Headache & Migraine
Chiropractic is great for managing headaches.
There are many forms of headaches from tension headaches to migraines. Chemical (hormone changes), physical (structural problems) and emotional (anxiety) stressors can cause headaches. Effective treatment starts with identifying the factors that may contribute to a patient’s headache. A personalised strategy is implemented which may involve chiropractic low force adjustments or traction to the neck. Sometimes concurrent care with a neurologist or GP is recommended. Generally the reliance on medication is reduced to the point where medication is no longer necessary to manage headaches.
Tension headaches
Muscle contractions headaches are often felt in the temples or forehead and feels like a tightness over the scalp. Emotional stress can exacerbate this headache.
Migraine Headaches
These can have other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, numbness of the hands and light sensitivity. A migraine may start with an aura or flashing lights before the eyes. Speech slurring or numbness of the face may be experienced.
Cervicogenic Headaches
Can be caused from impinged nerve endings around the cervical joints, ligaments, muscles or discs. These nerve endings send pain signals up the pathway from the nerves of the neck to the brain. During this process, the signals communicate with the nerve fibres of the trigeminal nerve. Since the trigeminal nerve is responsible for the perception of “head” pain, the patient experiences the symptoms of a headache. Cervicogenic headaches often have neck pain and headaches on the same side. A patient with these headaches perceives pain in the head, but the actual source of the pain lies in the cervical spine.
Potentially serious causes of pain in the head must be considered for a proper diagnosis:
Cluster headaches occur in “clusters” which can occur for days, weeks or months at a time, then disappear for up to a year or more.
Temporal arteritis headaches are caused by inflammation of an artery and occur on the side of the head.
Sinus headaches are caused by sinus infections.
Temporal arteritis headaches are caused by inflammation of an artery and occur on the side of the head.
Sinus headaches are caused by sinus infections.
