We see a lot of folks with headaches in our Noblesville office, and Dr. Dahlager has been able to aid many of them. Indeed, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 50% of all adults struggle with some manner of headache disorder, so this actually isn’t a surprise. One of the most common varieties of headaches which our patients struggle with is cervicogenic headache which, thankfully, chiropractic can generally help.

What is a Cervicogenic Headache?

A cervicogenic headache is one that arises from an issue in the cervical spine. It can easily be generated by a problem with either the spine itself (specifically, the vertebrae, joints, or discs), or it might be triggered by a problem in the muscles and tendons of your neck. This dysfunction in your spine creates compaction or irritation of the spinal nerves, which can generate headache pain.

How do you tell if the headache you are enduring is a cervicogenic headache? Apart from obtaining a diagnosis from a healthcare specialist, 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.

Headache Relief with Chiropractic

Because cervicogenic headaches will not subside until whatever issue is initiating them is remedied, it is essential to receive treatment as opposed to just trying to "wait it out." Chiropractic care is an effective solution, and one that provides a considerable amount of pain relief.

In one study circulated in Chiropractic & Osteopathy, researchers looked at 80 people who had repeated cervicogenic headaches. Fifty percent got chiropractic care and the other fifty percent underwent light massage therapy. Each participant was examined 12 and 24 weeks after the procedures and it was found that chiropractic offered the optimum effects.

Specifically, this study revealed that chiropractic adjustments gave patients better pain relief and decreased the number of headaches that occurred. Additionally, it also lessened the disability that resulted from these painful headaches.

To find out what Dr. Dahlager 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/