Do you suffer from frequent, persistent headaches? Few conditions can stop a person in his or her tracks like chronic headaches. Here at Pure Chiropractic we are able to help many headache patients get back on track without forcing them to rely on a constant supply of pain-killers.
In fact, pain-killers can be more trouble than they’re worth. Check out our video below. You’ll learn some disturbing facts about all the reasons why pain-killers should not be your long-term, go to strategy for headache pain.
Identifying Your Headache Type
The first thing we have to do when you come and see us is identify the types of headaches you’ve been suffering from. There are many different types, including:
- Cervicogenic headaches
- Sinus headaches
- Migraine headaches
- Cluster headaches
- Thunderclap headaches
- Blood pressure headaches
- Tension headaches
- Atypical headaches
- Hemiplegic migraines
- Mixed-type headaches
We can help with most types of headaches, but there are two types which should receive some special discussion.
Cervicogenic Headaches
Cervicogenic headaches (or neck-created headaches) account for 70-80 percent of all headaches. These headaches typically start just underneath the skull, right at the top of the neck. If the headache is particularly bad it will radiate to the top of the head, or flare forward into your temples. These headaches respond particularly well to chiropractic care, since they are often caused by misalignments of the spine which are putting pressure on the nerves. Our massage therapy techniques can also help correct inflamed, tight muscles.
Migraine Headaches
When you have a migraine headache what’s happening is your blood vessels are constricting and expanding inappropriately, putting pressure on the nerves around your brain. Though the brain itself cannot feel pain the nerves surrounding the brain most certainly can. Often, the blood vessels are responding to signals from the nerves.
You see, all the blood vessels in your body, whether at the top of your head or at the tip of your toes, are controlled from T1 to L2, which are the vertebrae running from the upper back to the small of your back. As they get compressed they send signals which can lead to migraine pain. By correcting the compression, we can correct the pain.
In fact, the relief can be near-instant. We have people who come into our offices in the middle of the migraine because they know we can get them back on their feet quickly. We just turn down the lights for their comfort and get to work. We know how awful migraine pain can be!
Addressing Your Headache Pain
Our very first step will be to identify the type of headache you are suffering from. It all starts with receiving a proper evaluation in our offices. We offer a very detailed consultation exam. Plan to spend some time with us, because this starts with a long conversation about everything you know about your headaches. We want to hear what makes them better or worse. We want to hear what you’ve tried in the past to address headaches, and what you haven’t tried. We want to hear about any traumas which could be complicating your headache problems.
Then, we move on to a physical exam. This is a very intensive exam which includes three types of tests: orthopedic, neurologic, and chiropractic. We also have a digital x-ray machine which allows us to take a closer look if necessary.
In some cases, our care can even bring lasting relief from headaches so you can enjoy a better quality of life. If you’re losing too much time to headache pain just call our offices today. We’ll get you taken care of!