Headaches
With over 20 years of experience, we are excellent at diagnosing and treating headaches
An accurate diagnosis of your headaches is essential in order for you to receive the correct treatment. Chiropractic techniques are excellent at treating headaches that are related to tension in the neck, shoulders, jaw muscles and joints, as well as preventing migraines. Other headaches, such as medication overuse headaches or cluster headaches, as well as migraines, will require a referral to a medical doctor.
Typical symptoms
Headache pain can be mild, moderate or severe. Its location and quality varies for example you may experience it as tension in the head, neck and shoulders or a vice like grip, a band like pressure, behind the eyes, across the forehead, at the back of the head or over the head.
Migraines
Migraines are recurrent headaches that are aggravated by activity, frequently have a pulsing quality and are typically associated with nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to sound and light. They may have an aura that comes before the headache. Typical auras are visual disturbances, pins and needles, and numbness that spread across the face and arm. Migraines can last up to 3 days.Â
Tension headaches
Tension headaches are common, their exact cause is unknown. However, we believe genetics and the environment are involved. Tight muscles and trigger points in the head, neck, shoulder and jaw muscles are largely responsible. These may result from a stressful life, for instance, a high workload, a busy family life, emotional upset or poor sleep. Sitting with the head forward whilst working at a computer can increase muscle tension.Â
Our approach
To ensure an accurate diagnosis, we will ask you lots of questions and carry out a physical exam. Once the diagnosis is made, we have many treatment techniques including manipulation and mobilisations to the joints and muscles, trigger point therapy, dry needling, cupping, K-Laser, as well as stretching and strengthening exercises. We will always discuss the type of treatment with you. For example, some people don’t like needles, whilst others find them a great help. Some people love the ‘crack’ of a manipulation and others don’t.
Headaches are debilitating to live with, but only rarely life threatening.
Seek immediate medical care if you experience
- A sudden onset, severe headache, like a thunderclap.
- Headache with a fever, nausea or vomiting, a stiff neck, mental confusion, seizures, numbness or speaking difficulties, which can indicate a number of problems including a stroke, meningitis, encephalitis or a brain tumor.
- Headache after a head injury, even if it’s a minor fall or bump, especially if it worsens.
- Headache that gets worse over days and changes in pattern.
