Headache Questionnaire

Your doctor may want the answers from this headache questionnaire if your headaches have proven particularly difficult to treat. Please let your doctor know if any of these questions seem to describe your circumstances:

Do you use short-acting medications ( triptans , narcotics, or others) to treat your headaches more than three times a week?

Overuse of short-acting medications can cause headaches, leading to an endless cycle called Medication Overuse Headache (MOHA).

Do your headaches occur almost exclusively or exclusively on one side of the head?

Have your doctor look into Hemicrania Continua or Paroxysmal Hemicrania as possible diagnoses. For more information about these diagnoses look under 'Uncommon Chronic Daily Headaches' here.

Do you have difficultly sleeping or do you seem to sleep well but do not feel well rested during the day?

This may represent a sleep disorder, which can contribute to your headache tendency.

Do you experience fatigue most of the day, even if you are not sleepy?

Your doctor may wish to check for various causes of fatigue such as B12 deficiency, hypothyroidism, or sleep disorders.

Do your headaches tend to get worse when you are upright and improve when you are lying down? Do your headaches tend to be better in the morning and worsen as the day progresses?

This can be due to low cerebrospinal fluid pressure, which may be from a cerebrospinal fluid leak.

Do you have decreased peripheral vision or double-vision occasionally? Have you gained weight around the same time as your headaches worsened? Did your headaches start suddenly and have remained daily?

This may represent the generally benign but potentially vision threatening pseudotumor cerebri or a dangerous condition in which a cerebral vein clots off ( cerebral venous thrombosis ).

Do you have caffeine on a daily basis?

Possible caffeine-induced headache or withdrawal headache

Do you experience significant neck pain and shoulder muscle spasm even at times when you do not have a headache?

This may be due to a neck or shoulder disorder contributing to headaches.

Do you frequently experience high anxiety or stress or depression?

These conditions often exacerbate or serve as triggers for headaches, especially migraines.

Do you experience pain(sharp or burning) in the back portion of your skull that seems to radiate toward your forehead?

This may represent a special diagnosis called occipital neuralgia .

Are you aware of any foods or drinks that seem to be associated with your headaches?

Identification and avoidance of food triggers is very important for headache prevention.

If you have migraines, have you tried the basic four categories of prevention medications?

These include Topamax, Depakote, Beta-blockers, and Tricyclic antidepressants.

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