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Headaches & Migraines

Address Headaches and Migraines without any Side Effects from Drugs

Headaches are immensely common ailments which manifest themselves in a myriad of different ways. Unfortunately, because these ailments are so widespread and commonplace, many people do not seek professional care when needed, and in so doing put themselves at risk of more significant long-term conditions.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF HEADACHES?

Some of the most common symptoms of headaches include:

  • Isolated pain to one part of your head or behind your eyes.
  • A pounding sensation inside your whole head.
  • Nausea.
  • Dull pain.
  • Sharp pain.

SIMILARLY, THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMMON CAUSES OF HEADACHES. THESE INCLUDE:

  • Drug reactions.
  • Temporo-mandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ).
  • Tightness in the neck muscles.
  • Low blood sugar.
  • High blood pressure.
  • Stress and fatigue.

Due to this wide array of varying symptoms and causes, it is often difficult to ascertain whether your headache requires professional attention. Fortunately, very few headaches have serious underlying causes, but those that do will require urgent medical attention. If you find your headache persists for more than a few days, it is advisable you seek professional care.

HOW THE BACK MAN CAN HELP

Numerous research studies have highlighted how spinal corrective adjustments are extremely effective for treating headaches, especially those which originate from around your neck. For instance, a report released in 2001 by researchers at the Duke University Evidence-Based Practice Centre 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 commonly prescribed medications”.

Similarly, a separate study which was published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found spinal manipulative therapy to be very effective for treating tension headaches. The study also highlighted that those who stopped spine & wellness treatment after four weeks continued to experience a sustained benefit in contrast to those patients who received pain medication.

At the EDGE Wellness Clinic, we offer all of our clients thorough evaluations before we administer a specific course of spine & wellness treatment. We utilise digital analysis and spinal orthopaedic and nurological testing to isolate the cause of your headaches in order to offer you the most effective course of treatment for your particular ailment. In the majority of tension and migraine headache cases, the manipulation of the upper two cervical vertebrae, coupled with adjustments to the junction between the cervical and thoracic spine, can result in significant improvements to our clients’ mental and physiological wellbeing.

As well as spine & wellness care, we also recommend the appropriate muscular and soft tissue treatments and lifestyle changes, which can actively prevent the triggering of headaches. We recommend that all of our clients adhere to the following practices in order to prevent the onset of headaches:

  • Reduce your exposure to nitrite compounds which often cause dull, pounding headaches by dilating blood vessels. Nitrite compounds are used to chemically preserve meat, so it is advisable you avoid processed meats such as hot dogs.
  • Avoid foods which have been prepared with monosodium glutamate (MSG) which can cause headaches. Therefore, avoid foodstuffs such as soy sauce and meat tenderizer as well as always checking the nutritional information of packaged foods as they often contain this chemical.
  • Aim to reduce your exposure to common insecticides, carbon tetrachloride, and lead batteries or lead-glazed pottery, all of which have been known to trigger headaches.
  • Avoid foods which are high in the amino acid tyramine such as ripened cheeses (cheddar, brie), chocolate, as well as any pickled or fermented foods.
  • Consider booking a course of muscular, soft tissue and massage treatments. In recent years, muscular, soft tissue and massage treatments have shown to be successful supportive measures for chronic injuries such as headaches.
  • Keep a headache diary which will help you determine which factors exacerbate or instigate headaches.

Physical examination and self-reported pain outcomes from a randomized trial on chronic cervicogenic headache. Darcy Vavrek, ND, MS, Mitchell Haas, DC, MA, and Dave Peterson, DC. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2010 Jun;33(5):338-48.

Dose response and efficacy of spinal manipulation for chronic cervicogenic headache: a pilot randomized controlled trial. Mitchell Haas, DC, Adele Spegman, PhD, RN, David Peterson, DC, Mikel Aickin, PhD, Darcy Vavrek, ND. Spine J. 2010 Feb;10(2):117-28.

Recurrent neck pain and headaches in preadolescents associated with mechanical dysfunction of the cervical spine: a cross-sectional observational study with 131 students. Sue A. Weber Hellstenius, DC, MSc. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2009 Oct;32(8):625-34.

Diagnosis and treatment of infant headache based on behavioral presentation and physical findings: a retrospective series of 13 cases. Aurélie M. Marchand, MChiro, DC, Joyce E. Miller, BS, DC, and Candice Mitchell, MChiro. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2009 Oct;32(8):682-6.

Short-term effects of manual therapy on heart rate variability, mood state, and pressure pain sensitivity in patients with chronic tension-type headache: a pilot study. Cristina Toro-Velasco, PT, Manuel Arroyo-Morales, MD, PT, PhD, César Fernández-de-las-Peñas, PT, PhD, Joshua A. Cleland, PT, PhD, and Francisco J. Barrero-Hernández, MD. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2009 Sep;32(7):527-35.

