Mommy, My Head Hurts

by Cheyette, Sarah, M.D.

• ISBN13: 9781557045355
• ISBN10: 1557045356
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-09-01
• Publisher: Avon A

Summary

Reassuring and authoritative, Dr. Sarah Cheyette, a pediatric neurologist and mother of two young children, helps parents navigate the sometimes frightening world of a child's headache pain, and offers advice on symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and how to deal with doctors. In a clear, lively, easy-to-understand style, Dr. Cheyette answers parents' most pressing questions: How can I identify and treat pain in my baby? My toddler? My teen? What are the possible causes of my child's headache? What medications and nondrug therapies are available for my child's pain? How can I prepare my child for a doctor's visit? What questions should my doctor ask to ensure an accurate diagnosis of my child's headache? What are our options if we've already seen a doctor...and the headache still isn't going away? Filled with case studies drawn from her own practice, resources, diagrams, and a valuable sample headache diary, Mommy, My Head Hurts belongs on every parenting bookshelf.

Table of Contents

Introduction: How to Make the Best Use of This Book	xi
I Have an Owie!: The Concept of Pain in a Child	1	(30)
Pain---Defined
Do Infants Get Headaches?
Preschoolers and Their ``Owies''
Pain in Seven to Eleven Year Olds
Headaches in the Teenage Years
Other Factors That May Be Influencing Your Child's Pain
Lessons to Be Learned From This Chapter
Doctor, Is It a Brain Tumor?: The Causes of Headaches in Children	31	(42)
Brain Tumors
Tension-Type Headaches
Sinus Headaches
Eyestrain Headaches
Dental Headaches
Meningitis
Bleeding
Post-Traumatic Headaches
Stress
Environmental Causes of Headaches
Headaches From Food
Menstrual Headaches
Rebound Headaches
Idiopathic Intracranial Headaches (IIH)
Cluster Headache
Headaches Due to General Medical Problems
Headaches With Psychiatric Problems
Headaches and Medications
Colloid Cysts
Sleep Apnea
Chiari I Malformation
More Than Pain: Migraine	73
The Genetics of Migraines
The Symptoms of Migraines
Migraine Variants
Intractable Migraines
Migraine Triggers
Biology of a Migraine Headache
The Cycle of a Migraine
Take Two Aspirins...and Cross Your Fingers: Headache Medications	97	(119)
Preventative Medications
Abortive Medications
Treatment of Intractable Headaches
Drug Interactions
Take a Massage and Call Me in the Morning: Nondrug Therapies	119	(20)
Dietary Interventions
How to Make a Headache Diary
Issues to Consider in Forming a Dietary Treatment for Headaches
Environmental Manipulations
Herbal Supplements
Vitamin Supplements
Acupuncture
Acupressure
Biofeedback and Biobehavioral Training
Aromatherapy
Temperature Manipulations
Exercise
Chiropractic Manipulations and Physical Therapy
A Doctor's Visit: How a Doctor Thinks About Your Child's Headache	139	(30)
Questions Your Doctor Should Ask
The Physical
The Diagnosis
Confirmatory Testing
The Intractable Headache: The Unwanted Family Member	169	(12)
Appendix A: Sample Headache Diary	181	(2)
Appendix B: Further Resources	183	(2)
Index	185	(7)
About the Author	192