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Headaches are a common problem, and approximately 50% of people will report a headache every year. Due to how frequently headaches are experienced, many people think headaches are just a normal part of life. Headaches are COMMON, but they are not NORMAL. They are a sign from our bodies that something is wrong, and many people seek headache treatment when headaches begin interfering with daily life.
One of the most common causes of headaches includes both physical and mental stress. Physical stress occurs from poor posture and repetitive motions. This creates fixations and misalignments within the joints of the neck, putting pressure on the nerves that travel up into the head, creating a headache.
Mental stress causes tightness in the muscles that connect the bones of the neck to the base of the skull, which can put pressure on the nerves traveling into the head, leading to headaches. Other causes of headaches can include underlying medical conditions (high blood pressure and infection), allergies, changes in weather, dehydration, and sleep deprivation. In our office we focus mainly on the mechanical and physical causes while also helping patients with lifestyle changes that may contribute to headaches.
Chiropractic care for headaches focuses on reducing misalignments and improper motion within the spine, which reduces pressure on the nerves and helps relieve headaches. Chiropractic headache treatment is different from the treatment provided by other medical professionals in that we treat the body from the inside out rather than simply masking the pain. We work to identify the root cause that is creating your headaches and resolve the actual problem rather than temporarily improving the symptoms.
Headaches can present in many different ways depending on the underlying cause. Recognizing the early symptoms of headaches can help individuals seek appropriate headache treatment before the condition worsens.
Common headache symptoms may include:
Some headaches may also be accompanied by nausea, visual disturbances, or increased sensitivity to movement. If headaches begin to occur frequently or interfere with daily activities, it may indicate an underlying spinal or nervous system issue that may benefit from chiropractic care for headaches.
Tension headaches are the most common type of headaches experienced. Many people believe headaches are a normal part of life; however, headaches are COMMON, but they are not NORMAL.
Tension headache pain typically arises from stress, which leads to muscle tightness and misalignments within the bones of the neck. This creates compression on the nerves that travel up into the head, creating the headache.
Pain tends to be mild to moderate and often feels like a tight band around the head. Chiropractic care for tension headaches helps restore proper motion in the joints of the neck, taking pressure off the nerves and helping relieve tension headaches.
Migraines are headaches that usually cause pain on one side of the head. Pain is typically a throbbing or pulsing sensation with associated nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sounds.
Some migraines can be caused by other health issues such as high blood pressure, although those coming in for treatment have ruled this out. Other common migraine triggers include hormone shifts, food allergies, prolonged periods on phones and computers, dehydration, and joint dysfunction.
Chiropractic care for migraine headaches helps restore motion in the joints of the neck, reducing pressure on the nervous system and helping improve the frequency and severity of migraines.
Allergy or sinus headaches cause pressure around the eyes, cheeks, and forehead. It is typically caused by sinus infections or inflammation within the sinuses from allergies.
Pain often worsens when bending the head forward.
Chiropractic adjustments to the upper neck help ensure the nerves going into the head are functioning properly, which can help the sinuses drain more effectively and relieve sinus headaches.
Headaches during pregnancy are very common. These can arise from increased stress, both mentally and physically.
During pregnancy, there are higher levels of the relaxin hormone, which allows joints to become more mobile. This makes pregnant women more susceptible to misalignments within the spine, which can create compression on nerves that travel into the head, creating headaches.
Lifestyle habits such as hydration, sleep, and physical activity can also influence headaches during pregnancy.
Chiropractic care during pregnancy helps restore proper spinal motion and may help reduce pregnancy-related headaches.
Whiplash occurs when there is a rapid back-and-forth motion of the neck, commonly associated with motor vehicle accidents or other forceful impacts.
This motion can create misalignments within the bones of the neck, which compress the nerves leading to neck pain and headaches.
Whiplash headaches often begin at the base of the skull and travel upward into the head. They may also be associated with symptoms such as blurred vision, memory loss, and difficulty sleeping.
Chiropractic treatment for whiplash headaches focuses on restoring alignment and motion within the cervical spine, helping relieve pressure on the nerves and reducing headache symptoms.
The chiropractors at Sleigh Family Chiropractic focus on identifying the underlying cause of headaches by evaluating spinal alignment and nervous system function. Our chiropractic headache treatment approach is designed to reduce nerve irritation, improve spinal mobility, and support long-term headache relief.
