Are you dealing with frequent headaches that interfere with your daily life? Not all headaches are the same, and understanding what type you have is the first step toward relief. The two most common are tension headaches and migraines. While these conditions share several similarities, they often require very different approaches to care. At MAPS Centers for Pain Control, we specialize in diagnosing and treating migraine pain in Chicago, helping patients understand their symptoms and find long-term relief.

Key Differences Between Migraines and Tension Headaches

To ensure you get the right chronic headache care, it’s important to determine what type of headache you’re dealing with. Here are some key differences between migraines and tension headaches:

Pain Type

• Tension headache: Steady, dull or pressure-like pain, often described as a tight band around the head
• Migraine: Throbbing or pulsating pain that’s moderate to severe

Location

• Tension headache: Typically affects both sides of the head or the entire forehead
• Migraine: Often occurs on one side (though it can shift or involve both sides)

Duration

• Tension headache: Can last 30 minutes to several hours, sometimes days
• Migraine: Can last four to 72 hours

Triggers

• Tension headache: Stress, muscle strain, fatigue and poor posture
• Migraine: Hormonal changes, certain foods (like aged cheese or chocolate), weather changes, sensory overload and lack of sleep

Associated Symptoms

• Tension headache: Rarely accompanied by other symptoms (beyond mild sensitivity)
• Migraine: Often paired with nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light, sound or smells. May also cause visual disturbances

When to See a Pain Specialist in Chicago for Headaches

Most people get headaches now and then. However, if they become frequent, severe or start disrupting your daily life, it may be time to see a specialist. You should consider seeking professional migraine or tension headache treatment if you experience the following:

• Headaches that occur more than once or twice a week
• Pain that lasts for hours or even days at a time
• Headaches accompanied by nausea, vomiting or vision changes
• Lack of relief from over-the-counter pain medications
• Pain that interferes with work, school or sleep

How MAPS in Chicago Diagnoses Migraine vs. Tension Headaches

If you’re struggling with recurring headaches, the first step toward lasting relief is an accurate diagnosis. At MAPS Centers for Pain Control in Chicago, we use a comprehensive diagnostic procedure to accurately pinpoint the source of your headaches and treat them. This includes:

• Detailed Patient History: We begin by learning when your headaches occur, how long they last and what triggers them.
• Symptom Assessment: Our specialists pay close attention to the type of pain and its location, as well as any associated symptoms.
• Clinical Evaluation: Through physical exams and advanced diagnostic tools, we rule out underlying conditions and confirm the likely headache type.

By combining medical expertise with attentive listening, our clinicians can distinguish migraines from tension headaches, making sure you receive the most effective treatment.

How MAPS Centers in Chicago Treat Migraine and Tension Headache Pain

When it comes to chronic headache care, we go beyond simply masking symptoms. Our Chicago-based specialists offer a wide range of personalized, non-opioid tension headache and migraine treatment options designed to reduce pain, prevent future episodes and improve quality of life. This may include:

• Preventive care that focuses on reducing the frequency and severity of headaches by identifying triggers, improving sleep and supporting stress management.
• Nerve blocks that provide quick, targeted relief by interrupting pain signals and easing symptoms during flare-ups.
• Botox injections, an FDA-approved option for chronic migraine that helps reduce the number of headache days over time.
• Meditation and relaxation techniques that serve as part of a whole-person approach, giving patients tools to calm the nervous system and manage stress-related pain.
• Medication management to ensure the safest, most effective use of non-opioid medicines, ultimately treating acute headache episodes and supporting ongoing prevention.

Get Relief for Migraine Pain in Chicago at MAPS

Nobody should have to struggle with pain. Whether you’re battling tension headaches or chronic migraines, our double board-certified doctors at MAPS Centers in Chicago are here to help. Once we’ve diagnosed the root cause of your headaches, we’ll devise a tailored treatment plan that addresses symptoms and delivers long-lasting relief.

Along with expert migraine and tension headache treatments, we offer a seamless patient experience. New patients can easily complete registration forms online, streamlining the paperwork process and getting you to the treatment stage as soon as possible. Keep in mind that some insurance companies may require referrals, so be sure to check your unique requirements.

Ready to take the first step toward relief? Explore non-opioid tension headache and migraine treatment options at MAPS Centers in Chicago today!