How to treat headache symptoms caused by covid? from EllaJoy's blog

Headache is one of the Long COVID-19 syndromes after COVID-19 infection. Along with other Long COVID symptoms such as brain fog long covid, most commonly difficulty concentrating. Treating post-traumatic headaches can be challenging. Patients may experience different types of headaches caused by different mechanisms. A one-size-fits-all approach cannot help all patients.

Treating PTH with Medications

Over-the-counter medications can sometimes relieve post-traumatic headaches, but this is only a short-term option. It is safe to take Tylenol (acetaminophen) right away after a concussion if you need pain relief. Forty-eight hours after a concussion, you can start taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and Aleve (naproxen sodium). Currently, there are no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug therapies for the treatment of chronic post-traumatic headache.

Although most participants reported short-term improvement after taking pain medication, about a third started having headaches again at follow-up. Many physicians turn to traditional methods to treat patients with primary headaches, often resulting in poor response to treatment.

This result makes sense when you consider that most pain medications are designed to target other triggers. For example, some people with PTH take triptans, a class of drugs that try to prevent or stop migraine attacks and cluster headaches. These do this in part by restricting blood flow in the brain; however, if your headaches are caused by NVC or ANS dysfunction, constricting blood flow may make the problem worse!

Treating PTH Without Drugs

Several nonpharmacologic interventions are available for the management of posttraumatic headache. For example, physical therapy and massage can reduce the intensity of a headache. Additionally, techniques used in cognitive behavioral therapy can be used to teach patients to deal with triggers. This involves gradual exposure, gradually increasing the intensity or frequency of the headache-causing conditions, allowing your brain to adapt to them without triggering symptoms.

LongCovidCareCenter Treats Post-COVID Headaches

At LongCovidCareCenter, we use multidisciplinary therapies that are more effective than monotherapy. Also, we're not just trying to improve headache symptoms. Instead, we seek to help the brain heal from the damage that caused your symptoms.

LongCovidCareCenter begins with a detailed exam, reviewing your medical history, reviewing the symptoms you are experiencing, and performing a series of physical exams to help us understand how your brain and body have been affected by a concussion. Most importantly, we use an imaging technique called functional neurocognitive imaging (fNCI) to zero in on which areas of your brain are affected by the injury and how well they communicate with other brain areas.

How Long Will Symptoms Of Headache Last Following COVID-19 Infection? proposes to combine all this information and design a treatment plan that is tailored just for you. Ultimately, our treatment aimed to restore normal neurovascular coupling and ANS function, areas highlighted by our evaluation as dysfunctional. We also use specific methods that can help relieve headaches, including breathing exercises, neuromuscular massage, and BrainWave.

During treatment weeks, patients engage in high-intensity exercise and therapy. Classes start with aerobic exercise to improve blood flow in the brain, followed by different therapies to help your brain heal. Therapies used include: neuromuscular therapy, occupational therapy, visual therapy, vestibular therapy, cognitive therapy, etc., choose a symptomatic method to help you treat.

At the end of treatment, the patient will have a second scan to see how the brain is adjusting to the treatment. For some patients, the changes are dramatic, while for others it takes longer for the brain to respond and change. Despite this, 90% of our patients improved during treatment. Most of these patients continue to improve at home.

After treatment, the LongCovidCareCenter team will also meet with you to review your scans and other test results, and give you home tasks including some combination of aerobic exercise, cognitive games, and cognitive breaks to continue your recovery journey. If you are suffering from headaches, brain fog, etc., join us now.