How Chiropractic Care Can Alleviate Your Recurrent Headaches

Headaches are common. Due to tension or an infection or other outside causes, everyone has a headache at some point in their life. Headache pains are light to moderate unless it is a migraine, which is rare for most people. 

However, recurrent headaches can be extremely annoying, painful, and even disabling. Sufferers may find it challenging to work, socialize, or do daily activities. Headache medications may even add to the problem. 

Though hard to comprehend, studies have shown that about 75% of the world’s population has headaches. *** Recurrent headaches, however, involve nagging head pain which may not be daily but can be several times in one month or year. 

Some common types of recurrent headaches include

1. Tension-type Headache (TTH). These headaches may be triggered by intense stress or neck-related, musculoskeletal issues. The pain may last a few hours or a few days. Pain may be felt up to 15 or more days each month. 
2. Migraines. These are localized, severe head pains which can completely disable the sufferer. They can cause fatigue, vomiting, and sensitivity to light. People may also be unable to do daily tasks or concentrate on work. They can last for 8-12 hours a day and 15 days or more a month. The temple may throb, pound, or pulsate constantly on one side of the head. It begins in puberty and may be genetic or environmental. Approximately 12% of Americans have this disorder. There are eight (8) different types of migraines. Eighty percent (80%) of people with migraines have a close relative with the disease. More women than men have migraine headaches and they are usually between the ages of 15-55. Female hormones are usually the cause of migraines. Lastly, smoking can also cause intense head pains. 
3. Medication overuse headaches (MOH). The daily use of medications for head pains may also cause recurrent migraine headaches. MOH usually starts early in the morning and may last for several hours or most of the day. 

Medication is an important part of the treatment for most chronic headaches such as migraines. However, it can also make the symptoms worse. Chiropractic care can be a regular part of migraine treatment as it eases head pain without using medications.  

Some of the chiropractic care treatments we can use include:

• Massage therapy
• In office rehabilitation 
• Chiropractic spinal adjustment
• Physical therapy (PT) which may include electric muscle stimulation and or intersegmental traction

Customized chiropractic care is based on the headache type, frequency, and severity of symptoms. Chiropractic care may keep severe headache pain away, so there is not as much dependence on headache medication. 

Thorough chiropractic care is not just at the chiropractor’s office. Chronic headaches have triggers. For patients who have migraine headaches, the chiropractor should work closely with the patient to identify head pain triggers. Then, create a plan for the patient to avoid or manage these triggers. Posture therapy may also be prescribed to reduce stress on the neck which may lead to certain types of headaches.

The chiropractic plan may also include weekly exercise, daily water intake goals, and taking nutritional supplements. These at-home changes may help the patient control the recurrence and intensity of chronic headaches.

Though migraines may seem to be in control now, there are chiropractic care treatments that may help alleviate or even end the pain. Our chiropractic team at Apple Wellness Center has a holistic approach to health and well-being. They can design a customized plan that may ease your chronic headache pain and improve your life.

If you are considering treatment for your headaches, see your chiropractor as soon as possible. Schedule an assessment with us at Apple Wellness Center to find out how chiropractic care could fit into your wellness routine. Contact our Winchester, Virginia office at 540-224-7220 or book an appointment online.

*** For more information about migraines, visit the Cleveland Clinic website. 

The post How Chiropractic Care Can Alleviate Your Recurrent Headaches appeared first on Apple Wellness Chiropractic Center.