We begin with a comprehensive evaluation of spinal alignment, posture, and nerve function to determine potential causes of headache symptoms. This assessment helps identify areas of restricted movement within the neck and upper spine that may be contributing to tension headaches or migraine symptoms.
When necessary, digital X-rays help identify structural issues such as cervical spine misalignment, joint dysfunction, or disc stress that may be contributing to recurring headaches.
Specific chiropractic adjustments for headaches help restore motion to restricted joints in the neck and upper spine while reducing pressure on irritated nerves. This allows the nervous system to function properly and can help relieve headache pain.
We provide guidance on posture correction, movement strategies, and therapeutic exercises to help support spinal health, improve neck stability, and reduce the likelihood of future headaches.
Before performing any sort of examination or headache treatment, you will first sit down with a doctor who will really listen to what you have been experiencing. We want to make sure that we know exactly what is causing your pain before recommending any treatment.
Once we have a better idea of what has been going on, we will perform a very thorough examination, including palpation of the spine, posture analysis, orthopedic tests, computerized neurological scans, and digital X-rays (if needed).
The goal at the end of the evaluation is to determine if dysfunction in the spine and nervous system is the root cause of your headaches as well as determine the most effective chiropractic treatment for headaches.
Your doctor may recommend digital X-rays to determine if your headaches are a result of spinal dysfunction. X-rays allow us to examine the curvature of the neck as well as the discs that lie between each vertebra.
We live in a world of technology, which means we are constantly looking down. Over time this causes a loss of curvature in our neck, which creates added stress on the nervous system, resulting in the headaches you may be experiencing.
Our X-ray analysis tells us where to adjust, where not to adjust, and which chiropractic adjusting techniques will work best for your specific condition.
The information gathered from digital X-rays is an important part of understanding exactly what is causing your headaches and how to safely and effectively treat them.
A subluxation is a joint of the spine that is misaligned or fixated, meaning it is not able to function as it should. When this happens, it puts stress and pressure on the nervous system, preventing the nerves from functioning how they should. The nerves in the neck are directly related to headaches.
Chiropractic adjustments for headaches are very specific movements performed on areas of the spine where subluxations are present. This removes pressure on the nervous system, allowing your nerves to function optimally.
If your headaches are caused by a subluxation, it will not improve until the underlying issue is addressed.
When joints of the spine are misaligned or not functioning how they should, it can create muscle weakness and/or imbalance.
This muscle weakness can come from poor posture resulting in the head shifting forward.
This creates what we call upper cross syndrome, where the trap muscles in the neck and upper back become tight and the muscles in the front of the neck become weak.
For this reason, you will receive a customized therapy plan that is to be done at home to ensure proper healing and support long-term headache relief.
Chiropractic care for headaches can be very effective. When the joints of the neck are unable to move and function properly, it creates stress and inflammation in the nerves, which can lead to headaches. Chiropractic adjustments restore motion into the joints and reduce pressure on the nerves so the body can function properly.
It is best to see a chiropractor for headaches as soon as possible. Pain is typically the last symptom to show up even though the underlying issue may have been developing for years. For this reason, it is best to come in earlier rather than later so you can have a quicker and smoother recovery.
Most insurance companies cover chiropractic care; however, when you come for your initial visit, we will make a copy of your insurance card and verify your chiropractic benefits, which will be discussed with you at the following appointment.
Getting your neck adjusted is a great option for treating headaches. Headaches arise when the joints of the spine are misaligned or unable to function properly. Yes. Neck adjustments for headaches help restore motion to spinal joints that are not functioning properly, which reduces pressure on the nervous system and may help relieve headaches.
We advise against cracking your own neck. When people crack their necks, they often move joints that are already functioning properly. Chiropractic adjustments are specific and focus on correcting joints that are not moving properly, making professional chiropractic care the safest option.
Take the first step toward lasting relief with personalized headache treatment at Sleigh Family Chiropractic. Our team provides effective chiropractic care for headaches to help relieve pressure on the nervous system and restore proper spinal function. If your headaches include symptoms such as nausea, visual disturbances, or sensitivity to light, you may be experiencing migraines. Learn more about our migraine treatment options.
