Friday, December 25, 2020

Physiotherapy in Delhi provided by Best pain specialist in Delhi

 Tag: Physiotherapy in Delhi

Physiotherapy In Delhi







Physiotherapy is an essential component of chronic pain management. Physiotherapy approach in chronic pain is different compared to that after an injury (acute pain). Longstanding pain results in altered biomechanics and changes in the way nerves transmit the pain sensations to the brain. Altered biomechanics leads to more stress on some body parts at the expense of protecting the painful areas. Over a period of time this can lead to the relative weakening of certain muscles and one needs to be re-educated on the basics such as correct posture, gait and, weight bearing.

We understand that getting started can be difficult. Your physiotherapist will help tailor the exercises to your current functional status.

An experienced physiotherapist can help you by:

  • Setting realistic goals
  • Dividing exercises into smaller achievable steps giving you a sense of achievement and enabling achievement of bigger goals which may seem impossible initially
  • Giving you advice on posture and activity levels
  • Educating you about your pain condition and the do’s and don’ts
  • Explaining the concept of pacing of activitiesactivity cycle and helping you implement these. In simple words, this means avoiding over activity at one time and undertaking a predetermined amount of minimal physical activity every day irrespective of pain severity. The amount of physical activity is then increased gradually and maintained to let the body get accustomed to the new activity levels. Hence the focus is on gradual increase and maintaining the positive trend. Doing too much at one time can lead to increase pain and inactivity over the next few days. This is unhelpful as it promotes deconditioning of muscles and reinforced the negative thoughts such as increasing activity means more pain
  • Aim to make you independent and self-reliant so that in the long run you can continue with the exercises on your own
  • Keep you motivated and guide you through the difficult time, helping you progress towards your goals.

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Arm Pain and Neck Pain Treatment In Delhi

 Neck Pain is a pain posteriorly anywhere between the skull base and thoracic spine. It is the largest cause of musculoskeletal disability after low back pain. Approximately two-thirds of the population will suffer from neck pain at some time in their life with high prevalence in middle ages. Fortunately for most people the acute pain resolves within days or weeks although in some it may reoccur or become chronic.

Neck pain may be a result of...

  • Local pathology
  • Whiplash (flexion-extension) injuries/ trauma
  • Be a part of a more widespread systemic problem such as ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia etc.
  • Be a result of referred pain from neighboring areas for example the shoulder joint

Neck pain usually has a multifactorial etiology -poor posture, neck strain/injuries, anxiety, depression and stress can play a role in magnifying the perceived pain. Quite often the diagnosis of simple or nonspecific neck pain is used implying postural and mechanical causes; this is contrary to other serious causes of neck pain such as fracture, tumour, infection etc.

Pain from upper neck can radiate towards the head leading to frequent headaches and that from the lower part of the neck can radiate to the shoulder, arm, chest wall and the scapula. Reduced neck movement along with localized areas of muscle tenderness known as trigger points are commonly observed along with pain.


Management

Like with other chronic pain conditions, multi-disciplinary management based on the biopsychosocial model of pain is the preferred approach. Please follow these links to find out how medication optimisationphysiotherapyPsychology and complimentary therapies such as acupuncture TENS and meditation can help.

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Persisting Pain After Knee Replacement

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Know about Meditation From Best Pain Specialist In Gurgaon

Meditation In Delhi









Central Nervous system plays an important role in regulating the signals being transmitted from other body parts. Meditation helps to relax body; mind and can help by reducing the amplification of these signals thus reducing the perceived pain. It can help in developing a positive outlook and getting rid of the negativity which exacerbates perceived pain. Whilst we may not have a choice in the diseases we acquire, we do have a choice in how manage them and meditation can help in this.

Effect of meditation on chronic pain conditions has been the subject of many research studies. In a recent systematic review on the effect of mindfulness on chronic pain the authors concluded that mindfulness meditation is associated with a small decrease in pain. They found statistically significant effects on depressive symptoms and quality of life. This systematic review analyzed 38 randomized controlled trials and the authors suggested that more large-scale studies should be conducted to decisively provide estimates of the efficacy of mindfulness. 

