How We Can Help Your Headaches
If you are among the 45 million Americans who suffer headaches regularly, you are undoubtedly familiar with the traditional methods that people use to treat them, including taking some type of over the counter medication that is supposed to eliminate the pain and reduce any associated swelling. There are many other types of treatment that you may have attempted as well, including taking pharmaceuticals designed to treat pain. However, none of these solutions provide permanent relief that addresses the problem at the core.
In the past few decades, there have been an increasing number of patients throughout the country that have begun to seek alternative forms of therapy for all types of conditions, including headaches. One form of treatment that is very promising for physical as well as other types of pain is chiropractic.
This form of care has been used successfully for over a hundred years and has become a regular part of the American healthcare delivery system. In fact, there are a majority of insurance providers that are willing to pay for chiropractic because of its effectiveness.
During Chiropractic school, the human anatomy is studied in great detail, just like other medical professionals. A large focus of that study is placed on the neuro-musculoskeletal system. It is a fact that the most common headaches are known as Tension Headaches. This tension is caused by tightness in a group of four muscles at the base of the skull.
These muscles are call the sub-occipital musccles and when tight can also squeeze nerves. While it usually manifests itself as physical pain, this is not always the case. In some instances, the person may experience difficulties with sleep or other routine habits as well as decrease range of motion in the neck.
On the first visit with a chiropractor, a review of previous health issues will be completed. We will listen attentively and make an assessment, including determining what types of treatment will best suit the patient.
In the case of headaches, the patient usually has stiffness in the cervical spine. This may be accompanied by muscles that are unduly tight in the neck, shoulders and nearby areas. Pressure on the nerves may cause sharp stabbing pains or there may be a continual dull throb in the region.
After the exam, we will move forward with treatment in order to relieve the pressure and pain. The relief can instantaneous, with an increase in positive symptoms for the following few hours.
However, at Select Spine & Sports, we don’t just focus on relieving symptoms but rather correcting the problem; therefore, we will teach you stretches and exercises to perform on your own to help prevent the headaches from returning.
If you need further help with your headaches or are ready to see how beneficial chiropractic care can be to your health, please give us a call so that you can schedule an appointment with our Friendswood Doctor of Chiropractic.