We see a considerable number of men and women with headaches in our Massillon, OH office, and Drs. Ken Haycock & Tim Vierheller has been able to aid many of them. Furthermore, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 50% of all adults have difficulties with some kind of headache problems, so this certainly isn’t surprising. One of the most typical varieties of headaches which our patients have problems with is cervicogenic headache which, luckily for us, chiropractic can often help.
What is a Cervicogenic Headache?
A cervicogenic headache is one that comes from issues in the cervical spine. It can be due to a condition with either the spine itself (primarily, the vertebrae, joints, or discs), or it may be due to a problem in the muscles and tendons of your neck. This dysfunction in your spine can cause compression or aggravation of the spinal nerves, which can contribute to headache pain.
How can you identify if the headache you are feeling is a cervicogenic headache? Other than being given a diagnosis from a healthcare specialist, a typical symptom of cervicogenic headaches is tenderness or pain in your neck. This is occasionally coupled with pain in the back of your head or between your shoulder blades.
How Chiropractic Helps with Cervicogenic Headaches
Since cervicogenic headaches will not subside until whatever problem is causing them is remedied, it is crucial to get treatment instead of just trying to "wait it out." Chiropractic care is an effective approach, and one that can provide a great deal of headache pain relief.
In one study circulated in Chiropractic & Osteopathy, researchers followed 80 people who had regular cervicogenic headaches. Fifty percent received chiropractic care and the other 50% engaged in light massage therapy. Each participant was assessed 12 and 24 weeks after the procedures and it was discovered that chiropractic provided the optimum results.
In particular, this study uncovered that chiropractic adjustments offered patients more pain relief and reduced the number of headaches that occurred. Moreover, it also diminished the disability that resulted from these painful headaches.
To find out what Drs. Ken Haycock & Tim Vierheller can do for you and your headaches, call our office today. We'll do our best to get you the pain relief you deserve!
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/
