Headache Treatment in Apex, NC 

Headaches are extremely common, but that does not mean you should simply learn to live with them.

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There are many different types and causes of headaches, and our understanding of headache disorders continues to evolve. Some headaches originate primarily from the nervous system, such as migraine, while others may be related to the joints, muscles, nerves, and other structures of the neck. Stress, sleep, medications, dehydration, illness, injury, and many other factors can also contribute.

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Because different headaches require different treatment approaches, properly evaluating the cause of your headaches is an important first step.

At Performance Family Chiropractic in Apex, NC, our chiropractors evaluate patients with headaches to determine whether the neck and musculoskeletal system may be contributing to their symptoms. When a headache appears appropriate for chiropractic care, treatment may include chiropractic adjustments, soft-tissue therapy, stretching, mobility work, postural recommendations, and specific exercises.

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Just as importantly, if your examination suggests that your headaches are not appropriate for chiropractic treatment or require additional medical evaluation, we will recommend that you see the appropriate healthcare provider.

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Common Types of Headaches

There are many different headache disorders. Three that patients commonly encounter are cervicogenic headaches, tension-type headaches, and migraines.

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Cervicogenic Headaches

A cervicogenic headache is a secondary headache, meaning that the headache is caused by another problem — in this case, a disorder involving structures of the cervical spine or neck.

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The International Classification of Headache Disorders describes cervicogenic headache as a headache caused by a disorder of the cervical spine or the soft tissues of the neck.

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Common characteristics may include:

• Headache accompanied by neck pain or stiffness

• Reduced neck range of motion

• Headaches aggravated by certain neck movements or positions

• Pain beginning near the upper neck or back of the head and traveling toward the front

• Headaches that are consistently worse on one side

• Tender or painful muscles and joints in the upper neck

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Importantly, these symptoms can overlap with migraine and other headache disorders. That is one reason a thorough examination is important rather than assuming that every headache associated with neck pain is cervicogenic. These are very commonly treated at our office.

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Tension-Type Headaches

Tension-type headaches are another very common form of headache. They are often described as pressure, tightness, or a band-like sensation around the head.

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Muscle tenderness and tension around the neck, shoulders, scalp, and jaw may accompany these headaches. Stress, prolonged computer work, poor sleep, and sustained postures may also contribute to symptoms in some people.

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When musculoskeletal factors are present, treatment may focus on improving neck mobility, reducing muscular tension, improving posture and ergonomics, and addressing contributing lifestyle factors. This types is also commonly treated at our office. 

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Migraine Headaches

Migraines are more than simply severe headaches, some people make the mistake in thinking that migraines are just bad headaches. But they are a specific type of headache that should be diagnosed properly. Migraines are a neurological disorder and may cause throbbing or pulsating head pain, nausea, sensitivity to light or sound, visual disturbances, and other neurological symptoms.

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Some people also experience significant neck pain during migraines, which can make distinguishing migraine from a headache originating in the neck more complicated.

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Chiropractic care can help migraines when done correctly, but advanced clinic skills are necessary for this. Research evaluating spinal manipulation for migraine has produced mixed results, and additional high-quality research is needed.

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For patients with migraine who also have significant neck pain, stiffness, or musculoskeletal dysfunction, chiropractic and rehabilitative care may be used as part of a broader treatment plan. Patients with frequent or severe migraines may also benefit from evaluation and management by their primary care physician or a neurologist. It is important to be evaluated by a chiropractor even if you are not sure if chiropractic treatment will help with your migraines. 

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Why Does the Neck Cause Headaches?

The relationship between the neck and the head is particularly interesting.

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Nerves from the upper cervical spine interact with sensory pathways involving the trigeminal nerve, one of the major nerves responsible for sensation in the head and face. Because these pathways converge, irritation or dysfunction involving structures in the upper neck can sometimes be perceived as pain in the head.

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This is known as referred pain.

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Research on cervicogenic headache suggests that structures supplied by the upper cervical nerves can refer pain into the back, side, and front of the head.

This helps explain why treating the neck can sometimes improve headaches even though the patient experiences most of the pain in the head.

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Can Chiropractic Treatment Help Headaches?

It depends on the type and cause of the headache.

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Chiropractic treatment is particularly relevant when an examination identifies neck pain, restricted cervical movement, muscular dysfunction, or other musculoskeletal findings that appear to be contributing to the patient's headaches.

