors and neuralgias, are more common at certain ages. Neuralgias most frequently develop between the ages of 40 to 60. Tumors typically develop after age 45 but are most common after age 65.

Diagnosis of Headaches, Facial Pain, or Other Pain Within the Head

When patients visit CNSO with head pain and related symptoms, they meet with an experienced pain management physician or certified physical therapist. The specialist performs a thorough process to rule out potential causes and determine an accurate diagnosis. The steps are as follows:

Medical history assessment: In advance of the appointment, CNSO will request access to the patient’s medical history. A review may reveal important information, such as previous injuries, existing diagnoses, and genetics, that may be useful for diagnosis.
Physical examination: Next, the patient will undergo a physical examination of the head and face and a conversation about the pain’s location, intensity, and other symptoms the patient may be experiencing.
Medical imaging tests: The patient may also undergo an X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, or computed tomography (CT) scan. These tests will reveal the anatomic structures, including the neurovascular structures, to determine whether this is any abnormality, such as an aneurysm, tumor, or cyst.

Each step is essential to fully understanding the patient’s condition. Once all three are complete and the CNSO specialist has arrived at the right diagnosis, they may begin designing an effective treatment plan for long-term pain relief.

Non-Surgical Treatments for Head Pain

CNSO has earned a strong reputation for diagnosing and treating, along with providing high quality and reliable pain control. This reputation is in part due to its conservative treatment philosophy. CNSO prioritizes conservative, non-invasive methods, including diet and physical conditioning, without the reliance on opioids.

An award-winning team of neurosurgeons, orthopedic spine surgeons, interventional pain management physicians, physiatrists, rehabilitation specialists, and certified physical therapists collaborate on each treatment plan. The resulting plans are fully personalized and focused on the patient’s treatment goals, whether for symptom management or full restoration of function. These goals are usually achievable through non-surgical treatments, including the following methods:

Lifestyle Modifications

Some head pain is caused by lifestyle, diet, or environmental factors. In these cases, the pain may resolve with the appropriate adjustments. Even if these changes do not eliminate pain altogether, they may reduce the patient’s symptoms while other treatments are at work. Lifestyle modifications for head pain may include:

Reducing caffeine dependency and alcohol consumption
Prioritizing getting a full night’s rest
Sleeping in different positions
Practicing good posture when sitting or standing
Limiting exposure to cigarette smoke or strong perfumes
Resting the jaw to reduce tension and grinding
Modifying office environments to reduce neck strain
Reducing screen time and blue light exposure

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is effective at addressing many forms of head pain. Heat and ice therapy and ultrasound therapy are frequently used to reduce pain and swelling, while gentle jaw exercises may stretch and strengthen the muscles to reduce tension. Other exercises are used to improve posture or reduce muscle spasms responsible for hypertension or cervicogenic headaches. CNSO offers physical therapy at locations in Wayne, Paramus, Morristown, and Jersey City, NJ.

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, commonly called NSAIDs, can help relieve pain and reduce inflammation. They may be available over the counter at a retail location or pharmacy or prescribed by a pain management specialist. NSAIDs are not a lasting solution, but can provide temporary relief and may be recommended for patients whose pain limits their ability to engage in everyday activities.

Oral Corticosteroids

Like NSAIDs, oral corticosteroids are a pain and inflammation medication that is taken by mouth. Their effects are often stronger than NSAIDs. Typically, CNSO will prescribe oral corticosteroids in a short, five to seven-day course. This course may be followed by a longer course of NSAIDs for longer-lasting relief.

Other Medications

Migraine headaches that do not respond to NSAIDs or oral corticosteroids may be treated with other medications specifically used for migraine-type headaches. But if the cause of the headache is high blood pressure, a patient would be referred to their primary care doctor or cardiologist for improved blood pressure medical management.

Surgical Treatments for Tumors or Malformations that Cause Headaches

Lifestyle changes, physical therapy, medication, and other conservative approaches may help patients manage their symptoms. These treatments, however, cannot provide permanent solutions to underlying conditions such as certain types of brain tumors, vascular or structural malformations in the head or brain, and cysts in the head or brain. Surgical removal of the tumor or cyst would provide pain relief from the associated headaches or facial pain.

Trust CNSO for Pain Care

Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine & Orthopedics (CNSO) understands the effect that headaches, facial pain, or any pain within the head can have on a person’s life. When patients choose CNSO for treatment, they receive care from an award-winning, multi-disciplinary team of specialists. Pain management at CNSO is available at multiple convenient locations across northern New Jersey, including Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Morris, and Hudson counties. To learn more about how physical therapy can help with head pain, contact the medical team today.