Headache or Migraine? Find the Right Place to Start
Head pain is not always easy to label.
Some migraines happen without aura. Some headaches are severe enough to disrupt your day. Some people experience frequent headaches as well as separate migraine attacks.
Start with the experience that feels closest to what you are living with. Each route will take you to more relevant information about your symptoms, assessment and care.
Headaches That Wear You Down
Your headaches may feel like a dull, heavy ache, a tight band around your head, pressure behind your eyes or temples, or pain that begins at the base of your skull.
The discomfort may sit in the background for hours or steadily build as the day goes on. You push through work, screens and exercise because you have to, but concentrating takes more effort and the pain leaves you drained.
Painkillers or a break may take the edge off, only for the pressure to return later.
If this sounds closest to your experience, begin with our dedicated headache page.
Migraines That Take Over
Your migraines may arrive as recognisable attacks, sometimes with warning signs and sometimes without.
Head pain may be accompanied by nausea, sensitivity to light or sound, visual disturbance, difficulty concentrating or overwhelming fatigue. When an attack takes hold, work stops, plans change and you may need hours, or longer, to recover.
Even between attacks, the uncertainty can make it difficult to trust your schedule or commit to the things that matter to you.
If this feels more familiar, begin with our dedicated migraine page.
Still Not Sure Where to Start?
Headaches and migraines can overlap, and you don’t need to make a clinical distinction before seeking help.
Both routes lead to the same place: a thorough consultation with Dr Paul Holmes, focussed on understanding what you’re experiencing and helping you find the relief you’re looking for.
Paul has more than 15 years’ clinical experience working with headaches, migraines and related neck and jaw symptoms. He will listen to the full pattern, explain what may be contributing and give you a clear recommendation for the most appropriate next step.
Explore the page that feels closest to your experience, or book an initial consultation if you’re ready to begin.
Find Us in Edinburgh
Based in Edinburgh, with patients attending from Leith, the city centre and across the wider Lothians.