Most people don’t think of heading to a chiropractor when they have a headache. It might surprise you to learn, however, that after back pain and whiplash, headaches are one of the most common reasons people seek out chiropractic care. Can a chiropractor help your headaches and how does chiropractic care help?
Not All Headaches Are the Same
Before we discuss how chiropractic treats headache pain, let’s talk about the different kinds of headache.
- Tension Headaches
Tension headaches are probably the most common type of headache out there. When you mix stress with repetitive movement and bad posture, you have a recipe for pain. Most people describe a tension headache as a feeling of a tight band around their forehead. It’s the kind that has you rubbing your eyes and massaging your temples to try to make it go away. It’s a dull type of pain that ruins your day and makes you reach for the ibuprofen. If you experience tension headaches on a frequent basis, it’s time to talk to your doctor or headache chiropractor. - Migraine Headaches
A migraine is not your average headache. People who suffer from migraines not only experience throbbing or pulsing pain in one or both sides of their head, but they also feel nauseous. Often, they are so sensitive to light and noise when they are having a full-blown migraine, that they have no choice but to lie down in a dark room until the migraine goes away. Migraines can sometimes last for 2 days or more. Migraines have a severe impact on the quality of life. - Cluster Headache
A cluster headache is commonly described as intense pain in or around one eye on one side of your head. They usually occur in a series of relatively short but extremely painful episodes every day for weeks or months at a time.
Standard Treatments for Headaches
Over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen or aspirin can help a tension headache. Migraines, however, usually require much stronger prescription painkillers that are specific to migraines. They are called triptans. Many adults are also prescribed a narcotic painkiller, such as OxyContin and Vicodin. These types of drugs have strong side-effects and can be addictive because your body develops a tolerance to the medication. This means you need to take a higher dose to get pain relief. Often a person is unable to work or go about their daily life while on these medications.
Chiropractic: a Drug-Free Alternative
Getting chiropractic treatment is a safe, drug-free alternative for headaches and migraines.
Research shows that spinal manipulation – one of the primary treatments provided by doctors of chiropractic – may be an effective treatment option for tension headaches and headaches that originate in the neck.
Nine out of 10 Americans suffer from headaches. The pain of headaches and migraines impacts your quality of life. Anyone who suffers from severe migraines will attest to this. There is no need to suffer month after month. Headache chiropractor can offer the pain relief you are looking for.
Dr. Michael St. Louis at Atlas Injury to Health Winter Garden, FL is a highly experienced chiropractor, who is passionate about delivering meaningful chiropractic solutions that result in peace of mind and well-being. If you would like to learn more about chiropractic care, there are many ways to get in touch with us. You can call our dedicated, friendly staff at 407-656-0390, send us an email at info@atlasinjurytohealth.com or message us on Facebook