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Donald R. Tanenbaum, DDS MPH

Relief lives here.

Headache & Migraine

Headaches

(to read about migraine headaches, please scroll down)

Tension headaches are the most common form of headache. In fact, somewhere between 70-90% of the population will experience a tension headache of mild or moderate intensity during the course of their lifetime. For the most part, tension headaches are not disabling and those who suffer from them can go about their daily routines at home or at work.

The typical words used to describe a tension headache include:

  • Tightness
  • Band-like
  • Aching
  • Squeezing
  • Pressure-like

The primary locations where tension headaches are experienced are:

  • In the temples
  • Across the forehead
  • At the back of head
  • In the facial muscles

It is thought that tension headaches are caused by tightening muscles created by a host of factors including stress and emotions, dehydration, lack of sleep, repetitive work postures, neck muscle strain, and activities such as clenching and grinding of the teeth to name just a few.

In patients with a severe temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems, tension headaches can be experienced on a frequent or chronic basis as a result of jaw, facial and neck muscles being in a consistent state of contracture. Tension headaches may be the dominant symptom of a temporomandibular problem or may be one of many symptoms.

Treatment of Tension Headaches Can Include a Combination of:

  • Medication
  • Education
  • Behavior modification strategies
  • Counseling
  • Exercises
  • Physiotherapy
  • Oral appliances
  • Muscle injections
  • Botox
  • Relaxation techniques
  • Improved sleep routines
 With these treatment options and working with other health care providers it’s likely that the frequency, duration and intensity of your tension headaches can be reduced.

Migraine Headaches

Migraine headaches are classified as a neurological disorder, are more common in females, most often are dominant on one side of the head, and are often accompanied with symptoms of light and sound sensitivity, nausea and vomiting. Pounding and throbbing pain is often experienced across the eyes, forehead, temples, and back of the head when a migraine headache develops.

Although it is fully understand that migraine headaches often have a genetic origin and can occur spontaneously without influence from behavioral or environmental factors, treatment offered in my office that confront the muscles of the face, jaw and neck are invaluable in helping to relieve migraine pain symptoms. I approach migraine problems with a combination of:

  • Medications
  • Oral appliances used when sleeping
  • Muscle trigger point injection therapy
  • Lifestyle change suggestions
  • Dry needling techniques
  • Botox injections
  • Stress management strategies
  • Biofeedback
  • Relaxation strategies
  • Sleep hygiene suggestions

Managing migraine headaches certainly requires a team approach and my practice can be a critical part of your caring team.

Schedule an appointment:

If you live or work in New York City or on Long Island and would like to set up an appointment with Dr. Tanenbaum, please go to our Contact & Locations page.

Click here to find out what to expect at your first visit.

About Dr. Tanenbaum