What causes headaches
The diagnosis of migraine headaches is often based on the intensity of pain. Regardless of the origin of headaches pain can be very intense. Migraine headaches are vascular in nature meaning, the blood vessels in the brain contract and dilate. The reason for the change in blood flow in the brain has many different causes and is particular for each individual.
Extracranial headaches are caused by the pinching of nerves as they exit the spinal cord and pass through the muscles of the neck. The pain can be annoying to debilitating depending on the individual.
There are different pain patterns depending on what nerve is being pinched. After ruling out other causes of headaches, palpation of the area where the nerves exit the neck muscles will often exacerbate the symptoms. This is a common neurological examination technique called Tinel’s sign, most commonly used for carpal tunnel.
Chiropractic treatment for these types of headaches utilizes numerous techniques to release the nerve from the muscle. In chronic conditions adhesions could build up between the muscle and the nerve which will not respond to muscle relaxers or basic massage. Special techniques are required to free the nerve from the muscle. The length of the treatment required depends on the chronicity and the discovery activities or posture that aggravates the condition. Home stretching programs and other techniques used at home facilitate recovery and prevent further recurrences.
My experience has been that patients often believe that headaches are normal for them and nothing can be done. If you have chronic headaches, I will be happy to evaluate the causing your headaches and to offer treatment If we find that it is an extracranial headache. Other causes of headaches may require dietary changes and other lifestyle modifications. On occasion the referral to another physician may be required.
