Headaches

Migraines can be one of the most debilitating types of headaches anyone can experience. The typical migraine headache occurs on one side of the head and is described as pulsating, lasting up to 72 hours. The most common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, photophobia (increased sensitivity to light), and phonophobia (increased sensitivity to sound). Furthermore, approximately one-third of people who suffer migraine headache perceive an aura—unusual visual, olfactory, or other sensory experiences that are a sign that the migraine will soon occur. Tension-type headaches are one of the most common types of headaches and respond excellently to chiropractic care. Pain experienced in the head can radiate from the neck, back, eyes, or other muscle groups in the body. Tension-type headaches account for nearly 90% of all headaches, and approximately 3% of the population suffers from chronic tension-type headache. The pain is often described as a constant pressure or squeezing sensation, in a band around the head. It can be caused by things such as stress, hunger, and bad posture. Cervicogenic headaches originate from structures located within the neck itself and the structures that are innervated by the first 3 cervical nerve roots. Cervicogenic headaches are often brought on by neck movement and/or sustained awkward head positioning, and it is often accompanied by restricted cervical range of motion, ipsilateral neck, shoulder, or arm pain of a rather vague non-radicular nature or, occasionally, arm pain of a radicular nature. Other times, perceived headaches can be caused by irritated muscles in the neck and head. Sometimes these muscles have active trigger points, which can cause pain referral to the head, mimicking a headache. By conducting an extensive history and physical exam, a chiropractor is able to diagnose the cause of headache and come up with a treatment plan to eliminate it from it's source.