HEADACHES AND MIGRAINES GETTING REGULAR? Can Chiropractic help?
Ask anybody who regularly suffers from headaches or migraines how debilitating and irritating it can be. It might get so severe that you are unable to function or even go to work. Having said that, it fascinates me how frequently individuals tell us they have 'normal' headaches or migraines like everyone else. Headaches and migraines are anything but normal!
Daily headaches are not something you "have to live with"
The International Headache Society has classified over 150 different types of headaches. There are many different types of headaches and migraines which cause facial pain and some of these include cervicogenic headaches, tension-type headaches, migraines with/without aura, sinus headaches, cluster(suicidal) headaches, TMJ or jaw dysfunction, infection, temporal arteritis and trigeminal neuralgia.
Knowing what kind of headache you are dealing with is the first step towards finding the best plan of care to find relief.
The most common are migraines, tension, and cluster headaches.
Migraine: sensitivity to light and sound is common during migraine headaches. Approximately 1/3rd of people will experience an aura before the onset of a migraine
Tension: almost everyone will experience a tension headache during their life. Stress, anxiety, dehydration, and even posture can trigger a tension headache
Cluster: affecting more men than women, cluster headaches causes severe pain behind or around your eye and last between 15 minutes and 3 hours
THE CAUSES OF HEADACHES
There are a multitude of reasons why people suffer headaches and migraines. Potential causes that we see often in clinical practice range from stress, hormonal imbalance, blood pressure changes, poor posture, muscle tightness and cervical spine dysfunction.
Ironically, one of the most common causes of headaches is the medication usually prescribed to treat headaches. Overuse of many of over the counter medications is a leading factor in a refractory or bounce-back headache, which is why pills may not be the best option for care. Many tension headaches get their start with repetitive motion and poor posture while sitting or standing at work.
Keeping your shoulders back and your spine in proper alignment throughout the day can help prevent future episodes. And finally- most of the good stuff like coffee, cheese, alcohol, and meats have substances that can cause headaches. You don't need to eliminate them, but we recommend having a watchful eye towards moderation.
ANATOMY OF THE CERVICAL SPINE
The cervical spine is made up of seven separate bones (called vertebrae) as well as the muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and blood vessels that go with it. When your spine is misaligned, as with bad posture and loss of normal cervical lordosis, it causes compensatory alterations in nerve function, muscular tightness, soreness, stiffness, and headaches and migraines. As musculoskeletal rehabilitation experts, chiropractors are uniquely qualified to deal with these sorts of problems.
WHAT HEADACHE TREATMENT?
See the table below for further information on some of the most common headache and migraine treatments.
CHIROPRACTIC
Chiropractors may utilise a variety of treatment approaches that are best suited to your specific circumstance; some of the techniques you may encounter in regard to headache therapy include:
Specific manual adjustments (spinal manipulation) are made to constrained joints during spinal manipulation for neck pain in order to enhance total joint alignment, flexibility, and movement as well as to reduce pain, tension and headaches.
Joint mobilisation is for those who dislike manual adjustment, or during acute episodes where, joint mobilisation is a more gentle therapy that is frequently employed.
Activator Technique or Impulse Mobilisation Therapy (hand-held instruments) is used to facilitate improved joint mobility and is appropriate for all persons and levels of severity.
Distraction and Traction therapy as a sort of joint mobilisation that gently stretches the spine's joints, distraction and traction treatment is a particularly useful method for releasing and opening restricted discs, headache treatment, previous injury such as motor vehicle accidents and migraine prevention, as well as other joint-related conditions.
Postural correction & core strengthening exercises are two activities that can help with musculoskeletal issues that are underlying, with your chiropractor being able to subscribe, monitor and tailor those exercises for each individual patient.
Flexibility exercises & stretches are an excellent way to improve overall flexibility, release tension and support mobility. Most exercises and stretches are tailored to busy modern lives and easily integrate into your daily routine.
VITAMINS & MINERALS
Three of the most effective natural solutions for headaches include magnesium, chiropractic care, and b-vitamins. Low levels of magnesium have been linked to migraine headaches. Taking a magnesium supplement has the potential to reduce the occurrence of migraine headaches without any of the side-effects typically associated with painkillers.
B-vitamins are a powerful natural way to reduce stress and improve your mood. If stress is a significant factor in your headaches- B-vitamins may be a natural fit for relief.
We stock a full range of practitioner-prescribed supplements to help with headache and migraines
MASSAGE THERAPY & MYOTHERAPIST
Certain myotherapy and remedial massage techniques may be required to aid healing and rehabilitation depending on the particular cause of your back pain. Practitioners use a range of treatments, including effleurage, trigger point therapy, cupping, ischemic compression, and others such as Dry Needling, to relieve muscular and soft tissue spasm and, of course, pain.
DRY NEEDLING & ACUPUNCTURE
Acupuncture and Dry Needling are therapies that employ small needles put into particular sites on the body to promote relaxation and blood vessel modifications. Both of these actions alleviate pain linked with headaches, migraines, and a variety of other musculoskeletal issues.
Imigran, Nurofen plus, Mersyndol, and Panadine Forte are examples of typical drugs used to treat headaches and migraines. Please contact your general practitioner or family doctor before taking such drugs to ensure that they are appropriate for your specific circumstances.
HEADACHES AND CHIROPRACTIC RESEARCH
Patients were treated once or twice per week for 8 weeks where chiropractic care can provide 50% or more relief for headaches without the risky side effects typically associated with drugs and medications. Dose response and efficacy of spinal manipulation for chronic cervicogenic headache: a pilot randomized controlled trial. Spine J. (2010) Feb; 10(2): 117-28.
A 32 year old woman suffering persistent headaches over a 5-month period received Chiropractic care in combination with Acupuncture. It was noted upon follow up that her headaches had resolved and she did not report an episode in the previous 12months suggesting that these methods were an effective headache treatment option. Bahia, O. (2012). Combination of Acupuncture and Spinal Manipulative Therapy: Management of a 32yr old patient with chronic tension type headache and migraine. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 11(3); 192 – 201
It has been shown that Chiropractic manipulation improves migraine and headaches of cervicogenic origin suggesting a positive influence in headache treatment. Roland, B et al (2011). Evidence based guidelines for the Chiropractic treatment of adults with headache. Journal of Manipulative Physiological Therapeutics, 34(5); 274 – 289
