Head

Lady with headache

Treating a Migraine

Migraine is a complex condition with a wide variety of symptoms. For many people the main feature is a painful headache. Other symptoms include disturbed vision, sensitivity to light, sound and smells, feeling sick and vomiting. Migraine attacks can be very frightening and may result in you having to lie still in a dark quite room for several hours.

The symptoms will vary from person to person and individuals may have different symptoms during different attacks. Your attacks may differ in length and frequency. Migraine attacks usually last from 4 to 72 hours and most people are free from symptoms between attacks. Migraine can have an enormous impact on your work, family and social lives.

The most common symptoms are:-

  • throbbing headache,
  • sensitivity to light and noise,
  • nausea (feeling sick),
  • vomiting (being sick)
  • lethargy (lack of energy).

Can our treatment help?

We offer a number of treatments options that have been suggested to help.:-

  • massage therapy,
  • chiropractic spinal manipulation
  • exercise therapy,
  • relaxation,
  • dry needling

 We will assess factors that may be impacting on your condition including posture, biomechanics, muscle strength, sleep, exercise and diet.

If you have any questions or would like to make an appointment then please call us today.

Treating Tension Headache

Symptoms

A tension-type headache is the most common type of headache and the one most people would consider a normal, everyday headache.  It may feel like a constant ache that affects both sides of the head. You may also feel the neck muscles tighten and a feeling of pressure behind the eyes.

A tension headache normally won't be severe enough to prevent you doing everyday activities. The pain can last for 30 minutes to several hours, but could continue for several days.

Who suffers from tension headaches?

It's estimated that about half the adults in the UK experience tension-type headaches once or twice a month, and about 1 in 3 get them up to 15 times a month. This is known as having chronic tension-type headaches

What treatment can help?

The European Federation of Neurological Societies concluded that conservative non-drug management, i.e. manual therapy (Chiropractic) and acupuncture, should always be considered.

Can we help?

Of course we can! It is not normal to have a headache! Tension headaches generally have a mechanical component, whether this is from the neck, posture or muscular imbalance. Therefore treatment can be given to rectify these problems.

If you have any questions or would like to make an appointment then please call us today.

Cervicogenic Headache

Cervicogenic (from the neck) headache is a relatively common cause of chronic headache that is often misdiagnosed or unrecognized.  Early diagnosis and management can significantly decrease the protracted course of disability that is often associated with this challenging pain disorder.

Cervicogenic headaches most commonly appear at the base of the skull but can radiate to the top of the head and behind the eye on either or both sides. The headaches can be accompanied by neck pain and stiffness. Sometimes the neck symptoms start before the headache starts. Pain is often associated with neck movement or sustained neck postures such as driving or deskwork. Overhead work is most likely to aggravate symptoms. In addition to the pain you may experience lightheadedness, dizziness, nausea or tinnitus (ringing or dullness in the ears). If you experience any of these symptoms you should seek the care and guidance of a healthcare professional.

Manual therapies have been shown to help cervicogenic headaches. Research indicates that a combination of treatment and addressing the cause by such methods as strengthening will achieve the best results.

If you are struggling with cervicogenic headaches, call us today and find out how we can help you.

When to seek medical help for headache

There's usually no need to see your GP if you only get occasional headaches. You should seek immediate medical advice for headaches that:

  • come on suddenly and are unlike anything you've had before
  • are accompanied by a very stiff neck, fever, nausea, vomiting and confusion
  • follow an accident, especially if it involved a blow to your head
  • are accompanied by weakness, numbness, slurred speech or confusion

These symptoms suggest there could be a more serious problem, which may require further investigation and emergency treatment.

Painkillers

Painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can be used to help relieve pain. Aspirin may also sometimes be recommended.

If you're taking these medications, you should always follow the instructions on the packet. Pregnant women shouldn't take ibuprofen during the third trimester, as it could risk harming the baby, and children under 16 shouldn't be given aspirin.

Medication shouldn't be taken for more than a few days at a time and medication containing codeine, such as co-codamol, should be avoided unless recommended by a GP.

Painkiller headaches

Taking painkillers over a long period (usually 10 days or more) may lead to the development of medication-overuse headaches developing.

Cervicoegenic Dizziness

Cervicogenic Dizziness means dizziness coming from the neck/cervical spine. This is classically described as experiencing a dizziness with unsteadiness in balance. Patients often describe feeling “muzzy headed” and it can be accompanied by a lack of concentration and/or nausea. There are often neck symptoms too such as stiff, achey, restricted, uncomfortable or in more severe cases sharp or catching pain. Patients can also experience headaches.

When diagnosed correctly, cervicogenic dizziness can be successfully treated using a combination of manual therapy and vestibular rehabilitation.

In the clinic we commonly see cervicogenic dizziness in conjunction with neck stiffness and/or pain and headaches. This is something that we find responds well to a combination of treatments specific to the individual. This may involve some strengthening or home exercises, postural/ergonomic advice and sleep advice.

If you are struggling with cervicogenic dizziness or you would like to ask more, please contact our clinic