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editation Meditation

Monday, November 23, 2020

Other Common Musculoskeletal Conditions

 Tag: Muscuoskeletal Conditions

Other Common Musculoskeletal Conditions Treated In Delhi






Tennis/Golfer’s Elbow (Lateral/Medial Epicondylitis)

These are common problems involving staining/overuse of forearm tendons which attach to the bony prominences on the upper arm bone close to the elbow joint. Tennis elbow involves the tendons attaching to the outer side of elbow and repetitive activities involving gripping or twisting of forearm makes this pain worse. It may affect one or more tendons and it’s not uncommon for the pain to radiate down further into the forearm. Golfers elbow involves the tendons on the inner side of elbow.

Treatment involves activity modification, physiotherapy and painkillers. In clinic diagnostic ultrasound scan followed by PRP or steroid injection and physiotherapy can help effectively deal with the condition.

Achilles Tendinopathy

Achilles tendon attaches the calf muscles to the heel bone and is the biggest tendon in the body. It is located behind and above the heel. Overuse or underuse of the tendon can predispose to tendinopathy hence it may be seen in very active people or in those with a sedentary life style. Other predisposing factors include incorrect footwear, poor flexibility, being overweight and sudden increase in physical activities.

Most common symptom is pain behind or just above the ankle with associated stiffness and swelling. Diagnosis can be made with the help of an ultrasound scan. Conservative management involves rest, activity and footwear modification, weight management, medications and physical therapy. Tendon sheath PRP or steroids injections under ultrasound guidance, extracorporeal shockwave therapy are reserved for those not responding to conservative management.

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar Fascia is a tissue band in the sole of foot which stretches from the front part of heel to the toes. It works like a shock absorber playing an important role in pushing the foot off from the ground during walking. Repeated stress/ injury to the fascia can lead to a condition called plantar fasciitis, which present as pain on the underside of heel worse on taking first few steps after a period of rest. Risk factors include using footwear with poor cushioning, being overweight, sudden change in activity levels, and calf muscle tightness.

The diagnosis is made by history, clinical examination and is aided by an ultrasound scan. Ultrasound can help in identifying any partial tears, fascia rupture and any foci of calcification or calcaneal spurs. An x-ray may be requested to rule out any bony spurs.

Conservative management involves

  • Using correct footwear with shock absorbing sole and arch support
  • Rest/ activity modification
  • Physiotherapy involving stretching of plantar fascia and achilles tendon
  • Night splints
  • Painkillers
  • Weight management and
  • Ultrasound guided injections - Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) or steroid are reserved for patients with a poor response to conservative management.

De Quervain’s tenosynovitis

This condition results from irritation of two tendons as they travel in close proximity to each other in their course from the wrist towards the thumb. Irritation results in inflammation, swelling and thickening of the tendons or their covering sheath impacting their ability to glide freely during wrist and thumb movements. It is seen more commonly in women and presents as pain, swelling at the base of thumb, wrist.

Treatment involves rest, splints, medications, physiotherapy and if not responding to conservative measures then steroid injection. Ultrasound scans can help in verifying the diagnosis and precise injection of steroid to reduce the pain.

Injections for proximal hamstring tendinopathy & ischial bursitis

Hamstrings are a group of muscles present at the back of thigh. They extend from the pelvis (ischial tuberosity) to the knee and play an important role is everyday activities such as bending or running. Muscles attach to the bones with the help of a special type of tissue called tendons. With overuse, misuse or injury, these tendons can get inflamed, torn leading to development of a condition called tendinopathy. Involvement of proximal part of hamstrings presents as buttock pain radiating down the back of knee. Pain may be worse on sitting on a firm seat. Sciatic nerve is present close by and its irritation can cause pain to radiate further down the leg.

Condition such as unequal leg length, core and pelvic muscle weakness, being overweight and repeated overloading with insufficient warm up predispose to development of hamstring tendinopathy. Higher incidence is seen in runners, football players, dancers and older adults who do a lot of walking.

Treatment options include rest, activity modification, physical therapy and medications. If these fail to produce desired results then injections with Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), autologous blood (ABI) or steroids are considered. Percutaneous tenotomy is another option. Injections are performed under ultrasound guidance in the peritendinous region. Direct injection into the tendons is avoided. These are performed under local anaesthesia as an outpatient procedure or a day case.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)

Platelets are one of the blood components. They help in clotting and contain growth factors which promote the healing process. PRP is a blood plasma with concentrated platelets. PRP therapy is an attempt to utilise body’s natural ability to heal itself. It is utilised for tendon or ligament injuries which have not responded to conservative measures such as tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, plantar fasciitis, achilles tendinosis.

