Did you know that headaches are one of the most common medical complaints ?
Headaches are so common that 85% of the population in a given year will experience one. Usually they come and go, occasionally they can linger for days, weeks and months and may remain constant or may be reoccurring. This can make life miserable for the sufferer.
Temporary relief is often sought through pain medications. However, without addressing the cause, the pain can return time and time again and could worsen. Osteopathy treat many patients who suffer from head and neck pain and cranial osteopathy can work extremely well for many types of headaches.
If you suffer from severe headaches or migraines then you might want to consider visiting us. Headaches can be caused by a number of things including stress, poor posture, loud noise, the weather, brain tumours. Your therapist will be able to alleviate your symptoms and help you to manage your lifestyle to reduce the frequency of your headaches.
Causes :
The majority of headaches are caused by prolonged muscle tightness, stress-related tension, sinus pressure and/or improper posture, eye strain, whiplash injury, jaw imbalance and teeth grinding, infection, allergies and food intolerances.. Osteopathy is an excellent adjunct to treatment that can provide relief in all of these areas.
Treatment :
The causes of headaches are wide and varied, so treatment must be individualized. One common type of headache is caused by restrictions in the joints of the neck and back. Nerves that exit the spinal column can become irritated referring pain to the base of the skull, top of the head, and behind the eyes. This may occur as a result of neck injury such as whiplash, postural problems, stress and compensatory change. All of these issues can be treated effectively with osteopathy, thereby getting rid of the headache for good.
Osteopathy works by correcting alignment and restoring mobility in the spine and joints, decreasing muscular tension, increasing blood flow and reducing nerve irritation. You may also receive advice about posture, stress relief, supplements/diet, exercises and stretches to assist the treatment.
Your DOMP is trained to differentiate between headaches with common causes and those due to serious pathology. You should always seek advice from a health professional, including a DOMP, if you get a headache after a head trauma and/or the headache is getting worse.
You should also seek professional advice if the headache is accompanied by:
- fever
- nausea or vomiting
- bleeding or fluid draining from the nose or ears
- dizziness
- blurred vision or speech
- numbness, tingling or paralysis.
If you get regular headaches, try keeping a headache diary
If you experience headaches regularly, keeping a headache diary can help identify these triggers and ultimately help them avoid them. A headache diary allows you to record important details about your headaches, such as symptoms, frequency and other. This diary will provide your osteopath with important information.