Headaches are a real Pain in the Neck! Chiropractor Billings Montana

Mention the word ‘headache’ to just about anyone and it’s likely they’ll know what you’re talking about. Headaches have become a painful way of life for too many of us. Billions of dollars a year are spent on treatment, including doctors’ visits, prescriptions and over-the counter medications. Moreover, the cost of loss of work and productivity becomes difficult to measure. The International Headache Society has identified and classified nearly 130 types of headaches, including tension, cluster, sinus, and of course, migraine.

An often overlooked and misdiagnosed type of headache is a cervicogenic headache. Though the pain from this type is perceived in the head, the source comes from the structures of the neck, namely the muscles, tendons, bones and connective tissue. When these structures become irritated or inflamed, they can refer pain to the cranium. An indication that you may be experiencing a cervicogenic headache is pain that seems to originate along the base of the skull and extends into the head. A study conducted by researchers at the University of Maryland found a correlation between headache pain and muscle tension at the base of the neck. Their conclusions revealed that soft tissue tension and spasm in the neck contribute to head pain. Additionally, this soft tissue compromise can interfere with nerve fibers that lead to the brain and spinal cord.

Natural, drug-free treatment options are available, including chiropractic, acupuncture, craniosacral, regenerative injection therapy, and of course, nutritional management.

Headaches can diminish quality of life, so treatment is fundamental. If you are experiencing headache pain, use your head. Talk to your health care provider today and free yourself from the iron grip of pain.