Headaches

How common are headaches – consider the statistics below:

1. There are currently 28 million migraine sufferers age 12+ in the United States.
2. Nearly 1 in 4 households has at least 1 migraine sufferer.
3. The lifetime prevalence of tension type headaches is estimated at approximately 80%.
4. Between 40-45% of the general population will experience a headache this year.
5. An estimated 20-40 million Americans suffer from Allergic rhinitis (AR) and headaches are one of the most common symptoms of AR.
6. Headaches are identified as one of the most common reason for the billions of dollars we spend each year on over the counter pain-relievers.

Headaches are not normal. Recurring headaches are a sign that something is wrong and should not be ignored. Probably many of you reading this are chronic headache suffers that believe you have no choice but to medicate or ignore. Tylenol, ibuprofen and other medications may temporarily relieve the symptoms but they do nothing to correct the underlying problem. As long as the problem remains the headaches will return. If this cycle of pain and medication goes on for a long enough time, the risk of this pattern becoming chronic and irreversible increases.

A headache by definition is simply pain felt on the head. What’s the cause of that pain? Where is the pain coming from? And how do I correct it and keep it from coming back? These are the crucial questions.

How Can We Help?

First, if you are suffering from headaches, you should be evaluated by a doctor of chiropractic or a medical doctor to rule out serious pathology. In our office, additional screening will be done to address the source of the pain and the contributing factors. Once the source of the headache has been identified, our doctors will design a treatment plan that is unique to you. The treatment plan typically consists of gentle joint manipulation, soft tissue release such as Active Release Technique and Graston Technique, functional rehab exercises and pain relieving modalities.