How an Online Doctor Can Help With Headaches
Assessment, care options and when to seek help.
Assessment
Describe onset, location, frequency and associated symptoms. A physician can review medicines and decide whether a neurological examination or other assessment is needed.
Care Options
The plan depends on the headache type. It may include suitable pain relief, identifying triggers and reviewing how often you use headache medicines.
When to Act
Call 911 for a sudden extreme headache, new weakness, trouble speaking or confusion. Headache with fever and a stiff neck, or after a significant head injury, needs urgent assessment.
Discuss Headaches With a Physician
Walk In connects eligible patients in its service areas with BC-licensed physicians for phone or video appointments. The physicians provide the medical care.
MSP-covered visits are free for eligible patients.
Understanding Headaches
Headache is a symptom with several possible causes. Tension-type headaches and migraine are common, but a new or unusual pattern needs consideration of other explanations. A familiar diagnosis should not be used to dismiss new warning signs.
Care and Treatment
Keeping a headache diary can make the pattern clearer. Discuss sleep, meals, stress, caffeine and medicines with your physician. Testing is guided by the history and examination rather than being automatic for every headache.
Your Appointment in Three Steps
Step 1 Book Your Visit
Choose a service and review the eligible location and care requirements before selecting an available appointment.
Step 2 Speak With a Doctor
Connect by phone or video. Your doctor may need video or an in-person assessment to understand your concern.
Step 3 Plan Your Next Steps
Your doctor will discuss a care plan. Prescriptions, notes, tests and referrals depend on the assessment and clinical need.
Before Your Appointment
What to Have Ready
- A diary of headache days, duration and severity
- All pain medicines and how often you take them
- New neurological symptoms or recent injury
Learn about the physicians on Walk In and their backgrounds before your appointment.
Questions About Headaches
What Makes a Headache Different From My Usual Pattern Concerning?
A sudden headache that reaches maximum severity rapidly, or a headache with weakness, confusion, fainting or other new neurological symptoms, needs urgent assessment. A new headache during pregnancy or after childbirth, after a significant injury, or with fever and neck stiffness also deserves particular attention.
For less urgent changes, explain what is different: location, frequency, intensity, associated symptoms or response to treatment. A physician can assess whether the pattern fits a common headache disorder or requires further investigation.
Could Frequent Painkiller Use Be Making My Headaches Worse?
It can. Repeated use of headache-relief medicines can contribute to medication-overuse headache in some people, including those with migraine. The relevant pattern depends on the medicine and how often it is used, so a record of medication days is more helpful than a general estimate of tablet numbers.
A physician can review your diary and plan how to reduce overuse while treating the underlying headache condition. Do not abruptly stop a regularly used prescription medicine without advice; the approach should account for the specific drug.
Do I Need a Brain Scan for Recurrent Headaches?
Not every recurrent headache needs imaging. A familiar stable pattern, medical history and examination may support a diagnosis such as migraine or tension-type headache without a scan. Imaging is more useful when findings suggest another cause or when it would change treatment.
A physician can explain which features in your history matter and whether an examination is needed before deciding. Bring information about onset, associated symptoms, headache frequency and treatments tried rather than assuming a scan is the first or only useful step.
Who Can Book, and What Does It Cost?
Booking is available to eligible patients in Walk In’s service areas. MSP-covered physician visits are free for eligible patients. Check the booking portal for current eligibility and appointment availability. See pricing for private visits and other services.
Health Information Sources
This page provides general information. Your physician will assess your individual symptoms and medical history.
Speak With a Doctor About Headaches
Connect with a physician through Walk In. Check your eligibility and choose an available appointment.