Introduction to the headache service
It is very common for people to experience headache. When headache becomes more severe or is associated with other symptoms, it may be a cause of significant concern and can require specialized investigation or treatment.
The Walton Centre provides a comprehensive service for investigation and treatment of headache disorders.
Treatment/services/procedures performed
Headache is one of the commonest causes for neurological consultation at The Walton Centre, where all consultant neurologists offer diagnostic and treatment services in their general neurology clinics.
Carl Bradley offers a dedicated specialist nurse clinician service for headache disorders and accepts referrals from general practitioners.
Dr Nicholas Silver runs a clinic for severe and refractory headache disorders weekly that mainly accepts referrals from other consultant specialist colleagues in neurology, neurosurgery and pain.
Dr Anita Krishnan is a consultant neurologist who also has a special interest in headache.
There is a close collaboration with consultant colleagues in the departments of neuroradiology, pain management, neuroophthalmology and neurosurgery.
All known headache disorders are treated at The Walton Centre and there is particular expertise within the Trust in treating chronic migraine, medication overuse headache, cluster headache, hemicrania continua, low CSF pressure headache, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, giant cell arteritis, etc.
Many current therapies are used at The Walton Centre to manage patients with headache disorders.
Specialised procedures and treatments (in highly selected cases only) include:
- Detoxification from medication/caffeine overuse
- Greater occipital nerve blocks
- Multiple cranial nerve blocks
- IV Lidocaine
- IV Dihydroergotamine
- Botulinum toxin for chronic migraine (highly selected cases with PCT/commissioner approval only)
- GTN Challenge
- Indometacin tests (oral and intramuscular)
- IV Caffeine infusions (e.g. for low CSF pressure headache)
Consultant/Practitioner details
Dr Nicholas Silver, Consultant Neurologist
Dr Anita Krishnan, Consultant Neurologist
Dr Ranjith Menon, Consultant Neurologist
Mona Ghadiri-Sani, Consultant Neurologist
Carl Bradley, Headache Nurse Specialist
Headache Resources
Information is available regarding headaches, treatment and support:
Cluster Headache: OUCH UK
www.ouchuk.org
tel: 01646 651 979
Migraine: Migraine Action
www.migraine.org.uk
tel: 0116 275 8317
The Migraine Trust
www.migrainetrust.org
tel: 020 7631 6970
Guidelines for diagnosis and management of headache disorders:
British Association for the Study of Headache (BASH) Guidelines:
http://217.174.249.183/upload/NS_BASH/2010_BASH_Guidelines.pdf