Headaches

Are you having headaches in Noosa? Call the team at Laguna Bay Chiropractic. We can help!

Headaches affect just about everyone at some point in their lives.  Headaches can present themselves in many different ways. Some people only experience pain in one part of their head or behind their eyes, some people experience a pounding sensation inside their whole head, and some people even experience nausea, while others do not. The pain itself may be dull or sharp and may last for anywhere from a few minutes to a few days. Fortunately, very few headaches have serious underlying causes, but those that do require urgent medical attention.

Although headaches can be due to a wide variety of causes, such as drug reactions, temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), tightness in the neck muscles, low blood sugar, high blood pressure, stress and fatigue, the majority of recurrent headaches are of two types: tension headaches (also called cervicogenic headaches) and migraine headaches. There is a third, less common, type of headaches called a cluster headache that is a cousin to the migraine

Chiropractic Care For Headaches

At Laguna Bay Chiropractic in Noosa, we are headache specialists.

Chiropractic Adjusting

Dr. Davis has developed a headache protocol to care for patients with headache issues. He uses a high tech, computer assisted adjusting instrument to perform trigger point therapy and a sub-occipital release of the muscle tension known to cause headaches. Additionally, Dr. Davis focuses on chiropractic adjusting of the upper cervical vertebrae to release nerve impingement and structural instability that may be a cause of your headache. Dr. Davis may also use therapies such as cryotherapy, heat, cold laser, ultrasound or high volt/ultrasound combo therapy to address the cause of your headaches, not just mask the symptoms.

Numerous research studies have shown that chiropractic adjustments are very effective for treating tension headaches, especially headaches that originate in the neck.

A report released in 2001 by researchers at the Duke University Evidence-Based Practice Center in Durham, NC, found that "spinal manipulation resulted in almost immediate improvement for those headaches that originate in the neck, and had significantly fewer side effects and longer-lasting relief of tension-type headache than commonly prescribed medications." These findings support an earlier study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics that found spinal manipulative therapy to be very effective for treating tension headaches. This study also found that those who stopped chiropractic treatment after four weeks continued to experience a sustained benefit in contrast to those patients who received pain medication.

Each individual's case is different and requires a thorough evaluation before a proper course of chiropractic care can be determined. However, in most cases of tension headaches, significant improvement is accomplished through manipulation of the upper two cervical vertebrae, coupled with adjustments to the junction between the cervical and thoracic spine. This is also helpful in most cases of migraine headaches, as long as food and lifestyle triggers are avoided as well.

Headache Trigger Points

Trigger point therapy for headaches tends to involve four muscles: the Splenius muscles, the Suboccipitals, the Sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and the Trapezius. The Splenius muscles are comprised of two individual muscles - the Splenius Capitis and the Splenius Cervicis. Both of these muscles run from the upper back to either the base of the skull (splenius capitis) or the upper cervical vertebrae (splenius cervicis). Trigger points in the Splenius muscles are a common cause of headache pain that travels through the head to the back of the eye, as well as to the top of the head.

The Suboccipitals are actually a group of four small muscles that are responsible for maintaining the proper movement and positioning between the first cervical vertebra and the base of the skull. Trigger points in these muscles will cause pain that feels like it's inside the head, extending from the back of the head to the eye and forehead. Often times it will feel like the whole side of the head hurts, a pain pattern similar to that experienced with a migraine.

The Sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle runs from the base of the skull, just behind the ear, down the side of the neck to attach to the top of the sternum (breastbone). Although most people are not aware of the SCM trigger points, their effects are widespread, including referred pain, balance problems and visual disturbances. Referred pain patterns tend to be deep eye pain, headaches over the eye and can even cause earaches. Another unusual characteristic of SCM trigger points is that they can cause dizziness, nausea and unbalance.

The trapezius muscle is the very large, flat muscle in the upper and mid back. A common trigger point located in the very top of the Trapezius muscle refers pain to the temple and back of the head and is sometimes responsible for headache pain. This trigger point is capable of producing satellite trigger points in the muscles in the temple or jaw, which can lead to jaw or tooth pain.

Why see us for your Headaches?

Dr. Travis Davis, the primary chiropractor at Laguna Bay Chiropractic of Noosa, is a headache specialist. He has the experience, expertise and has invested in the best technology available to care for your headache related pain. Dr. Davis prides himself in giving 110% and "going the extra mile" for his patients. You can rest assured that when visiting Laguna Bay Chiropractic, you are not simply the next patient in line or a number. We care about your well being and giving you the results that you need and frankly, are paying for. If you are needlessly suffering from headaches, pick up the phone and call Laguna Bay Chiropractic now. You'll be glad you did!

Call now to schedule an appointment!

07 5474 1473