Emory Comprehensive Headache Center

Living with Headaches and Migraines

Annually, more than 50 million adults in the U.S. experience severe headaches or migraines that are debilitating enough to seek medical care. Yet many continue to suffer without receiving the specialized treatment they need. We understand that headaches aren't just a normal part of life to be endured, they are complex neurological conditions requiring expert diagnosis and personalized care.

Helping You Manage Your Pain at Emory Comprehensive Headache Center

Living with head or face pain shouldn't define your life. At the Emory Comprehensive Headache Center, we understand the profound impact that chronic or severe head and face pain can have on your daily activities, relationships and overall well-being. That's why our approach begins with listening to your unique story and conducting a thorough assessment of your symptoms, medical history and other factors that may contribute to your condition.

The Emory Comprehensive Headache Center can help you find the relief you need. Your care with us is truly comprehensive. After your initial evaluation, our specialists may recommend diagnostic testing to identify underlying causes, followed by a customized treatment plan that draws from multiple disciplines—including neurology, pain management, physical therapy, sleep medicine and/or behavioral health.

Our commitment to building lasting relationships with our patients is a priority. Your headache team will be with you every step of the way, adjusting your treatment plan as needed and providing ongoing support to help you achieve relief and reclaim your quality of life.

Find an Emory Provider

Why Choose Emory Healthcare?

Our comprehensive headache program features:

  • Headache-specialized physicians: Our doctors have specific fellowship training and board certification in headache medicine

  • Personalized treatment plans: Unlike a one-size-fits-all approach, our team offers customized treatment plans tailored to the unique needs of each patient

  • Innovative treatment methods: Counselling on neuromodulation devices (treatments to regulate nerve activity), onabotulinumtoxinA (BOTOX®) therapy (to treat chronic migraines), nerve blocks, infusion treatments and other new and developing treatment methods based on the latest research.

  • Continuity of care: Ongoing relationship with the same care team providing continuity and adjustment of treatment as needed

Therapies currently in development:

  • Integrated complementary therapies: Evidence-based approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapy, biofeedback, and mindfulness training through Emory's expansive multidisciplinary network.

  • Dedicated headache infusion therapy: Infused medications for severe episodes without emergency room visits

  • Patient education programs: Specialized workshops on trigger management, lifestyle modification and self-care strategies

Different Types of Headaches

Headaches are classified as either primary disorders (where the headache itself is the condition) or secondary disorders (caused by another underlying health issue).

Primary headache disorders

Primary headache disorders encompass a spectrum of conditions, from tension-type headaches and migraine to cluster headaches and neuralgias.

Secondary headache disorders

Secondary headache disorders include those resulting from head injuries, cervical spine disorders or from overuse of certain medications. Proper diagnosis often requires a comprehensive evaluation by specialists who understand the nuanced differences between headache types.

Headache Treatments

Once our neurologists gain the necessary details about your condition, we can design a personalized treatment plan. Some treatment options are listed below.

  • Botox injections
  • Nerve blocks
  • Prescription medications
  • Acupuncture or trigger point injections
  • See all our headache treatment options

We believe in empowering our patients with both immediate relief strategies and long-term management tools, creating a treatment plan that leads to fewer headache days and improved quality of life.

Who's a Good Candidate?

You may benefit from care at the Emory Comprehensive Headache Center if you experience frequent or severe headaches that interfere with your daily life, have not found adequate relief from over-the-counter medications, require increasing doses of medication to manage your symptoms, or have been diagnosed with complex headache conditions like chronic migraine, cluster headaches, or new daily persistent headache.

What to Expect

Your journey at the Emory Comprehensive Headache Center begins with a thorough initial consultation, where one of our headache specialists will review your detailed medical history, headache patterns, previous treatments, and conduct a focused neurological examination. We encourage new patients to bring any prior imaging studies, test results, and a headache diary documenting frequency, duration, severity, and potential triggers if available.

Based on this comprehensive assessment, your specialist may order additional diagnostic tests and will develop a personalized treatment plan that addresses your specific headache type and contributing factors.

Follow-up appointments typically occur 12 weeks after your initial visit to evaluate your response to treatment, make any necessary adjustments to your care plan, and incorporate additional therapeutic approaches from our multidisciplinary team as needed, with the ultimate goal of reducing headache burden and improving your quality of life.

More Resources on Headaches

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Make an Appointment with Emory Neurology

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