Headache and Migraine Treatment

Let’s face it, nobody likes having a headache.  It not only affects our day-to-day lives, but it can also affect how we act towards others around us.  If you have a headache, you’re not alone. Nine out of ten Americans suffer from headaches. Some are occasional, some frequent, some are dull and throbbing, and some cause debilitating pain and nausea.

What do you do when you suffer from a pounding headache? Do you grit your teeth and carry on? Lie down? Pop a pill and hope the pain goes away? There is a better alternative.

Research shows that spinal manipulation – the primary form of care provided by doctors of chiropractic – may be an effective treatment option for tension headaches and headaches that originate in the neck.  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 a commonly prescribed medication.

Also, a 1995 study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that spinal manipulative therapy is an effective treatment for tension headaches and that those who ceased chiropractic treatment after four weeks experienced a sustained therapeutic benefit in contrast with those patients who received a commonly prescribed medication.

There are many triggers for headaches, but one of the most common causes is muscle tension and stress on the joints in the neck that are active in supporting the head.  This can affect nerves, muscles and even the blood supply to your head.

 Chiropractic care for headaches will typically consist of spinal manipulation to restore normal mobility to the joints in the neck that may be restricted, a combination of stretching and strengthening exercises to help with any muscular imbalances and/or soft tissue modalities such as interferential current (IFC) to help reduce muscular tension and nerve irritation.

“I was living with terrible migraines day after day and it was impacting my work life as well as personal life. I was even having troubles sleeping through the night. I had tried all sorts of pain relievers without any relief. I could tell that my neck was super tight, and someone suggested to me to see Dr. Lara. I had never been to a chiropractor before, so I was super nervous. She was more than gentle with me and took everything very slow. She did a thorough job explaining what she was doing and why, which helped ease my nerves. The very next day, after one adjustment, my terrible migraine was gone. I couldn’t believe that I had been living with that pain for so long with such a readily available fix.” – Gina Havlovick

While we can’t guarantee chiropractic care will be the answer for everybody, our offices have a high success rate with patients who get headaches.  If we are unable to find and correct the cause of your headaches, we will refer you to a specialist who may be able to help in another way.  Your health is our only goal.