The procedure involves collecting a blood sample from the patient which is then placed in a spinning machine to separate different blood components. The component containing high platelets is separated and then injected at the intended site under ultrasound guidance. Most people require 1-3 injections at 4 weekly intervals depending on the response. Growth factors are released from the platelets influence the process and accelerate the repair of tendon or ligaments.

Trigger Point Injections

Muscles ability to contract and relax plays an important role in body functioning. When muscles fail to relax, they form knots or tight bands known as trigger points. In simple words trigger points are irritable areas/ bands of tightness in a muscle. Pressure over a trigger point produces local soreness and may refer pain to other body parts. Common causes include inflammation, injury of the muscle or the neighbouring structures. Poor posture and repetitive strain are other predisposing factors. Trigger points can limit the range of movement; affect posture predisposing other areas to unaccustomed strain. They are more commonly observed in head, neck, and shoulder muscles.

Trigger point injections are performed in an outpatient/ day-care setting and the procedure involves injecting local anaesthetic with or without a small dose of steroid into the painful muscle. The local anaesthetic blocks the pain sensations and the steroids help in reducing the inflammation, swelling. I prefer to perform these injections under ultrasound guidance as it improves the accuracy and reduces the chances of complications. Post injection physiotherapy is essential to prevent recurrence and maximise the benefits.

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Saturday, November 7, 2020

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)


Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)







 Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is one of the causes of persisting limb pain. It can occur after surgery or injury and sometimes the injury is so trivial that you may not even remember it. In other cases the injury may be more severe with or without nerve damage. The pain however lasts much longer and is more severe than expected. It can range from mild self-limiting to chronic debilitating condition affecting activities of daily living and quality of life. The reason why CRPS develops is unclear and multiple mechanisms are thought to be involved. A combination of signs and symptoms is used to make the diagnosis as there is no specific diagnostic test. Investigations are helpful to exclude other conditions such as infection and rheumatologic conditions which may have similar presentation.

 

Pain in CRPS is accompanied by other signs and symptoms such as

  • Hypersensitivity of the affected limb
  • Swelling, abnormal sweating
  • Involved limb may feel unusually cold or warm with or without colour changes
  • Nail, skin and hair changes
  • Stiffness, weakness, abnormal tone of muscles and jerky movements

Management

The aim in CRPS management is pain control and functional recovery. Early diagnosis and treatment using multi- disciplinary approach is preferred. Your pain management specialist may recommend interventions such as intravenous drug infusions, sympathetic blocks such as stellate ganglion block or lumbar sympathetic blocks and neuromodulation. These are used in combination with medications, physiotherapy and psychology input.  

Medications prescribed depend on the phase of disease and the predominant symptoms. A combination of anti inflammatory drugs, neuropathic medications and opioids is commonly utilised. Some other medications including bisphosphonates, free radical scavengers (topical 50% dimethylsulfoxide- DMSO), oral steroids etc. may also be used.

Your physiotherapist will teach you desensitisation techniques if the limb sensitivity is increased. It helps in preventing problems due to weakening and reduced usage of the affected limb. Strengthening exercises are incorporated as the pain is adequately controlled. He may consider specialist interventions such as mirror therapy or graded motor imagery if indicated.

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Monday, November 2, 2020

Elbowing the tennis elbow pain out of your life – Information Leaflet on Tennis Elbow

 Tags >> causes the tennis elbowsymptoms of tennis elbow,  Tennis Elbow Treatment in DelhiPain Management Centre in Delhipain specialist doctor in Delhi

Elbowing the tennis elbow pain out of your life – Information Leaflet on Tennis Elbow

This leaflet has been written to help you understand more about your elbow problem. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should be used in conjunction with the information provided by your treating doctor.

What is tennis elbow?

Tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis is a common cause of elbow pain. It presents with pain along the bony bump on the outer side of the elbow. This bony bump provides attachment to the muscles on the back of the arm which play an important role in lifting of the wrist and fingers (extension).

What causes the tennis elbow?

Tendons can be viewed as springs that make muscle movement more efficient. Repeated sudden overloading of forearm tendons and muscles can lead to small tears & degenerative changes. Generally both overloading and under loading of tendons can be bad. When exposed to excessive stress they try to adapt but if the load is too excessive or too sudden, it can predispose to the beginning of the degenerative process. On the other side under loading of tendons can predispose them to becoming thinned out/ weak (atrophic).

