About 15% of the Australian population use medication to treat their headaches.
If you are one of the many people who suffer from headaches, you may be interested in learning about the benefits of chiropractic care.
At Canberra Spine Centre, we see many people with headaches whose lives are often miserable or greatly disrupted due to pain.
Chiropractors are experts in diagnosing and managing headache disorders. In some cases, chiropractic treatment can be very effective in resolving headache symptoms.
In this article, we will discuss cervicogenic headaches and how chiropractors can help treat them.
Medication vs An Alternative
Headaches are a common ailment that can be debilitating. While many people reach for medication to get relief, these medications often come with side effects, especially when taken over long periods of time.
It is best to try conservative treatment first, one with less side effects and harm.
Chiropractic treatment can be effective in treating headaches without the need for medication.
In addition, making lifestyle changes like getting regular exercise, eating a healthy diet, and reducing stress can help to prevent headaches from occurring in the first place.
By taking a conservative approach to headache treatment, you can avoid the potential side effects of medication and not only reduce headaches but improve your health and function while you’re at it.
How Does the Neck Relate to My Headache?
When the joints between vertebrae in the neck lose their normal movement and function, this can irritate or compress those nerves.
This can alter the function of those nerves and scramble the messages they send to the brain. Chiropractors call these ‘subluxations’.
Subluxations can cause a number of problems in the body, including headaches, as well as other problems such as fatigue, muscle aches and pains, and difficulty concentrating.
Research shows that chiropractic care is an effective treatment for headaches coming from the cervical spine (neck), what is called ‘cervicogenic headaches.
Nerves from the neck can go directly to the rear of the head, directly causing headaches. Upper cervical nerves can also influence the ‘cranial’ nerves that go to the face.
As such, irritation of nerves in the upper cervical spine caused by subluxations can often cause pain into the back of the head, the temples and even the face.
What Can A Chiropractor Do?
When you visit us at Canberra Spine Centre, you can expect to receive a tailored treatment plan that will address your specific needs.
The chiropractor will first conduct a thorough examination in order to identify any areas of restriction or dysfunction.
Once the problem areas have been identified, a functional examination is performed to identify how well your body is working.
This has the dual function of assisting in diagnosis and forming a basis for comparison on re-examination.
Our chiropractors use a variety of techniques to restore proper motion and function to the spine and nervous system.
This may include spinal adjustments, muscle work, and rehabilitation exercises. By addressing the underlying cause of your pain, the chiropractor can help you achieve lasting relief.
In addition, many of our patients choose to continue with regular chiropractic care can help keep your spine healthy and prevent future problems from developing.
Proper Diagnosis
Seeing an expert in spinal care would be the first step. Proper diagnosis ensures that you don’t receive the wrong treatment (eg. medication for a cervicogenic headache), and that appropriate care is given.
Chiropractors are experts in diagnosis and management of spine-related conditions.
Chiropractors use gentle spinal manipulation and soft tissue techniques to help restore proper motion to the spine, thus restoring proper nerve function.
When the nerves are no longer irritated, problems such cervicogenic headaches tend to resolve.
At Canberra Spine Centre, we help people with headaches every day to recover normal function and to feel great again.
If you have headaches and you’re not sure what to do about them, please call us on (02) 6257 9400.
If you would like some more information about the spine and nervous system and how it relates to your health, please check out the other articles on our Facebook page or go to our website: www.spinecentre.com.au.
Also, make sure you read the other interesting articles we post this month.