Chiropractic Effective for Cervicogenic Headache

Depew Chiropractic Care Beats Massage for Cervicogenic Headaches

We see a lot of folks with headaches in our Depew office, and Dr. Palmer has been able to provide relief for many of them. Of course, the World Health Organization (WHO) states that 50 percent of all adults have difficulties with some type of headache problems, so this really isn't a surprise. One of the most typical varieties of headaches which our patients are afflicted with is cervicogenic headache which, fortunately, chiropractic adjustments can generally help.

Cervicogenic Headaches Explained

A cervicogenic headache is one that starts from problems in the cervical spine. It can easily be generated by an issue with either the spine itself (particularly, the vertebrae, joints, or discs), or it can be caused by a problem in the muscles and tendons of your neck. This problem in your spine results in constriction or aggravation of the spinal nerves, which can give you headache discomfort.

How can you recognize if the headache you are enduring is a cervicogenic headache? Besides getting a diagnosis from a healthcare expert, a common symptom of cervicogenic headaches is tenderness or pain in your neck. This is sometimes accompanied by pain in the back of your head or between your shoulder blades.

Chiropractic to the Rescue

Seeing that cervicogenic headaches will not subside until whatever issue is initiating them is corrected, it is critical to get treatment rather than just trying to "wait it out." Chiropractic care is an excellent approach, and one that offers a considerable amount of headache pain relief.

In one study printed in Chiropractic & Osteopathy, specialists studied 80 people who had recurring cervicogenic headaches. Half received chiropractic care and the other fifty percent underwent light massage therapy. Each participant was examined 12 and 24 weeks after the treatment and it was found that chiropractic offered the most beneficial effects.

Specifically, this study uncovered that chiropractic adjustments offered patients enhanced pain relief and lowered the frequency of headaches that occurred. Moreover, it also minimized the disability that resulted from these painful headaches.

To find out what Dr. Palmer can do for you and your headaches, call us today. We'll do our best to get you the pain relief you need!

References

• Haas M, Schneider M, Vavrek D. Illustrating risk difference and number needed to treat from a randomized controlled trial of spinal manipulation for cervicogenic headache. Chiropractic & Osteopathy 2010 18(9).
• World Health Organization. (2012, October). Headache disorders. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs277/en/