Stacy, MN Chiropractic and Cervicogenic Headache

We see a lot of folks with headaches in our Stacy, MN office, and Dr. Andrew Ulvin has been able to help many of them. Furthermore, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 50 percent of all adults have a problem with some sort of headache disorder, so this actually isn’t a surprise. One of the most typical kinds of headaches that our patients suffer from is cervicogenic headache which, thankfully, chiropractic can generally help.

Cervicogenic Headaches Defined

A cervicogenic headache is one that starts from an issue in the cervical spine. It can easily be as a result of a condition with either the spine itself (in particular, the vertebrae, joints, or discs), or it can be brought on by a problem in the muscles and tendons of your neck. This dysfunction in your spine leads to compaction or aggravation of the spinal nerves, which can result in headache pain.

How can you know if the headache you are struggling with is a cervicogenic headache? Apart from being given 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 with Cervicogenic Headaches

Since cervicogenic headaches will not go away until whatever problem is generating them is remedied, it is important to receive treatment as opposed to just trying to "wait it out." Chiropractic care is an effective approach, and one that provides a considerable amount of pain relief.

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

Specifically, this study noted that chiropractic adjustments provided patients better pain relief and decreased the frequency of headaches that occurred. Furthermore, it also mitigated the disability that resulted from these painful headaches.

To find out what Dr. Andrew Ulvin 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/