DIRECT BILLING | CALL NOW (306) 954-4242
DIRECT BILLING | CALL NOW (306) 954-4242
Headache & Migraine Treatment
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Saskatoon Headache & Migraine Clinic
Headaches and migraines can be debilitating, but we can help!
Do you suffer from headaches and migraines on a regular basis? Are your headaches coming more frequently and lasting longer? Do you notice tension in the upper back and neck every time you get a headache? Chiropractic adjustments and Physiotherapy is one of the most effective solutions for people suffering from headaches.
Our dedicated doctors and healthcare providers are skilled at getting to the root of your headaches and identifying all the factors contributing to your pain so you can find lasting relief once and for all!
Too often, the assumption is that a headache is just a normal part of being a human being. There are many causes for headaches and even more contributing factors that magnify and extend the duration of a headache.
Our chiropractic and acupuncture treatments are essential for long-term relief if you suffer from frequent headaches. Make an appointment with Axis Health Center today to learn more about how physiotherapy can help with headaches.
What Kind Of Headache Do I Have?
Several factors determine the type of headache or migraine you experience
There are several possible types of headaches you can experience, and getting to the root cause is the key to long-term relief. Whether your headache is caused by a problem with your joints or from tension in your muscles, our chiropractic and acupuncture doctors can help. We will address the contributing factors, including poor posture or stress, to give you the relief you are looking for.
Recognizing your headache type will help your physiotherapist, chiropractor, acupuncturist, naturopathic doctor, or massage therapist determine which pain-relieving treatments will work best for you. In many cases, the intensity of your headache is magnified by protective tension responses in the upper back and neck muscles. We will help identify the type of headache you are experiencing and give you effective strategies to minimize the severity and duration of your headaches!
If you are experiencing headaches either frequently or occasionally, seeing one of our Saskatoon Healthcare Providers can help you find relief and get back to feeling your best!
Common Types Of Headaches Include:
CERVICOGENIC HEADACHE
Cervicogenic headaches originate in the cervical spine (i.e., neck). These headaches are most likely caused by dysfunction in the top three joints of the cervical spine. These headaches are more common in people who work in jobs that involve prolonged sitting, like working on a computer all day or driving for a living.
We usually consider poor postural habits to be relatively harmless. But the reality is that they could be putting undue stress on your neck, and if you aren’t careful, this could translate to a headache. Your posture can have a huge impact on your spinal health and may result in headaches if you maintain chronic poor posture.
Another common way to trigger pain in your neck that radiates to the head is through weightlifting or other sports-related injuries. The forces that occur while lifting something heavy or participating in a contact sport can begin a cervicogenic headache.
MUSCUOLSKELETAL
Musculoskeletal headaches are related to injuries or dysfunction in other areas. For example, a concussion or whiplash can lead to persistent headaches from the soft tissue supporting the cervical spine. The source of the headache is an injury, but it persists from the areas outside the region of the injury itself.
Muscle imbalances, postural problems, or injury to other body regions are the most common causes. Emotional stress can also play a role because of the postures we hold ourselves due to the stress.
CLUSTSER
Cluster headache (CH) is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent severe headaches on one side of the head, typically around the eye(s). There is often accompanying eye watering, nasal congestion, or swelling around the eye on the affected side. These symptoms typically last 15 minutes to 3 hours. Attacks often occur in clusters which typically last for weeks or months and occasionally more than a year
TENSION
Tension headaches occur when your neck muscles and the muscles on your scalp become tense or, in some cases, spasm. A tension headache can feel like a tight band around your forehead.
A tension headache is the most common type of headache, but the exact cause is unknown. The muscles are thought to tense up in response to stress, depression, anxiety, or an injury to the head or neck. These headaches are slightly more common in women and tend to run in families.
MIGRAINE
The exact cause of migraines is unknown, although they’re thought to be the result of temporary changes in the brain’s chemicals, nerves, and blood vessels that cause abnormal brain activity that affects nerve signals. Migraines are also thought to be related to our genes and may be hereditary.
Attacks are usually characterized by painful throbbing or pulsing on one side of the head, which can also be accompanied by “aura” or associated symptoms that come with the migraines such as changes in vision, nausea, numbness in the hand or face, vomiting, sensitivity to light, or sensitivity to sound. If you ever have these “aura” symptoms it’s important to bring them up with your provider.
They are often caused by a combination of factors such as your diet, emotional stress, or other environmental reasons. By addressing your “triggers,” your therapist can help you learn to reduce the severity and frequency of your migraine episodes. We will also address the tissues of the upper back, neck, and face to help alleviate discomfort and minimize the severity of the episode.
Every person’s migraines act differently and most migraines respond very well to chiropractic and acupuncture treatment when following a treatment plan.
OTHER HEADACHES
Other headaches may include those from chronic stress; cardiac or heart and hypertension headaches; hormonal headaches which are more common during menopause for women; post concussion headaches even from minor slips and falls; sinus headaches; and more. Additionally, there are other underlying contributing factors for headaches that we see regularly, like degenerative disc disease in the neck contributing to the headaches; changes in barometric pressure or weather changes that can worsen headaches. And further, there are can be an overlap of 2 or more types of headaches that a person is experiencing, and if there are several underlying contributing factors it becomes a multifaceted and complicated condition rather than “just a headache”.
There are many causes of headaches and this is a short list, however, these are most common and drugs are rarely necessary to resolve them. If you have headaches we encourage you to book an appointment with our chiropractic doctor or physiotherapist to discover the cause and begin treatment right away!
Treatment For Headaches & Migraines
Our physiotherapy and chiropractic treatments will address the cause of your headache
Our highly skilled chiropractor and acupuncture doctors at Axis Health Center use the most advanced treatment techniques to help you resolve your headache. These treatments typically include targeted manual therapy techniques and specific exercises that address your personal needs.
During your first appointment, your Healthcare Providers will conduct a comprehensive evaluation that includes a detailed medical history, possible environmental causes, and a physical examination. Our examination will help us determine the type of headache you are experiencing and the most effective treatment program to resolve your discomfort.
The final piece of the plan will include education and instruction on a home exercise program to maintain your gains and prevent future headaches from occurring.
We can treat headaches using the following methods:
- Increasing or restoring neck range of motion
- Alleviating muscle tension with manual therapy techniques
- Education and instruction on finding and maintaining a natural posture
- Improving strength and mobility for long-term relief