You Might Need To See A Chiropractor To Fix Your Cervicogenic Headaches

When you are suffering from chronic headaches, you might think that the only solution is to reach for an over-the-counter pain medication to treat your headache. But pain medications only treat the underlying condition. If you are suffering from a cervicogenic headaches, you may actually need to take a trip to a local chiropractor to experience pain relief.

The Origin of a Cervicogenic Headache 

A cervicogenic headache is one that arises from a pain in the neck instead of a pain that originates in the head. The pain originates from the occipital nerve, which is a nerve that is found at the base of the skull. 

The Symptoms of a Cervicogenic Headache

This type of headache is very similar to a migraine. However, it will not respond to the treatments that are normally used for migraines. Your neck might be very stiff and you may have a limited range of motion as a result. If you move a certain way, your neck pain might get worse.

The pain you experience will be steady and will not be throbbing. You may experience pain on only one side of your head or face. The pain might also be worse when you cough or sneeze.

Chiropractors Treat Cervicogenic Headaches

A chiropractor may be able to help with cervicogenic headaches. The optimal treatment will be determined based on the cause of your neck pain and the headache that results from it.

You might be experiencing headaches because you suffered damage to the vertebral disc after an accident. This can cause the nerve to become damaged and will also lead to inflammation. An injection steroid can alleviate the pain.

However, this type of headache is sometimes a result of an issue with the musculature of your neck. A chiropractor can help with these types of headaches and can also treat inflammation.

Chiropractic Treatments

Treatment for a cervicogenic headache will begin with a soft tissue massage to alleviate tension in the muscles and tendons. 

Once this has been completed, the chiropractor will perform spinal manipulation to free up the joints. This involves a chiropractor using a device or their hands to thrust into the joint so that the joint will move more than it would by itself. 

The spinal manipulation is different from a spinal mobilization that is only performed within the normal range of motion of your spine. The spinal manipulation should only be performed by a chiropractor because they will be able to perform this treatment safely.

Learn more about chiropractic treatment.


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