Reduction in high blood tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels after manipulative therapy in 2 cervicogenic headache patients. Gábor Ormos, MD, J.N. Mehrishi, PhD, FRCP, and Tibor Bakács, MD, DS. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2009 Sep;32(7):586-91.

A randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial of manipulative and medical prophylactic treatment of adults with tension-type headache: results from a stopped trial. Howard Vernon, DC, PhD, Gwen Jansz, PhD, MD, Charles H. Goldsmith, PhD, and Cameron McDermaid, DC. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2009 Jun;32(5):344-51.

Improvement in Radiographic Measurements, Posture, Pain & Quality of Life in Non-migraine Headache Patients Undergoing Upper Cervical Spinal Corrective Care: A Retrospective Practice Based Study

James Palmer, Ph.D & Marshall Dickholtz Sr, DC. J. Vertebral Subluxation Res. June 4, 2009. Non-invasive physical treatments for chronic/recurrent headache (Review). Brønfort G, Nilsson N, Haas M, Evans RL, Goldsmith CH, Assendelft WJJ, Bouter LM. The Cochrane Library 2009, Issue 1.

Frequency & Duration of Spinal Corrective Care for Headaches, Neck and Upper Back Pain. John K. Maltby, DC, Donald D. Harrison, PhD, DC, MSE, Deed E. Harrison, DC, Joseph W. Betz, BS, DC, Joseph R. Ferrantelli, BS, DC, Gerard W. Clum, DC. J. Vertebral Subluxation Res. August 21, 2008.

The effectiveness of physiotherapy and manipulation in patients with tension-type headache: a systematic review. Marie-Louise B. Lenssincka, Le ́onie Damena, Arianne P. Verhagena, Marjolein Y. Bergera, Jan Passchierb, Bart W. Koes. Pain. 2004 Dec;112(3):381-8.

Dose response for Spinal Corrective care of chronic cervicogenic headache and associated neck pain: a randomized pilot study. Mitchell Haas, DC, Elyse Groupp, PhD, Mikel Aickin, PhD, Alisa Fairweather, MPH, Bonnie Ganger, Michael Attwood, Cathy Cummins, DC, and Laura Baffes, DC. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2004 Nov-Dec;27(9):547-53.

Efficacy of spinal manipulation for chronic headache: a systematic review. Gert Bronfort, DC, PhD, Willem J.J. Assendelft, MD, PhD, Roni Evans, DC, Mitchell Haas, DC, and Lex Bouter, PhD. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2001 Sep;24(7):457-66.

Cervicogenic headaches: a critical review. Scott Haldeman, DC, MD, PhD, Simon Dagenais, DC. Spine J. 2001 Jan-Feb;1(1):31-46.

A randomized controlled trial of spinal manipulative therapy for migraine. Tuchin PJ, Pollard H, Bonello R. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2000 Feb;23(2):91-5.

Evidence Report: Behavioral and Physical Treatments for Tension-type and Cervicogenic Headache. Duke University Evidence-based Practice Center Center for Clinical Health Policy Research 2200 W. Main Street, Suite 230 Durham, NC 27705.

Care of a pediatric patient with migraine-type headaches: a case report and selective review of the literature. Joel Alcantara, BSc, DC, and Kyle J. Pankonin, DC. Explore (NY). 2010 Jan;6(1):42-6.

Intractable migraine headaches during pregnancy under spinal corrective care. Joel Alcantara, Martine Cossette. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2009 Nov;15(4):192-7. Epub 2009 May 2.

Care of a 6-year-old girl with neck pain; headaches; hand, leg, and foot pain; and other nonmusculoskeletal symptoms. Jan Roberts DC, Tristy Wolfe MA. J Chiropr Med. 2009 Sep;8(3):131-6.

A case of chronic migraine remission after spinal corrective care. Tuchin PJ. J Chiropr Med. 2008 Jun;7(2):66-70.

Management of a patient with migraine headache. Stacy Peters Harris DC, DACRB. J Chiropr Med. 2005 Winter;4(1):25-31.

Treatment of bipolar, seizure, and sleep disorders and migraine headaches utilizing a spinal corrective technique. Erin L. Elster, DC. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2004 Mar-Apr;27(3):E5.

Upper Cervical Care for a Patient with Chronic Migraine Headaches with an Appendix Summarizing an Additional 100 Headache Cases. Erin L. Elster, D.C. J. Vertebral Subluxation Res., August 3, 2003.

Rehabilitative management of chronic headaches: A retrospective case report. Steven D. Novicky, D.C., DACRB. J Chiropr Med. 2003 Summer;2(3):96-101.

Upper Cervical Care For A Nine-Year-Old Male With Tourette Syndrome, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Depression, Asthma, Insomnia, and Headaches: A Case Report. Erin L. Elster, D.C. J. Vertebral Subluxation Res., July 12, 2003.

Chronic migraine and rehabilitation: A case report. R. Clark Davis, DC, CCRD. J Chiropr Med. 2003 Spring;2(2):55-9.

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