Headaches & Migraines

Headaches and Migraines

You are not alone if you discovered our practice by searching the internet for “headache and migraine treatment near me.” Roughly half of Americans will suffer from a minimum of one headache every year. Each month, 4% of people around the world will spend at least fifteen days in the grip of headache pain.

A migraine is a type of headache that can persist over a number of days. Eye pain as well as throbbing or stabbing pain on one side of the head often occurs with these headaches. Migraine symptoms may also include the following:

• Numbness
• Dizziness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Amplified sensitivity to light or sound

Nearly 25% of migraine sufferers are affected by visual disturbances called auras. These may include blind spots or seeing flashing lights, stars, or zigzag lines. Migraines can persist from 4 to 72 hours and are responsible for $36 billion in healthcare costs and lost wages for the one in four households affected by them every year.

Common Causes of Headaches and Migraines

Headaches can be triggered by environmental issues such as inhaling pollutants or changes in atmospheric pressure. Headaches can also be caused by infections, high blood pressure, and other health conditions. Stress, depression, and anxiety can cause or worsen headaches and migraines. Loud music, bright lights, and fasting can also lead to migraines in some people.

Although many of our patients are aware of these causes when they come to Vital Wellness Center, these are not the main causes we usually see. The bulk of headaches that we treat are caused by muscular issues, injuries, and spinal dysfunction. Fortunately, these underlying issues can be treated through prescribed lifestyle interventions and direct headache chiropractic treatment. Stress, tension, whiplash, and sinus issues are also frequent causes of the headaches that our chiropractors treat.

Whiplash Headaches

Whiplash is frequently overlooked as a cause of headache or migraine pain. Whiplash headaches generally cause pain at the base of the skull and get worse with movement of the neck. Since both the head and neck are involved, whiplash headaches can be unbearably painful. Car accidents are usually responsible for this type of headache due to the violent forward and backward motion that occurs to the head and neck.

Tension Headaches

Tension headaches are a result of increased muscular tension in the back of the head and neck. Patients with this type of headache may complain of a tightening sensation, comparing it to giant rubber bands being squeezed around the head. Vital Wellness Center frequently sees underlying spinal misalignments and muscular imbalances that accompany these headaches. These underlying conditions trigger tension headaches and also cause intensified pain.

Stress Headaches

Stress is the cause of migraines in 70% of those who have a tendency to develop migraine headaches. Although headaches may be caused by stress, the suffering that comes with a migraine can exacerbate stress creating a vicious cycle leading to more frequent and severe migraines. Over time, increased emotional stress can also weaken the effectiveness of the immune system.

Sinus Headaches

Sinus headaches cause pain due to the increased pressure within the sinuses that are not adequately draining as a result of infections or allergies. Since the sinus cavities are located within the forehead, cheeks, and around the eyes, sinus headaches can also cause pain in these areas.

How Chiropractic Works to Alleviate Headaches and Migraines

Vital Wellness Center offers chiropractic for headaches and migraines that alleviates pain without the use of potentially addictive prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications. Our gentle, non-invasive treatments help patients feel their best.

We also strive to teach our patients how to fit healthy lifestyle habits, such as exercise, into their daily lives. Since our headache treatment is more effective when our patients routinely practice healthy lifestyle habits, we always take into account our patients’ daily lives and preferences when we design their treatment programs.

How Our Chiropractor Can Help

Headache and migraine chiropractic treatment can have numerous benefits for our patients. Some of these include: 

• Stress relief
• Reduced inflammation
• Diminished discomfort
• Optimized physical performance

We complete a detailed physical examination and consultation the first time we see a patient at Vital Wellness Center. If any concerns are found that require further testing and we cannot perform the test in our office, we will refer the patient to diagnostic imaging professionals for an MRI, X-ray, or other necessary scans. We are happy to partner with other medical professionals in our community so that our patients receive the best care possible.

Chiropractic Adjustment

Chiropractic adjustment, or spinal manipulation, is a fundamental therapy in chiropractic treatment. Chiropractic adjustment focuses on attaining proper spinal alignment. Since the spine houses the spinal cord’s nerves, spinal alignment is essential to good health. These nerves can adequately carry signals to and from the brain when they are free of compression.

Some patients question how treatment of a back problem can help with headache pain. The simple answer is that the nerves are all connected to each other. If the nerves cannot communicate freely as a result of spinal misalignment, then the brain cannot properly process pain signals which can lead to more pain. Spinal misalignment, or spinal subluxation, can also affect digestion, circulation, and breathing. Since there is a wide range of issues that can cause headaches, correcting spinal misalignment can treat many of them all at once.

Migraine treatment at Vital Wellness Center focuses on the three vertebrae at the top of the spinal column. These are common culprits of migraine pain when they are out of alignment since they are nearest to the skull. Since we take a holistic approach to treatment, we work with our patients to expose other causes of migraines by testing their hormones, prescribing an elimination diet, or evaluating other areas to assist them in achieving the best possible health.

Massage Therapy

Massage therapy is a common treatment used to relieve muscular tension that can induce headaches. Many people spend their workday sitting at a desk with their necks pushed forward and their shoulders hunched over. Massage therapy provides soothing relief for tired, achy muscles and also enhances circulation.

Massage therapy also works well for sinus headaches. Our chiropractor uses this therapy to gently drain and reduce the pressure in the sinuses. When massage therapy is combined with sinus headache chiropractic treatment, the sinuses can drain and heal, alleviating the pain.

Cervical Spinal Decompression

Inflammation that extends to the head can be caused by disc injuries in the neck, or cervical spine. In this case, most of the pain is a result of nerve irritation. Our chiropractor at Vital Wellness Center uses cervical spinal decompression to alleviate this pain.

Cervical spinal decompression reduces the pressure on the nerves by using the power of targeted stretching. During this procedure, the patient is placed on a decompression machine which gently stretches the neck. They are positioned on their back with two cushions surrounding their neck for increased stability.

Preventive and Restorative Exercise

Our chiropractic practice not only focuses on restoration, we also focus on prevention. Therefore, exercises are prescribed to our patients to promote pain relief and avoid recurrences. We see many patients with forward head posture due to our society’s fixation with computers, smartphones, and other screens.

The head is designed to align directly with the shoulders. Our necks become strained and stiff when we are looking down at screens for large amounts of time. This additional muscular strain may intensify leading to headaches.

Our chiropractor closely examines each patient’s movement and postural patterns. We then establish a personalized movement program incorporating preventive and corrective exercises. Our objective is to help our patients enjoy excellent health and feel great.

Gentle, Trusted Relief For Headache Pain

So much pain and disability can be caused by headaches and migraines. They can be signs of serious underlying issues even when they seem minor. Call Vital Wellness Center where we can help you get the pain out of your way so you can make headway to a healthier tomorrow.

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