More often tennis elbow is seen in people with sedentary life style when then begin overloading the tendons by undertaking new activities such as exercising at the gym, gardening, lifting a baby etc. Some of the risk factors include

  • Age– most common between the ages of 30 to 50, although can affect all ages
  • Occupation and certain sports – Now days it is more commonly caused by excessive computer usage and spending long hours at keyboard. Repetitive forearm actions such as using screwdrivers can predispose to developing the condition. Professionals such as plumbers, carpenters are hence more prone. Poor backhand technique in tennis can also predispose although one does not have to be a tennis player to develop the condition.

What are the symptoms of tennis elbow?

This condition generally presents with varying degree of pain on the outer side of elbow. The pain can radiate downwards towards the forearm & wrist. The outside of your elbow may be very tender to touch. As the pain increases it can interfere with routine activities such as turning a doorknob, holding a cup of tea or gripping objects.

How is tennis elbow diagnosed?

Your doctor will take a detailed history and examine your elbow, wrist, neck & shoulder. Examination may involve applying pressure to the affected area or asking you to move your elbow, wrist and fingers in different directions. In majority of cases the diagnosis can be made based on medical history and physical examination. Your doctor may request for other tests to confirm the diagnosis or rule out other conditions with similar presentation. These may include

  • Ultrasound Scan– This can be used to confirm the diagnosis and if required an injection can also be performed at the same time.
  • X-ray. This is used more often when there is history of injury or to rule out elbow arthritis.
  • MRI scan– This can help your doctor to evaluate if a neck problem such as herniated disk or neck arthritis is responsible for your symptoms.

How is tennis elbow managed?

The treatment option will vary depending on multiple factors such as the duration of symptoms, severity & impact on your daily activities, previous treatments and their results.

Tennis elbow can be self-limiting and hence if the symptoms are mild your doctor may suggest conservative management to see if the condition gets better on its own. It may however take weeks or months for the pain to go away completely. Some studies report average duration of a typical episode is to be between six months and two years.

Treatments are aimed at reducing the load/stress on tendons; reducing the pain and preservation of movement, grip strength. Treatment options include-

  • Rest. This includes avoidance of provoking activities and heavy work with the affected arm for several weeks. Gel wrist pads while working on computers can be helpful to reduce stress on the tendons.
  • Ice pack – It can help to reduce the pain and swelling. Avoid applying the ice directly to the skin as this reduces the chances of frostbite. Ice can be wrapped in a towel and used for a few minutes (as tolerated), 3- 4 times in a day.
  • Elbow brace – An elbow splint/brace can help provide support and limit the stress/movements, aiding the process of healing. Use the brace when the arm is being used and it can be taken off at night time.
  • Medications – Pain killers can provide temporary relief and may include anti-inflammatory medications. It is important to use these medications as directed by your doctor.
  • Physiotherapy – It is important to stretch the muscles of the hand and forearm, in order to prevent the development of stiffness and increase the flexibility. Physiotherapy can also help in the strengthening of these muscles. Exercises are best learned under supervision of an experienced therapist. Once you have learned the correct technique, you can continue these at home.
  • Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) – This uses energy of strong sound waves at specific frequencies to create microtrauma that promotes the body’s natural healing processes. It is a non invasive treatment which involves placing the wave generator on the overlying skin to deliver the treatment. Some studies show that it can be beneficial whereas others not shown significant difference. This option is more likely to be used if there are calcium deposits in the degenerated tendons.

In case the pain does not settle, then your doctor may consider injections in order to provide pain relief. These may include

  • Dry needling — This is best performed under ultrasound guidance and involves piercing the damaged tendon with a needle to reinitiate the healing process.
  • Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection. PRP is prepared from a patient’s own blood and contains high concentration of proteins called growth factors that play an important role in the healing. When tissue injury occurs, platelets collect at the site of injury and start the repair process. In PRP injection we collect a blood sample and spin it in a machine to separate the platelets with the growth factors. This concentrated preparation is then administered close to the injury site. It is a safe procedure which tried to emulate the natures healing process. Some studies have shown that this form of treatment is associated with more favourable long term results.
  • Steroid injections Steroids are effective anti-inflammatory medicines. Your doctor may consider injection in the painful area around your lateral epicondyle with a steroid to relieve your symptoms. These injections can help in short term pain control.

