HEADACHES... OH MY ACHING HEAD
Over the years, I’ve asked patients on the initial consultation, “Do you have headaches?” So often, the reply is, “just the normal ones!” Whoever decided headaches are “normal?” Are ailments considered normal when so many people suffer from them?
On a day to day basis, I work with patients suffering from headaches, all sorts of headaches. Believe it or not, the majority of headaches resolve or significantly reduce with specific upper cervical chiropractic care, the Gillespie Approach(craniosacral fascial release), Trigger point therapy, LENS Neurofeedback, and simple lifestyle changes. It may be one of these treatments or a combination of them that does the trick.
Chiropractic Care for Headaches
Numerous research studies have shown that chiropractic adjustments are very useful for treating tension headaches, especially headaches that originate in the neck.
A report released in 2001 by researchers at the Duke University Evidence-Based Practice Center 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." These findings support an earlier study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics that found spinal manipulative therapy to be very useful for treating tension headaches. This study also found that those who stopped chiropractic treatment after four weeks continued to experience a sustained benefit compared to those who received pain medication.
Each individual's case is different and requires a thorough evaluation before a proper chiropractic care course can be determined. However, for most tension headaches, significant improvement is accomplished through a specific adjustment of the upper two cervical vertebrae. This is also helpful for migraine headaches, food sensitivities or liver toxicity, and some lifestyle changes may also be needed.
Headache Information
Although there are headaches different types of headaches most are reduced or significantly resolved with upper cervical chiropractic care.
Tension Headaches
Tension-type headaches are the most common, affecting upwards of 75% of all headache sufferers. Most people describe a tension headache as a constant dull, achy feeling either on one side or both sides of the head, often described as a feeling of a tight band or dull ache around the head or behind the eyes. These headaches usually begin slowly and gradually and can last for minutes or days, and tend to start in the middle or toward the end of the day. Tension headaches are often the result of stress or bad posture, which stresses the spine and muscles in the upper back and neck.
Tension headaches, or stress headaches, can last from 30 minutes to several days. In some cases, chronic tension headaches may persist for many months. Although the pain can be severe, tension headaches are usually not associated with other symptoms, such as nausea, throbbing, or vomiting.
The most common cause of tension headaches is subluxations in the upper neck, and often in combination with trigger points. When the top cervical vertebrae lose their normal motion or position, a small muscle called the rectus capitis posterior minor (RCPM) muscle goes into spasm. The problem is that this small muscle has a tendon that slips between the upper neck and the base of the skull and attaches to a thin pain-sensitive tissue called the dura mater that covers the brain. Although the brain itself has no feeling, the dura mater is very pain-sensitive.
Migraine Headaches
Each year, about 25 million people in the U.S. experience migraine headaches and about 75% are women. Migraines are intense and throbbing headaches that are often associated with nausea and sensitivity to light or noise. They can last from as little as a few hours to as long as a few days. Many of those who suffer from migraines experience visual symptoms called an "aura" just before an attack that is described as seeing flashing lights or that everything takes on a dream-like appearance.
Migraine sufferers usually have their first attack before age 30. Some people have attacks several times a month; others have less than once a year. Most people find that migraine attacks occur less frequently and become less severe as they get older.
The cause of migraine headaches is a constriction followed by a dilation of the blood vessels in the brain. During the constriction of the blood vessels, there is a decrease in blood flow, leading to the visual symptoms that many people experience. Once the blood vessels dilate, there is a rapid increase in blood pressure inside the head. It is this increased pressure that leads to a pounding headache.
There are many theories about why the blood vessels constrict. What does make sense is that nerves ultimately control the constriction of blood vessels. Chiropractors un pinch nerves so they can function normally. This can result in a more normal function of blood vessels. What we do know is that there are many other things that can trigger migraines, such as lack of sleep, stress, flickering lights, strong odors, changing weather patterns, and several foods; especially foods that are high in an amino acid called ‘tyramine.' You can reduce the likelihood of migraine headaches by making some lifestyle changes. Is it possible these stressors can cause the top two vertebrae to misalign, resulting in pinched nerves and ultimately in headaches? This, I found, is often the case.
Headache - Muscle Tightness
Trigger point therapy for headaches involves muscles of the neck. Muscles run from the upper back to either the base of the skull (splenius capitis) or the upper cervical vertebrae (splenius cervicis). Trigger points in the Splenius muscles are a common cause of headache pain that travels through the head to the back of the eye and the top of the head.
The Suboccipitals are a group of four small muscles responsible for maintaining the proper movement and positioning between the first cervical vertebra and the base of the skull. Trigger points in these muscles will cause pain that feels like it's inside the head, extending from the back of the head to the eye and forehead. It will often feel like the whole side of the head hurts, a pain pattern similar to that experienced with a migraine.
The Sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle runs from the base of the skull, just behind the ear, down the neck’s side to attach to the top of the sternum (breastbone). Although most people are not aware of the SCM trigger points, their effects are widespread, including referred pain, balance problems, and visual disturbances. Referred pain patterns tend to be deep eye pain, headaches over the eye, and even earaches. Another unusual characteristic of SCM trigger points is that they can cause dizziness, nausea, and unbalance.
The trapezius muscle is the huge, flat muscle in the upper and mid-back. A common trigger point located in the top of the Trapezius muscle refers pain to the temple and back of the head and is sometimes responsible for headache pain. This trigger point can produce satellite trigger points in the muscles in the temple or jaw, which can lead to jaw or tooth pain.
Trigger Point Therapy can Reduce or Eliminate Headaches - Avoid Headache Triggers
Stress may be a trigger, but certain foods, odors, menstrual periods, and weather changes are among many factors that may also trigger headaches.
Emotional factors such as depression, anxiety, frustration, anger, and even pleasant excitement may be associated with developing a headache.
Repeated exposure to nitrite compounds from lunch meat can result in a dull, pounding headache that may be accompanied by a flushed face. Nitrite, which dilates blood vessels, is used as a chemical to preserve meat. Hot dogs and other processed meats containing sodium nitrite can cause headaches.
Eating foods prepared with monosodium glutamate (MSG) can result in headaches. Soy sauce, meat tenderizer, and various packaged foods contain this chemical that is used as a flavor enhancer.
Reading or using a computer, smart phone, or tablet with your head in a downward position can cause headaches.
To be continued in next weeks blog :)
Dr. Linda Matz