This web site is intended to provide information for both patients and health-care providers on the diagnosis and management of head, neck and facial pain.

76% of women and 57% of men report at least one significant headache per month and 31% of persons with headache have regular functional impairment. It is estimated that the average annual cost of a migraine sufferer to their employer is as high as $6864 per man and $3600 per woman (Saper, 1993).

The information on this web site is provided for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be sufficient for patients to diagnose and treat their own condition without the aid of a physician. However, it has been our experience that patients who are knowledgeable about their condition do better. Physicians have the burden of being knowledgeable about thousands of different diseases. Most patients only have to be knowledgeable about one or two diseases which afflict them. Therefore, it behooves the patient to become as much of an expert on their own disease as they can be so that they can be a better partner with their doctor in the management of their disease.

On this web site, we intend to provide information about several types of headaches. The information is never complete, so it may be worthwhile returning in the future to see what has been added.

We recognize that many patients may want to send us email, asking specific questions about their own cases. Unfortunately, we have to decline to answer these, as it is not permissable to practice medicine over the net. Patients should consult their own physicians about their own case, and we have included a section on How to Get the Help You Need. Of course, those who live in the Pittsburgh area are welcome to see us by making an appointment with the Valley Headache Clinic by calling (412) 226-9960. We are happy to receive email of a general nature, or giving us suggestions for improving the web site. (geb@cadre.dsl.pitt.edu)

The first task in management of headache is finding the correct diagnosis. This is because treatment for sinus headache, for example, is completely different from treatment for migraines. If the diagnosis is wrong, then treatment is likely to be ineffective. The web site includes information on diagnostic procedures, and then each type of headache is considered separately on its own page or set of pages. The characteristics of each headache type are discussed on the pages pertaining to it.

• Diagnosis of Headache Type and headaches caused by tumor, aneurysm, meningitis, etc.

Types of Headaches:

• Migraine

• "Tension" Headache

• Post-traumatic Headache

• Cluster Headaches

• Trigeminal Neuralgia and other Facial Pain

• Chronic Daily Headaches

• Exercise & Cough-induced Headaches

• Spinal Headache (after a spinal tap)

• Pseudotumor Cerebri

• Headache due to neck injury & "whiplash."