Anchorage Chiropractic and Cervicogenic Headache

We see a great number of people with headaches in our Anchorage office, and Dr. Mulholland has been able to aid many of them. Additionally, the World Health Organization (WHO) states that half of all adults have difficulties with some manner of headache disorder, so this certainly isn’t unexpected. One of the most prevalent kinds of headaches that our patients experience is cervicogenic headache which, happily, chiropractic can commonly help.

Cervicogenic Headaches Defined

A cervicogenic headache is one that stems from problems in the cervical spine. It might be due to a problem with either the spine itself (particularly, the vertebrae, joints, or discs), or it may be brought on by a problem in the muscles and tendons of your neck. This dysfunction in your spine produces constriction or aggravation of the spinal nerves, which can contribute to headache pain.

How do you determine if the headache you are struggling with is a cervicogenic headache? Apart from receiving a diagnosis from a healthcare expert, a frequent symptom of cervicogenic headaches is tenderness or pain in your neck. This is sometimes coupled with pain in the back of your head or between your shoulder blades.

Chiropractic to the Rescue

Seeing that cervicogenic headaches will not go away until whatever issue is initiating them is remedied, it is important to get treatment instead of just trying to "wait it out." Chiropractic care is an excellent solution, and one that provides a considerable amount of relief.

In one study circulated in Chiropractic & Osteopathy, specialists looked at 80 people who had recurrent cervicogenic headaches. Fifty percent received chiropractic care and the other fifty percent underwent light massage therapy. Each participant was examined 12 and 24 weeks after the procedures and it was discovered that chiropractic provided the best effects.

In particular, this study noted that chiropractic adjustments offered patients better pain relief and decreased the number of headaches that occurred. Furthermore, it also diminished the disability that resulted from these painful headaches.

To find out what Dr. Mulholland can do for you and your headaches, call us today. We'll do our best to get you the pain relief you need!

References

• Haas M, Schneider M, Vavrek D. Illustrating risk difference and number needed to treat from a randomized controlled trial of spinal manipulation for cervicogenic headache. Chiropractic & Osteopathy 2010 18(9).
• World Health Organization. (2012, October). Headache disorders. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs277/en/