Have you ever suffered from a headache? It’s the worst. Whether you get them regularly, or find yourself suffering sporadically, we’ve all seen those commercials for certain over-the-counter medications that help eliminate headaches. While they can offer relief, they do not address the root cause of many headaches, and that’s where chiropractic care enters the picture. Read on.
Headaches are among the most common medical complaints. They include migraine, cluster, and tension-type, which has a number of sub-categories. Diagnosing which type of headache a patient is suffering is critical to proper treatment. It is important to know the difference between the headaches in order to explain the symptoms to the medical professionals treating them.
A skilled chiropractor can help relieve the symptoms of migraines and other types of headaches, usually through manual therapies like spinal manipulation, massage and other techniques. Chiropractic care is also helpful for treating tension headaches and cervicogenic headaches. Cervicogenic headaches originate in the neck, but the pain they cause radiates to the head while tension headaches typically occur once or twice per month and cause steady pain on both sides of the head. Unlike migraines, tension headaches don’t cause nausea, light sensitivity or sensitivity to certain sounds or smells. Let’s face it; none of them are pleasant and relief is really what the patient is after.
Spinal misalignment, especially in the cervical spine, can cause migraines and other types of headaches by irritating some of the nerves that supply the head, neck and face. A chiropractor helps with spinal misalignment by performing adjustments to reduce inflammation. Discussing lifestyle with your chiropractor is a great way to provide some insight to what could be triggering these headaches, and help you in the long run in terms of prevention.
Headaches are a widespread and often bothersome problem. While both chronic episodic tension headaches (which arise due to prolonged tension in the neck), as well as migraines, have different causes, treatment can be effective for both types with chiropractic care and exercises for you to practice at home as well. Even the smallest of adjustments to your everyday life might make a huge difference in the severity and frequency of future headaches.
Chiropractors use a variety of manual and manipulative therapies to relieve pain, improve function, and promote healing. Chiropractic treatment for headaches and migraines can be an effective way to manage these conditions without the use of medication. Chiropractic care is based on the principle that the body is able to heal itself when the spine is properly aligned and the nervous system is free from interference. At Momentum, we want you to be your best self. There’s no need to suffer any longer!