Headaches. If you’ve ever experienced one, you’ll know its a headache. Its painful, its irritating, it may throb, it may be unrelenting, & its certainly disrupting. However, not all headaches are created equally. There are a handful of subtypes such as (HA = short for headaches; not all re listed, but here are a few common ones)…
Cluster HA - extremely painful, described as knife stabbing behind eye. Can be due to allergies
Migraine HA- can be with or without aura prior to onset. Commonly with light and/or sound sensitivity. Can be associated with nausea and vomiting. Hormonal changes for women can lead to migraines before menstruation.
Tension HA - typically stemming from the neck musculature. Patients often describe this feeling as pressure from wearing a tiny hat.
Caffeine like, rebound HA - too much caffeine can lead to migraine like HAs. Withdrawal can also lead to a headache
Exertional HA - physically induced exertional headache. Feels more like pounding sensation into the head.
Sinus HA - infections or allergies can cause irritation to the sinus, thus building up pressure within.
Rhyme and reason
Different causes will create different effects. Caffeine like headache are caused by caffeine. Sinus headaches are caused by allergens or infection. Migraines can be a hormonal issue. Or it can also be a biomechanics issue of the upper neck. According to migraine headache study, 82% of all migraine sufferers had mild traumatic brain injury. There are no head injury without neck injury and vice versa. The upper neck has a very vital role in balancing the heavy bowling ball size head. When there is a trauma that disrupts that balance, the body will then struggle to hold the head upright. This leads to strain of the neck muscles causing tension in the neck, shoulders, even down to the mid back, and even up into the head creating tension headaches for some; migraines for others.
Solution
For many, self medication with an over the counter pain killer can do the trick in alleviating headaches. Other at home remedies include heat packs, massage chairs/hand device, muscle relief gel creams, etc. However, for many sufferers, headaches recur often times in a very predictable schedule and in very unrelenting ways that at home remedies fail to work. The next course of action for many are massage therapy and physiotherapy. Both can work wonders. There are also those who turn to chiropractic care. Upper cervical techniques in particular look at the specific dynamic between the head and neck. The very first bone that cradles the head is called the Atlas, aka C1 vertebra. Did you know, 77 TRILLION nerves flow through from that very first bone? Often times, a precise calculation of the atlas misalignment is just what’s needed to allow the proper nerve and blood flow for painfree and optimal health.
Are you suffering from headaches? Want to see if NUCCA can help?