Headaches And Migraines
No matter what type of headache you experience, you shouldn’t have to experience pain if there is a safe, affordable solution available.
There are many different classifications of headaches. It is essential to find out which type of headache you experience. This will help you make the best choices for treatment and, ultimately, prevention.
How do headaches/migraines start?
There are many ways your headaches can start. The most common include:
- Spinal dysfunction (vertebra not moving correctly)
- New or old whiplash injuries
- Genetics
- Sleeping on an old or different mattress or pillow
- Sitting at a desk looking at the computer screen
- Looking down at a mobile device or tablet
- Dehydration or nutritional deficiencies.
- Poor sleep and stress
- “Triggers” such as strong perfumes or food types
- Unknown causes such as waking up from sleep and having a headache
Usually a combination of one or more of the above can increase your chances of having headaches.
What you might be feeling?
- Tension or pressure across your forehead
- Pain travelling from the neck, skull or scalp.
- Pain on one side of your face
- Pain that lasts more than 1 day
- Pain that can be dull, sharp or even throbbing.
- Sensitivity to sound, light or visual disturbances
- Nausea or vomiting
- Pain even after taking painkillers or anti-inflammatories.
If you have experienced one or more of the above symptoms, you may need to be professionally assessed by our chiropractor, Paul Simmons.
How we can help.
At Clear Choice Chiropractic, we perform a thorough history and examination of your headache concerns. This includes safety, orthopaedic and cranial nerve testing (if required).
Because your headaches could be spine related, we carefully assess:
- The motion of each of the joints of your spine and neck, and carefully look for any unusual restrictions in movement
- Any tightness or spasm of surrounding your neck, upper back and/or facial muscles
Through our testing and physical examination, we will be able to classify the type of headache you are experiencing.
By identifying the type of headache you are experiencing, we are able to deliver the right treatment and recommendations that are right for you.
If you choose to proceed with treatment, your treatment options will be explained to you in a way you can understand.
In the majority of cases, we can begin treatment straight away.
In some cases, imaging such as X-rays may be required.
What can you expect.
If your headache is as a result of a spinal joint/s moving abnormally, then a specific correction (an adjustment) is gently made by hand, is applied to that particular joint/s.
The adjustment aims to help restore and correct the biomechanical position of the affected joint. This helps improve control of the neck and spine, and in most cases, will reduce your headache intensity and/or it’s frequency.
Once you have had your adjustment, you will be given important advice to complement your treatment. This may include:
- Pain management recommendations
- Basic exercises such as stretches
- Ergonomic advice such as sleeping and/or sitting postures.
- Dietary and lifestyle advice