Jacksonville Chiropractic and Cervicogenic Headache

We see a large number of individuals with headaches in our Jacksonville office, and Dr. Chanatry has been able to help many of them. For that matter, the World Health Organization (WHO) states that half of all adults have a problem with some sort of headache condition, so this really isn’t unexpected. One of the most frequent kinds of headaches which our patients struggle with is cervicogenic headache which, happily, chiropractic can usually help.

Cervicogenic Headaches Defined

A cervicogenic headache is one that stems from a problem in the cervical spine. It can be a result of an issue with either the spine itself (in particular, the vertebrae, joints, or discs), or it can be brought on by a problem in the muscles and tendons of your neck. This problem in your spine produces squeezing or aggravation of the spinal nerves, which can bring on headache pain.

How can you find out if the headache you are enduring is a cervicogenic headache? Besides being given a diagnosis from a healthcare professional, a typical symptom of cervicogenic headaches is tenderness or discomfort in your neck. This is occasionally combined with pain in the back of your head or between your shoulder blades.

Chiropractic to the Rescue

Considering cervicogenic headaches will not go away until whatever problem is triggering them is remedied, it is crucial to receive treatment rather than just trying to "wait it out." Chiropractic care is an effective solution, and one that can provide a considerable amount of pain relief.

In one study circulated in Chiropractic & Osteopathy, specialists studied 80 people who had recurring cervicogenic headaches. One-half got chiropractic care and the other half engaged in light massage therapy. Each participant was examined 12 and 24 weeks after the procedures and it was discovered that chiropractic offered the optimum effects.

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

To find out what Dr. Chanatry can do for you and your headache pain, call our office 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/