Pediatric Headache Center of Excellence

Why Choose Lurie Children's

At the Lurie Children’s Pediatric Headache Center of Excellence, we understand that each patient’s experience with headaches is unique, which is why we take a personalized approach to treatment. Our dedicated team of experts works closely with you and your child to develop an individualized care plan that addresses the specific needs of your family. 

We offer a wide range of treatment options to effectively manage pediatric headaches, including lifestyle counseling to help identify and modify headache triggers, vitamin supplements, and evidence-based medications to reduce the frequency and severity of headaches. When appropriate, we also incorporate pain reduction procedures for added support. 

Our program takes an interdisciplinary approach, bringing together specialists in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), physical therapy, clinical nutrition, and complementary medicine treatments to provide well-rounded, holistic care. Each child receives comprehensive treatment to not only alleviate headaches but also improve overall well-being. 

Additionally, our program is actively involved in clinical research trials, offering the opportunity for your child to participate in cutting-edge studies exploring new medications and therapies for headache relief. 

With our tailored, team-based approach, we are committed to providing the best possible care to help your child manage and overcome headaches, so they can thrive. 

• Migraine with aura
• Migraines without aura 
• Atypical migraine
• Abdominal migraine
• Benign paroxysmal vertigo of childhood
• Cluster headache
• Cyclic vomiting syndrome
• Hemicrania continua
• Hemiplegic migraine
• Idiopathic intracranial hypertension/Pseudotumor cerebri
• Medication overuse headache
• New daily persistent headache
• Occipital neuralgia
• Paroxysmal hemicrania
• Post-concussive headache
• Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache with autonomic symptoms (SUNA)
• Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT)
• Supraorbital neuralgia
• Tension-type headache
• Trigeminal autonomic cephalalgia
• Trigeminal neuralgia

Pediatric Headache Treatment

Headache Procedure Clinic

For certain patients, we can offer our Headache Procedure Clinic that offers a range of specialized, adjunctive treatments. These procedures are designed to provide effective relief for children experiencing persistent pain. Depending on the individual needs of your child, we offer lidocaine nerve blocks, sphenopalatine ganglion blocks, trigger point injections, and Botox® injections for chronic migraine. Our experienced providers carefully tailor these treatments to each child’s unique condition, helping to reduce headache frequency and intensity, and improve overall quality of life. As part of our comprehensive approach, these procedures work alongside other therapies to support long-term relief and recovery. 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Dr. Laurie G. Thompson is Lurie Children's dedicated headache and pain psychologist. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to address and treat:

• Coping mechanisms for pain management
• Lifestyle factors associated with headache (sleep, hydration, time management)
• Medication compliance
• Stressors and anxiety as they relate to headache
• Ways to boost school attendance and retention
• Working with schools for accommodations for headache patients, such as 504 plans

What is CBT?

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a psychotherapy technique focused on exploring the relationship between thoughts, emotions, actions and the body's response.

How is CBT helpful in treating headaches?

There are many factors that contribute to pain, and especially chronic pain. These factors include biological factors (i.e. fenetics and an individual's neurochemistry), social factors (i.e. social support, trauma, cultural beliefs) and psychological factors (i.e. stress, mood, coping ability).

Although medication can potentially help the biological factors that contribute to pain, it does not address social or psychological factors of pain. CBT is a proven psychological treatment for pediatric headache that can be beneficial in addressing social and psychological factors that contribute to pain. 

Physical Therapy (PT)  

At the Lurie Children’s Pediatric Headache Center of Excellence, we work with expert physical therapists (PT) who specialize in treating chronic pain and headache. Physical therapists focus on relieving muscle tension, improving posture, addressing deconditioning and correcting movement patterns that may contribute to headaches. Specialized techniques such as manual therapy, neck exercises, and strengthening routines can help reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines. Additionally, PT can improve balance and address vestibular issues that often accompany migraines. By incorporating physical therapy into your migraine management plan, you can experience lasting relief, enhanced mobility, and a better quality of life. 

Clinical Nutrition 

At our Pediatric Headache Center of Excellence, we know how nutrition can play a key role in managing migraines. Our nutrition specialists assess your child’s unique dietary habits and design personalized nutrition plans aimed at promoting overall well-being and migraine relief. For children who are overweight, our team also provides guidance on healthy weight management, as maintaining a healthy weight can significantly improve migraine frequency and severity. By focusing on balanced meals, hydration, and eliminating potential food triggers, we help children build healthier eating habits that support long-term headache management. With the right nutritional guidance and weight management strategies, we empower families to take a proactive approach to reducing migraines and improving their child’s quality of life.  

Complementary Medicine for Migraine Relief 

In addition to traditional therapies, our we recognize the value of complementary medicine in managing migraines. We offer referrals to experienced practitioner Dr. Benjamin Katholi at the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab who can perform alternative treatments such as acupuncture, acupressure, and microcurrent therapies. These techniques have been shown to help reduce migraine frequency and intensity by promoting relaxation, improving circulation, and stimulating the body’s natural healing processes. For many children, incorporating these therapies alongside conventional treatments can provide additional relief and enhance overall well-being.   

Treatment for Prolonged and Severe Migraine Attacks 

For children suffering from prolonged and severe migraine attacks, our we offer specialized treatments designed to provide rapid relief. Our Ambulatory Infusion Center (AIC) provides IV treatments during business hours for appropriate patients, offering an alternative to emergency department visits. This service reduces wait times and ensures faster access to effective treatment. For the most severe migraine attacks, we also offer inpatient hospitalization with infusion therapies as an aggressive treatment approach to manage and alleviate symptoms quickly. Our goal is to provide timely and compassionate care to help children manage even the most debilitating migraine episodes. 

Accommodations and Questions to Ask Your School

Parents and caregivers should do their best to facilitate open communication with school administration to ensure your child living with migraine has the proper accommodations and support. Here are some questions to ask your child's school:

• Who is the school district and/or individual school nurse?
• Are there specific medication forms required for school administration?
• Where is a quiet/safe place for my child to rest, take rescue medications and use coping skills during a headache attack?
• If needed, is there a space free of fluorescent lighting for my child?
• Is there a school counselor who can help my child set up a coping plan for dealing with headaches and pain?
• What additional in-school support is available if my child falls behind from headache-related absences?
• Who is the best person to contact to set up a 504 Plan accommodation meeting? 

What is a 504 plan? 

A 504 plan is a set of accommodations that help students with a medical condition or disability have equal access to the general education curriculum. These plans prevent discrimination and protect the rights of students with disabilities in public schools. They are not Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). Rather, a 504 plan is a blueprint for how schools can provide support and remove barriers to learning for students with medical conditions.  

During your visit, your child will be evaluated at one of our outpatient locations. Our headache specialists are available at our Outpatient Center in Lincoln Park, Outpatient Center in Skokie, Outpatient Center in New Lenox and Outpatient Center in Arlington Heights. 
 
Additional testing and consultation may be arranged depending on your child’s condition. These tests or consultations may include:

• Brain MRI or other imaging studies
• Psychology or psychiatry consultation
• Laboratory testing 
• Referral to Headache Procedure Clinic  

View the following physician-recommended resources for more information: 

• American Migraine Foundation
• American Headache Society