HEADACHES TYPES
CERVICOGENIC HEADACHES
Cervicogenic headaches refer to headaches which originate from
tissues and structures in the cervical spine or neck region. The
headache is generally a very constant, strong, yet dull pain. The
most common location of pain is around the orbital (eye) region
and upper neck area but may also include other areas of the
face, head and neck. The headache will typically last for one to
three days and reoccur ever one to four weeks until properly
treated. The headache may also be accompanied by nausea,
vomiting, dizziness, ringing of the ears, and sensitivity to light
and sound - similar to migraine headaches.
Cervicogenic headaches are caused by irritation or injury to the
structures of the upper neck region, resulting in local neck pain
as well as referred pain to the temporal and facial regions. This
headache is often precipitated or aggravated by head and neck
movements and by applying deep pressure to the muscles of the
upper cervical area.
Chiropractic management of cervicogenic headaches is the best
way to eliminate these headaches. Without addressing the
problems in cervical spine the headache will continue to persist
and worsen. Individuals should be warned that relying on
analgesics to remedy cervicogenic headaches does nothing to
correct the cause of the headache and generally worsens the
headache in what's known as the "rebound effect".
MUSCLE TENSION HEADACHES
Tension headaches are the most common headache type,
representing approximately 60% of all headaches. These
headaches are caused by the sustained contraction of the
muscles in the neck and head region. The sustained muscle
contraction is usually a result of a combination of the following:
1. cervical/neck misalignments and faulty neck biomechanics
2. previous neck/upper back injury- not properly
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
rehabilitated
poor posture
excessive emotional stress
anxiety or depression
prolonged sitting or driving
improper sleeping habits
Characteristically, these headaches are generally mild to
moderate in intensity and can last from hours to days. There is a
constant tight or pressure sensation, generally feeling like a tight
band is wrapping around the head. There is commonly pain and
tightness in the area of the neck and shoulder. Pain generally
starts in the base of the skull or temporal regions of the head
and spreads outwards to affect other areas of the head and neck.
Chiropractors have great success treating muscle tension
headaches. By utilizing spinal adjustments, therapeutic exercises
and stretches, soft tissue techniques such as trigger point work
and massage, and by counseling on lifestyle modification, tension
headaches can become a thing of the past. Individuals should be
warned that relying on analgesics to remedy tension headaches
does nothing to correct the cause of the headache and generally
worsens the headache in what's known as the "rebound effect".
POST-TRAUMATIC HEADACHES
Post-traumatic headaches are headaches initiated from head or
neck injury, such as in a whiplash-type injury or blow to the
head. The resulting headache varies from person to person. Most
commonly, the resulting post-traumatic headache is one of the
following:
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post-traumatic
post-traumatic
post-traumatic
post-traumatic
post-traumatic
cervicogenic headache
muscle tension headache
migraine headache
cluster headache
vascular headache
The most favorable outcomes are seen with those who seek early
treatment. It's also important immediately following any head
trauma to rule out subdural hematoma, a potentially fatal
condition caused by intracranial bleeding. Chiropractors
frequently treat post-traumatic headaches and do so with
success.
Again, individuals should be warned that relying on analgesics to
remedy post-traumatic headaches does nothing to correct the
cause of the headache and generally worsens the headache in
what's known as the "rebound effect".
DRUG-INDUCED HEADACHES
Experts have claimed that as many as 60% of chronic headaches
are drug-induced. It's quite ironic that the abuse or frequent use
of medications used to relieve the symptoms of a headache can
actually end up perpetuating the headache or cause new
headaches. In addition, physical dependency and organ damage
are also extremely common complications associated with
chronic analgesic usage.
Drug-induced headaches are usually dull, diffuse and nonthrobbing affecting both sides of the head. They are frequently
present first thing in the morning and persist throughout the day.
Medical experts say that analgesic medications (over the counter
or prescription) should not be used more frequently than 1 to 2
days per week. Using medications beyond this period will
gradually increase the frequency of the headaches and will
further increase their intensity of the pain. Unfortunately,
although there is extensive documentation on drug-induced
headaches, many medical physicians fail to pay attention to this
fact or are simply unaware. Worse yet, the many tv drug
commercials are made to make us feel as though pain relievers
are a safe effective means of relief for headaches. However,
taking pain medication for chronic headaches without seeking
corrective care is like unplugging the flashing oil light in your car
dash, instead of adding oil to the engine.
The most common medications which lead to the development of
drug-induced headaches include:
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aspirin
Tylenol
Excedrin
Anacin
Demerol
Vicodin
Percocet
Darvon
Xanex
Fiorinal
oral contraceptives
tetracycline
heart medications
anticoagulants
Dilantin
Simply eliminating or limiting the use of analgesic use will resolve
most if not all of the headaches. However, most individuals are
unaware that the drugs they're taking can sometimes do them
more harm than good.
MIGRAINE HEADACHES
Migraines account for approximately 10% of all headaches.
Researchers have found that 3.4 million females and 1.1 million
males suffer from 1 migraine attack per month. Migraines follow
a hereditary course, with 70% of migraine sufferers having other
family members who are also affected. Migraine headaches often
have coexisting muscle tension and cervicogenic factors which
contribute to the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks.
The pain generated by migraines has a throbbing quality and
usually involves one side of the head initially. The headache
tends to reach its peak intensity after about 30 minutes.
Migraines are commonly accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
During severe attacks, sensitivity to sound and light may occur
forcing the individual to seek a dark and quiet room mandatory.
The duration of the headache can vary from a few hours to 1 to 2
days.
Migraine headaches are categorized into either "common" or
"classical" migraines.
Classical Migraines differ from common migraines in that the
actual headache is preceded by neurologic disturbances which
indicate a migraine attack is about to take place. These include
alterations in the visual field (zigzag lines, blind spots, etc.),
numbness or tingling of the lips or hand, problems with balance
and even loss of consciousness. These neurologic disturbances
generally last 15 to 30 minutes and resolve before the headache
begins. In some cases, the neurologic disturbances may persist
several days after the headache has resolved.
Clinical trials conducted on chiropractic's effectiveness in the
management of migraine headaches have shown remarkable
improvement in many cases.
CLUSTER HEADACHES
Cluster headaches are most common in middle-aged male
smokers and are among the most painful of all headaches. The
individual is often awaken 1 to 3 hours after sleep with the
headache in its full-blown state. The headache lasts about 1 hour
and attacks occur frequently over several days to weeks - thus
their name "cluster". The headaches will then disappear for
periods of months to years before returning. The pain in cluster
headaches is deep, nonthrobbing and severe located behind the
ear and may radiate to the forehead and temple regions. There is
also tearing of the affected eye, nasal congestion, and nasal drip.
Smoking, alcohol ingestion and napping often precipitate attacks.
Immediate administration of oxygen (100% at 7 liters for 15
minutes) has been shown to provide some relief. It has been
suggested that immersing the hand in ice water to the point of
pain and elevating the bed may also provide some relief.