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A systematic review and meta-analysis involving 20 studies and 1,439 patients found evidence that manual therapy and exercise may reduce headache intensity, frequency, and disability in people with cervicogenic headaches. The researchers also noted limitations in the quality of some of the available studies and called for additional high-quality research. On a smaller scale, we often see great results when treating patients in our office. 

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But that's because we prefer a comprehensive approach rather than simply "adjusting your neck."

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Depending on what we find during your examination, treatment at Performance Family Chiropractic may include:

• Chiropractic adjustments or joint mobilization

• Soft-tissue and trigger-point treatment

• Stretching and mobility work

• Exercises for the neck and upper back

• Postural and ergonomic recommendations

• Advice for modifying activities that may be aggravating your symptoms

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Our goal is to identify and address the factors that may actually be contributing to your headaches.

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Headaches and Pain Medication

Over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen can be useful for occasional headaches when they are appropriate for the individual.

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However, needing medication frequently to control headaches is something that should be discussed with a healthcare provider. You do not want to develop a dependence issue or negative side-effects. 

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One reason is a condition called medication-overuse headache, sometimes referred to as a rebound headache. Frequent use of medications intended to stop headaches can actually contribute to increasingly frequent headaches in susceptible individuals.

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According to the American Migraine Foundation, medication overuse is generally defined as using simple pain relievers such as acetaminophen or NSAIDs on 15 or more days per month for at least three months. Some other headache medications have lower thresholds.

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Long-term or frequent medication use can also have side effects unrelated to headaches. For example, frequent NSAID use may cause gastrointestinal problems and, in some individuals, affect kidney or liver function.

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Do not discontinue prescribed headache medication based on this information. If you are regularly taking medication for headaches, discuss your medication use with your physician or prescribing provider.

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When Is a Headache a Medical Emergency?

Most headaches are not caused by a dangerous medical condition. However, certain headache patterns require immediate or additional medical evaluation.

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Seek urgent medical attention for symptoms such as:

• A sudden, extremely severe or "thunderclap" headache

• A dramatically different headache from anything you have experienced previously

• Headache accompanied by weakness, numbness, difficulty speaking, confusion, fainting, or other new neurological symptoms

• Severe headache accompanied by fever and significant neck stiffness

• A significant new headache following head trauma

• A new or rapidly worsening headache with unusual neurological or visual symptoms

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Although rare, a sudden new headache can sometimes indicate a vascular or other serious condition and warrants prompt medical evaluation.

We do not believe every headache should simply be treated with a chiropractic adjustment. A good chiropractor will send you out for emergency care if you present with these type of symptoms. 

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Part of providing responsible chiropractic care is recognizing when a patient's symptoms require evaluation or treatment from another healthcare professional.

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What to Expect at Performance Family Chiropractic

If you visit our Apex chiropractic office because of headaches, the first step is determining what may be contributing to them.

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We will discuss your symptoms and headache history and perform an examination that may include evaluating your neck movement, joints, muscles, posture, neurological function, and other relevant findings.

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We want to know more than simply where it hurts.

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We want to understand:

• When did the headaches begin?

• Where do they start?

• How frequently do they occur?

• How long do they last?

• What makes them better or worse?

• Are they associated with neck pain?

• Do you experience nausea, visual symptoms, or sensitivity to light or sound?

• Have your headaches recently changed?

• How frequently are you taking headache medication?

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These details can help us determine whether your headaches have a musculoskeletal component that may respond to chiropractic treatment or whether another type of healthcare provider should be involved.

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A Different Approach to Headache Treatment

At Performance Family Chiropractic, we don't believe every patient should receive exactly the same treatment.

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If restricted joints, tight muscles, poor mobility, or other mechanical problems in your neck are contributing to your headaches, our goal is to address those problems rather than simply provide temporary symptom relief.

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Our appointments may combine chiropractic treatment with soft-tissue therapy, stretching, rehabilitation exercises, and recommendations you can use outside the office.

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And if your headache presentation does not appear appropriate for chiropractic care, we will help point you in the right direction.

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Most importantly, we will listen to you and concerns that you have about your headaches. 

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Looking for Headache Treatment in Apex, NC?

If headaches are interfering with your work, sleep, exercise, or everyday life, consider having them evaluated.

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Schedule an appointment at Performance Family Chiropractic in Apex, NC to determine whether your neck and musculoskeletal system may be contributing to your headaches.