Chiropractic and Cervicogenic Headache

We see a lot of people with headaches in our Arlington office, and Jefferson Spine & Injury Center has been able to assist many of them. Furthermore, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 50 percent of all adults have difficulties with some kind of headache condition, so this actually isn't surprising. One of the most common types of headaches that our patients are afflicted by is cervicogenic headache which, luckily for us, chiropractic care can commonly help.

What is a Cervicogenic Headache?

A cervicogenic headache is one that starts from a problem in the cervical spine. It can be attributable to an issue with either the spine itself (primarily, the vertebrae, joints, or discs), or it could be attributable to a problem in the muscles and tendons of your neck. This problem in your spine leads to compaction or aggravation of the spinal nerves, which can give you headache problems.

How do you distinguish if the headache you are being affected by is a cervicogenic headache? Aside from receiving a diagnosis from a healthcare expert, a typical symptom of cervicogenic headaches is tenderness or pain in your neck. This is occasionally accompanied by 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 problem is initiating them is remedied, it is crucial to receive treatment instead of just trying to "wait it out." Chiropractic care is an excellent solution, and one that provides a great deal of headache pain relief.

In one study printed in Chiropractic & Osteopathy, researchers evaluated 80 people who had recurrent cervicogenic headaches. Half of them were given chiropractic care and the other fifty percent underwent light massage therapy. Each participant was assessed 12 and 24 weeks after the treatment and it was discovered that chiropractic offered the optimum effects.

Specifically, this study uncovered that chiropractic adjustments provided patients more pain relief and lowered the frequency of headaches that occurred. On top of that, it also lessened the disability that resulted from these painful headaches.

To find out what Jefferson Spine & Injury Center 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/