Headaches

What is it?

Over 150 diagnostic headache categories have been established. The most common types are tension, migraine and cluster headaches.

What causes it?

Most headaches are caused from tension and tightness in the neck muscles. These muscles provide both blood flow and mechanical control of the head and neck. If the muscles are tight the blood flow is reduced, which causes pain.

Signs and symptoms

Each category of headache has a specific referral pattern. Tension headaches are the most common. They are typically painful around the back of the head, the temples and forehead, as if a tight hat were in place. Migraines refers to a headache which is usually (but not always) on one side of the head. It is a headache that lasts from two to seventy-two hours, typically, and it is often associated with nausea and/or vomiting, sensitivity to light and/or sound. The character of the pain is typically a throbbing pain.

Treatment

A report released in 2001 by researchers at the Duke University Evidence-Based Practice Center in Durham, NC, found that spinal manipulation resulted in almost immediate improvement for those headaches that originate in the neck, and had significantly fewer side effects and longer-lasting relief of tension-type headache than the commonly prescribed medication.

A two week trial of conservative care will generally result in a favorable outcome in the management of most headaches. Treatment consists of moist heat, with electric stimulation to reduce spasm and increase circulation to the effected muscles. This is followed by specific soft tissue techniques to the involved muscles, ligaments and tendons. Finally a gentle Chiropractic mobilization of the affected joints will be performed to restore normal motion.