Number 1 Question To Ask Your Headache Clinic in Chicago: Can I Get Headache Pain Relief Naturally?

For some, the answer may be YES!  Chiropractic can potentially relieve chronic headaches after only a few treatments, especially if they're cervicogenic headaches, or headaches caused by a subluxation or other dysfunction in the spine or neck. Chiropractic adjustments help break the cycle of pain by releasing tension in the muscles, realigning the spine, and reducing any associated irritation in the nerves, which in turn improves blood flow throughout the body.

Here is What Some Researchers are Saying About the Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Those Suffering with Headaches

"Spinal manipulation as a treatment for tension headache...as performed by a chiropractor, would decrease muscle tension and thereby reduce or eliminate pain." (Medical and Health Annual, Encyclopedia Britannica. 1988)

"Almost without exception, chiropractic manipulation of the neck was found to be superior in terms of reducing tension, headache frequency, intensity, and improving functional status of patients when compared to other standard medical treatments." (Hurwitz, Spine. 1996)

What if I Need More than Chiropractic Care for My Headaches? 

A chiropractic Physician can also help reduce frequency and intensity of headaches by recommending certain lifestyle changes and preventative methods you can use to avert headaches in the future. These may include dietary changes, stretching and other exercises, postural changes, and relaxation techniques.

In our Chicago office, you may also benefit from physiotherapy, massage therapy or acupuncture which may also lessen the intensity or frequency of your headaches. In fact, according to the World Health Organization, "acupuncture has been proven through controlled trials to be an effective treatment for headache."  This can include cervicogenic headaches described above, as well as other types of headache such as tension headache or migraine headache.

Call Us Today to See How Natural Headache Treatments May Help You. 

Schedule an appointment with one of our expert team members today to determine what type of headache(s) you experience and how we may be able to help you overcome them.  We are located in the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago and we are open 6 days a week with evening and weekend hours.  If you are in pain you do not need to wait, we offer same day emergency appointments for those suffering with headache.  Our number is 773.878.7330.

 Additional Information:  Different Types of Headaches Require Different Treatment Approaches 

Headaches are an experience familiar to most people - as nearly everyone has suffered at least one in their lives, and most people continue to have them from time to time. Usually a couple of over-the-counter meds, a favorite home remedy, a nap, or simply waiting it out is all that the majority of people find is needed to take care of the problem. But when headaches become so frequent and/or intense that they impede on your daily life, then medical intervention may be the only treatment option for lasting, long-term relief. Fortunately, there are many possible courses of action with proven effectiveness in treating ongoing episodic headaches (occurring less than 15 times per month) or chronic headaches (occurring more than 15 times per month) – including chiropractic care.

Headaches Are Grouped Into Four Categories Based on Cause

• Myogenic/Cervicogenic – caused by injury, spasm, or pain from the nerves or muscle tissue of the neck that refer pain to the head; some include tension headaches in this category.
• Vascular/Neurologic – caused by either decreased blood reaching the brain (i.e. atherosclerosis) or greater pressure on the vascular system (i.e. hypertension or vasodilation); includes migraines and cluster headaches
• Metabolic/Toxic – can be caused by increased metabolism (i.e. hypothyroidism), decreased blood sugar to the brain (i.e. hypoglycemia or diabetes), or drug toxicity
• Miscellaneous – includes headaches caused by eyestrain, sinus troubles, changes in pressure, and cerebrospinal fluid (among others)

Experiencing More Than One Type of Headache? 

Oftentimes the causes of a person’s headaches may overlap, crossing over into two or more categories. Still other times, a person may experience more than one type of headache: sometimes one type and sometimes another. That’s why it is of extra importance that a patient and doctor identify the type or types of headaches being experienced, as treatment strategies for each category of headaches vary from one another as much as their causes.

Note that every once in a while (although very rarely) headaches can indicate a brain tumor, an aneurysm (rupture of a blood vessel), or other serious medical condition.

All this being said, however, many people's headaches don't have any underlying physically attributable cause at all, but are rather the result of either an elevated response to pain signals or the center of the brain associated with suppressing pain signals not functioning properly.

Other types of headaches include cough headaches, exercise headaches, sex headaches, hypnic headaches (or those that awaken a person in the middle of the night), sinus headaches, ice cream headaches, spinal headaches, and thunderclap headaches.

It is also worth noting that many headaches people experience, regardless of type, may in actuality be what are called Rebound Headaches which are caused by taking too much pain medication - either by dosage or frequency (or both) - whether prescription or over-the-counter. The only way to put an end to rebound headaches is to cease using the offending medication.

Headache Clinic Chicago: Additional Information on Headaches & Chiropractic Care from The American Chiropractic Association

Call Today to See How Natural Headache Treatments May Help You.