HEADACHES can absolutely be debilitating!  Whether they come on after an injury or they just decide to SHOW up some time, they can be a big nuisance...........(probably a big understatement!)

 DID YOU KNOW?

 As you know, common side effects of many pain medications or other prescription medications are headaches, (American Family Physician, December 15, 2004)

Among 51, 383 subjects, chronic headaches were 7 times more prevalent among those with analgesic overuse than those without analgesic overuse.  Zwart JA, Dyb G, Hagen K, Svebak S, Stovner LJ, Holmen J.  Analgesic Overuse Among Subjects With Headache, Neck and, Low-Back Pain.  Neurology.  2004;62(9):1540-1544. 

There are many different types and subtypes of headaches but, the most common categories are:..........

• Tension/Cervicogenic  - Most often stress/injury related, bilateral - forehead, temples
• Sinus - Chronic sinus infections/problems
• Migraines - ♀  35- 40 yrs. Lasts several days or weeks, unilateral - aura/non-aura
• Cluster - ♂ 20-30 yrs. Lasts several weeks or months, unilateral - vascular
• Traction/Inflammatory Type HAs - Cerebrovascular Dx, Tumors, Hemmorhaging
• TMJ Disorders - Very complex. Stress/injury related, post-dental work, bruxism.

 The causes of these headaches can be anything from joint dysfunctions in your neck to muscle imbalances, to food allergies or changes in altitdue, etc.

All too often I hear of people just taking aspirin for their headaches with little to no decrease in their symptoms........  HERE'S the BIG QUESTION I ASK OF EVERYONE THAT I ENCOUNTER WHO TELLS ME THIS.....:

"Is your HEADACHE due to a lack of aspirin (or whatever other drug that they're taking) in your bloodstream???????" 

 And the answer to this question is a BIG NO!  What's even more important then is that we work to find out what EXACTLY that headache is due to!  

In our office there are occasions where we'll refer a patient out to as many as 4-5 different health care providers (neurologist, naturopathic physician, acupuncturist, massage therapist, dental surgeon,  hypnotherapist, etc.)  and treat them concurrently!!

Many people don't know that chiropractic is an effective means of treatment forheadaches!  Here's what a major study has concluded with regards to the treatment of headaches:

Chiropractic - Deemed An Effective Treatment for Tension-Type and Cervicogenic Headaches

In a large study conducted in 2001 by Duke University's Evidence-Based Practice Center for Clinical Health Policy Research a goal was set to identify and summarize from controlled trials, the efficacy of behavioral and physical treatments for tension-type and cervicogenic headaches. Different studies from everything from traditional medical intervention, to acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, relaxation techniques and biofeedback were looked at.

Amongst many of the conclusions, the study summarized that: "If effective and available, non-pharmacological treatments may be the first choice for most patients and may also be well suited for the significant minority of patients who: (a) have poor tolerance of pharmacological treatments; (b) have medical contraindications for pharmacological treatments; (c) experience insufficient relief from, or are unresponsive to, pharmacological treatment; (d) wish to become pregnant (or are nursing); (e) have a history of long-term, frequent, or excessive use of analgesic or abortive medications that can aggravate headache problems; or (f) simply prefer to avoid medication use".

Conclusions With Regard to Chiropractic:

• Cervical manipulation was associated with significant improvements in headache outcomes in trials involving patients with neck pain and/or neck dysfunction and headache.
• Adverse effects are uncommon with manipulation, and this may be one of its appeals over drug treatment.
• Manipulation is effective in patients with cervicogenic headaches.

McCrory DC, Penzien DB, Hasselblad V, Gray RN. Evidence Report: Behavioral and Physical Treatments for Tension-type and Cervicogenic Headache. Duke University Evidence-based Practice Center for Clinical Health Policy Research. - 2001

  AGAIN....... don't hesitate or wait  CALL OUR OFFICE TODAY FOR YOUR HEADACHE CONSULTATION!  

(206) 525-2811