As you probably already know, there are many different types of headaches in Huntington. There are sinus headaches, migraines, cluster headaches, headaches due to caffeine withdrawal or dehydration. And the list goes on and on. The very first thing we do in our office is determine which type of headache a patient is suffering from. We do this with a thorough history and also a full physical examination and work up to make sure we've ruled out any serious underlying causes or pathologies. Luckily, the majority of the headaches we see at Balance Chiropractic and Wellness Center have no pathological involvement and are called "cervicogenic headaches" otherwise referred to as "tension headaches."

I'm going to tell you why the most common headache treatments out there don't work for these types of headaches. "Cervicogenic" means the pain comes from a mechanical dysfunction of the neck. The pain can refer up to the front or top of the head or behind the eyes, even to the front of the neck or to the shoulders. So because this is a mechanical problem, it needs to have a mechanical solution as the treatment, otherwise you'll never address the true cause. Most, if not all of our patients in Huntington tell us that before seeing us, they used to take over the counter or prescription medications and have even tried injections for their pain. While these may work well for the short-term, they just aren't meant to be a long-term solution.

So the mechanical dysfunction can be anything from arthritis to a herniated or bulged disc or even small misalignments in the spine, known as subluxations. They are almost always accompanied by tight musculature surrounding the area as well. We have a lot of muscles that start in the upper back and they continue up the side of the neck and connect all the way to the base of the skull. What we're seeing these days is this forward head posture, due to texting, desk jobs, poor sleeping habits, driving and sitting at the computer for a good portion of the day. What's important to understand about this is that these postural changes put a ton of extra stress on the joints and muscles in the neck and upper back that contribute to the pain associated with these tension headaches.

The good news is that Chiropractors at Balance Chiropractic and Wellness Center are experts in locating and correcting these mechanical dysfunctions and we usually get amazing outcomes with our headache patients. What we do is work to relax the muscles in the upper back and back of the neck and skull and restore proper alignment and motion within the joints in that area. What that's going to accomplish is a reduction in the tension within the muscles and a healthier and better functioning nervous system which will ultimately improve the blood flow to the head as well.

Some other things we recommend is to support posture at work, at home and while in bed. Make sure you are using a proper pillow for sleep with cervical support and you'll also want to make sure that your top third of your computer monitor is in line with your eyes and that your screen is an arms distance away from you. Supplements like magnesium, valerian root and passionflower help to support the muscle spasms associated with headaches in Huntington. Drink plenty of water (half your body weight in ounces) and stretch your neck muscles every day, morning and night. For more information on headaches and how we can help, give us a call at Balance Chiropractic and Wellness Center at (631) 470-9670 for a free consultation.