West Palm Beach Chiropractic Effective for Cervicogenic Headache

We see a great number of individuals with headaches in our West Palm Beach office, and Dr. Dennis has been able to help many of them. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) states that 50% of all adults have difficulties with some manner of headache problems, so this really isn’t surprising. One of the most typical varieties of headaches which our patients endure is cervicogenic headache which, luckily for us, chiropractic can often help.

What is a Cervicogenic Headache?

A cervicogenic headache is one that starts from problems in the cervical spine. It can easily be caused by an issue with either the spine itself (particularly, the vertebrae, joints, or discs), or it could be due to a problem in the muscles and tendons of your neck. This dysfunction in your spine creates compression or aggravation of the spinal nerves, which can generate headache pain.

How can you recognize if the headache you are feeling is a cervicogenic headache? Other than obtaining a diagnosis from a healthcare professional, a frequent symptom of cervicogenic headaches is tenderness or discomfort in your neck. This is sometimes followed by pain in the back of your head or between your shoulder blades.

How Chiropractic Helps

Seeing that cervicogenic headaches will not subside until whatever problem is generating them is remedied, it is crucial to get treatment instead of just trying to "wait it out." Chiropractic care is an effective solution, and one that offers a considerable amount of headache pain relief.

In one study released in Chiropractic & Osteopathy, experts evaluated 80 people who had recurring cervicogenic headaches. One-half received chiropractic care and the other fifty percent engaged in light massage therapy. Each participant was assessed 12 and 24 weeks after the procedures and it was discovered that chiropractic provided the most beneficial results.

In particular, this study noted that chiropractic adjustments offered patients better pain relief and lessened the frequency of headaches that occurred. On top of that, it also mitigated the disability that resulted from these painful headaches.

To find out what Dr. Dennis can do for you and your headache pain, 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/