Surgery– this is rarely required and is considered for persisting problems significantly impairing the quality of life.




Thursday, October 29, 2020

MOTHER’S THUMB INFORMATION LEAFLET….… Helping you look after the little ones…..

 Tags >> Causes Of De Quervain's Tenosynovitis,  symptoms of De Quervain's Tenosynovitis,pain management in delhiPain Specialist In Delhi

What is De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis?

Tendons are like ropes which connect muscles to bones and are enclosed within a sheath (covering) that allows smooth movement. De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis is caused by painful irritation of the sheath of two tendons as they travel from the wrist towards the thumb. These tendons travel in close proximity to each other and are involved in thumb movements (such as bringing the thumb away from the hand as it lies flat in the plane of the palm). When their sheath becomes thickened or irritated, the tendons have less space for movement resulting in pain and other symptoms. Some experts attribute the degeneration of tendon and deposition of fibrous tissue as the cause for the condition.

What are the symptoms of De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis?

De Quervain’s tenosynovitis presents with

  • Pain and swelling at the base of thumb, wrist
  • Pain during thumb movements such as griping or pinching
  • Sometimes a snapping/ sticking sensation may be felt  with thumb movement 

Area of pain  in De Quervain's Tenosynovitis

Image 1: Area of pain in De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis

What causes De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis?

This condition occurs most often between the ages of 30 -50 years. Quite often the cause is unknown although tendon sprain and overuse during repetitive movements can predispose to the development of this condition. Some of the risk factors include:

  • Women, especially mothers with young infants are more likely to be affected due to a combination of overuse, hormonal changes and fluid retention. Improper lifting technique can specially predispose to the development of this condition and it is also addressed as Mothers Thumb.
  • Professions or hobbies involving repetitive wrist or hand motions such as with musicians, dental hygienists, golfers, mountain bikers, typists, video game players. Other commonly used names used for the same condition include texting thumb, gamers’ thumb, washerwoman’s sprain and designer’s thumb.

How is De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis diagnosed?

A simple test used for diagnosis involves making a fist around the thumb placed in the palm on the affected side (Image 2). The patient is then asked to bend the wrist towards the little finger as shown in the image 3. If this makes your pain worse, then the test is considered positive

De Quervain's Tenosynovitis diagnosed

Image 2

De Quervain's Tenosynovitis diagnosed

Image 3

An ultrasound scan may help identify thickening of the tendons, increased fluid surrounding the tendons, increased blood flow, narrowing of the canal/ passage for tendons, anomalies in tendon slips and thus help confirm the diagnosis. MRI is useful for detecting mild disease where ultrasound in inconclusive. An x-ray of the wrist is sometimes requested to rule out other conditions with similar presentation.

How is De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis managed

The treatment option will vary depending on multiple factors such as the duration of symptoms, severity & impact on your daily activities, previous treatments and their results. It can be self-limited and may resolve without intervention. For most individuals non surgical treatment options suffice with very few requiring surgery. Treatment options include-

Rest. This includes avoidance of provoking activities and heavy work with the affected hand for several weeks. Rest provides an opportunity for the symptoms to settle. In mothers with young infants, changing the lifting technique and breast feeding position can make a difference.

Icing – Ice can help in reducing the pain and swelling.  Avoid applying the ice directly to the skin. Ice can be wrapped in a towel and used for a few minutes (as tolerated), a few times in a day.

Splinting – The splint may be required to be worn for a few weeks. It works by restricting the movement of thumb thereby providing an opportunity for healing to occur. The combined use of splints and steroid injections has been found to be more effective than splinting alone.

Medications – Pain killers can provide temporary relief and may include anti-inflammatory medications. It is important to use these medications as directed by your doctor.

Physiotherapy– This involves a combination of stretching and strengthening exercises to improve the hand function. Exercises are best learned under supervision of an experienced therapist. Once you have learned the correct technique, you can continue with these at home. Exercises have been shown to improve the duration of pain relief when used in combination with steroid injection and splinting.

Steroid injections In case the pain does not settle, then your doctor may consider injectionsSteroids are effective anti-inflammatory medicines and are commonly used treatment modality with near complete relief with one or two injections.

Sometimes septae (partitions) may be present in the intended injection compartment. Using ultrasound can help not only in verifying the diagnosis but also in visualizing these septae and accurately guiding the injection into the tendon compartments. There are studies highlighting the role of ultrasound in increasing injection accuracy and citing success rates of 91% after up to two injections.

