Headache Centers

At Ochsner, we care for a wide range of headaches and related conditions, including:

• Cerebrospinal fluid disorders — includes diseases related to abnormal pressure of the fluid surrounding the brain

• Cervicogenic headache — a headache that is the result of an injury or physical issue within the cervical spine

• Chronic daily headaches — short or long-lasting headaches that occur 15 or more days a month

• Cluster headaches — a series of short and painful headaches that occur with unique patterns, such as at certain times of the day

• Facial pain — any pain in the eyes, mouth, jaw or another part of the face, usually the result of an injury or headache

• Headaches in pregnancy — headaches, including migraines, that are associated with pregnancy and the early postpartum period

• Migraines — disabling headaches that can include an intense headache associated with nausea and light sensitivity

• Mild traumatic brain injury — an injury that results when external forces cause damage to the brain

• Occipital neuralgia — a type of headache that includes piercing or shock-like pain in the head or upper neck

• Post-concussion syndrome — symptoms, including fatigue, headache, memory loss or dizziness, that last beyond the normal concussion recovery period

• Tension headaches — mild to moderate headaches that are the result of stress, posture issues or lack of sleep

• Trigeminal autonomic cephalgia — one-sided headache pain, along with symptoms like facial sweating, watery eyes, stuffy/runny nose and eye redness

• Trigeminal neuralgia — shock-like, painful sensations along one side of the face

• Vascular headaches – headaches that are related to a stroke, bleeding in the brain or abnormalities of the blood vessels

Headaches can be caused or triggered by hormones, stress, foods and underlying medical conditions, but often there is no easily known cause. At Ochsner, our doctors know that finding a diagnosis for the root source of your headaches may not always be easy, but it is the first step in managing your headaches. We aren’t just migraine specialists, we are experts in recognizing and treating even the rarest and most challenging conditions. Our headache centers offer advanced diagnostic tests and procedures to assess patients, including:

• Brain and cervical spine imaging, including special MRI and CT scans

• Cerebral angiograms — use of imaging to evaluate the brain’s blood vessels

• Endoscopic nasal evaluations — use of scopes and miniature cameras to examine inside the nose and the sinus cavities

• Fundus exam — a dilated eye exam that allows the doctor to examine the back of the eye to help identify the cause of a headache

• Intracranial pressure monitoring — a test designed to monitor the pressure of the brain and the fluid surrounding it

• Lumbar puncture — also known as a spinal tap, a procedure in which spinal fluid is removed from the lower back for diagnostic testing

• Myelogram — a diagnostic imaging test using dye and either X-ray or CT to detect issues in the spinal canal

• Sleep testing — a sleep disorder assessment that may provide valuable information about migraines

• Vestibular testing — specialized testing to determine the cause of dizziness and vertigo

• Visual field testing — helps your doctor evaluate how far your eye can see when you look side to side and up and down

Headache clinic team members collaborate with other Ochsner departments to provide interdisciplinary diagnostic testing and comprehensive care, including:

• Interventional neuroradiology

• Neurosurgery

• Obstetrics and gynecology

• Ophthalmology

• Otolaryngology

• Pediatric neurology

• Physical medicine and rehabilitation

• Sleep medicine

• Vascular neurology

There’s no single headache treatment that works for everyone. We provide a range of the most innovative headache therapies available because some patients may need more than one type of treatment to manage their headaches. Current treatment options include:

• Biofeedback — using feedback from monitoring equipment to adjust your body’s functions

• Botox injections

• Cryoneurolysis — freezing specific nerves to relieve headache pain

• Dihydroergotamine infusion — infusions given in the hospital to manage severe and prolonged migraine

• Functional restoration for chronic pain

• Implantable occipital nerve stimulator — an implanted device stimulates the occipital nerve in the neck to potentially improve headaches

• Inpatient and outpatient infusion therapies — a combination of therapies aimed at treating acute headaches

• Intracranial pressure monitoring and treatment trials

• Intranasal lidocaine therapy — medication given through the nose that may quickly relieve migraine pain

• Peripheral nerve block and trigger point injections — treatments that include sphenopalatine ganglion block and trigeminal nerve block

• Specialized physical therapy — includes vestibular therapy to help with balance and dizziness, as well as head and neck physical therapy

• Surgery

• Vitamin replacement therapy

We also offer counseling regarding lifestyle changes to help you avoid headache triggers, along with allergy testing that can identify unknown triggers. Additionally, Ochsner has ongoing investigator-initiated and national clinical trials, providing access to leading-edge treatments for qualifying patients.

Long-term headache pain affects more than just your head. Ochsner delivers care to help you tackle the mental and emotional stressors of regular headaches. Our holistic approach to treatment includes mental health support and wellness treatments, such as acupuncture.

If you are experiencing severe headaches and want to seek care at Ochsner, you must provide patient information about your headaches. One of the best ways to help speed up your diagnosis and treatment is to keep a detailed headache diary before your first appointment. Tracking the length, intensity and known triggers of your headaches over time will help your doctor better assess what’s happening in your brain. You can keep your headache diary in a notebook or the National Headache Foundation’s diary form for easy tracking.