On this page
How it can feel
- Throbbing migraine with nausea and light sensitivity.
- Band-like pressure pain.
- Head pain that never fully switches off.
- Worse after screens, poor sleep or sensory overload.
Day to day
- Plans cancelled on high-pain days.
- Medication overuse can become a trap — needs clinical guidance.
- Work and study output drop even when other FND signs are quieter.
How this can relate to FND
Headache disorders are common in the general population and in FND clinics. They interact with sensory sensitivity and fatigue. Accurate headache diagnosis still matters.
What can help
- Headache diary and GP/neurology review.
- Trigger management: sleep, hydration, screens, stress load.
- Evidence-based migraine strategies under clinical advice.
- Treating neck pain and sensory overload where linked.
This is information, not a treatment plan. Personal care decisions belong with you and your clinicians.
FAQs
Can FND cause headache?
Headache often co-exists and interacts with FND. Your clinicians should treat the headache pattern on its merits.
About this guide & further reading
Written and published by FND Connect. This is general information for people living with FND and those supporting them. It does not diagnose a symptom or replace advice from your clinician.
- Neurosymptoms: Headache
- North Bristol NHS Trust: functional neurological symptoms
- Neurosymptoms: when new or different symptoms need reassessment
External resources provide further reading; their inclusion does not mean their authors have reviewed or endorsed this FND Connect guide. Page updated 3 October 2026.
Take this to your next conversation
Note what happens, how it affects your day and what you want to ask. An appointment pack can help you organise that conversation.