Surgery– if the problem persists despite the above treatments then surgery can be considered.


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Thursday, October 22, 2020

Headaches are a common health issue that affects people of all ages world over

 

Headaches are a common health issue that affects people of all ages world over

Headaches are a common problem that affects people of all ages worldwide. There can be many reasons why people can develop headaches and these poor neck position while working or sleeping, stress, overwork, medical conditions such as degenerative disease of the spine, trauma, sinus problems, strokes, infections etc. Headaches which keep recurring are called recurrent headaches and those that tend to persist for a long period of time are called chronic headaches.

Headaches can hinder day to day activities and severely affect the quality of life especially in individuals who experience frequent severe headaches or long lasting / constant headaches . Recurrent headaches can be quite difficult to handle since they tend to develop suddenly, not giving you an opportunity to prepare for it and plan your day. There a variety of measures that you can take in order to reduce the impact and frequency of these headaches. Some of these are quite simple, but most people doubt the effectiveness and hence are hesitant to implement. These can work synergistically with the other management options suggested by your pain specialist. These include

General lifestyle modifications

  • Regulating your sleep cycle: Having a regular sleep cycle goes a long way in helping to reduce these headaches. Good sleep environment plays an important role and includes a darkened bedroom, a quiet place where you are comfortable and it helps to unwind. Some find a relaxing hot bath helpful in unwinding prior to heading off to bed. It is advised to avoid watching TV, using laptops or mobiles before you go to bed.
  • Hydration: Keep yourself well hydrated, because dehydration is a known trigger of headaches, and can worsen pre-existing headaches.
  • Regular meals: Have you meals on time. This another important factor that plays a role in the development of headaches. Low blood sugar/ hypoglycemia can trigger headaches. If you are in the habit of skipping meals or eating late and heavy meals, then you should consider changing this.
  • Avoiding triggers: Other trigger/ precipitating factors may vary from individual to individual. From particular foods to the brightness of TV screens to loud noises, certain smells etc there are numerous factors. You are the best person to identify these and avoid them as much as possible.
  • Tea and coffee: Minimize your intake of coffee and tea, because they are known to precipitate headaches. Avoid taking them late in the evenings and just before going to bed.
  • Quit smoking
  • Stress management and relaxation: Learn how to manage your stress in a productive manner and practice relaxation techniques.

These general measures, when used in combination with advice from your pain specialist can help you control your headaches better. Some of the common medical interventions used in management of headaches include:

Medications:

Medications for headache can be used to terminate the headache at the time you are experiencing it or can be taken as a preventive measure to reduce your chances of developing a headache. Preventive medications are usually taken when people experience frequent or continuous headaches, and they should be taken as prescribed by your doctor. Too much of any medication can also end up being the cause of your headache as well, and is given the name Medication Overuse Headache. The different medicines used for recurrent headaches are:

  • Antidepressants: These medications, besides the pain relieving effects can also have other beneficial effects like reducing anxiety and sleep disturbances. The drug selected will depend on your individual situation.
  • Beta blockers: Beta blockers, commonly used in management of high blood pressure and heart problems. They are helpful in the management of migraine related headaches
  • Anti-seizure medicines: Several anti-seizure medicines help in the prevention different types of recurrent/ chronic headaches including migraine.
  • NSAIDs: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly used over the counter medications for mild to moderate pain, and they are effective in various different types of headaches. On frequent usage they can have harmful side effects such as gastritis and peptic ulcer disease; therefore they must be used with caution and under medical supervision.

Other interventional methods:

When simple measures such as lifestyle modifications and oral medications are not successful in resolving the headaches, then it may be worth considering other interventional methods. The intervention used will depend on the diagnosis. The common interventions include:

Complementary & Alternative therapies

These include:

  • Acupuncture – which involves the insertion of thin needles at definitive points in your body, with the intention of providing pain relief
  • Massage therapy – this can help to reduce the stress and tension. It helps to relax the tightened muscles and thereby provides relief.
  • Meditation and relaxation therapy
  • Herbs and nutrients – Several organic herbs help in preventing migraine headaches and reduce the intensity of headaches. In deficiency states vitamin and mineral supplements can be taken to reduce headaches and prevent them from reoccurring.

It is best to seek medical advice before you starting with any of the above methods.