Headaches & Migraines

Migraine is the most common form of headache, but not all headaches are migraines. The term “migraine” refers to a headache which is usually (but not always) on one side of the head. It is a headache that lasts from two to seventy-two hours, typically, and it is often associated with nausea and/or vomiting, sensitivity to light and/or sound. The character of the pain is typically a throbbing pain.

There are several categories of migraines: migraines that are preceded by a warning symptom, called an aura, are known as classic migraine or migraine with aura. Migraines that begin with pain and no warning are known as common migraine or migraine without aura.

Tension-type headache is the second most common headache type after migraine. They are often referred to as “hatband” headaches because they typically painful around the back of the head, the temples and forehead, as if a tight hat were in place. They tend to be pressure-like at onset and can last from hours to days. Tension-type headaches can co-exist with migraine, and one can transform or trigger the other. Tension-type headache is often responsive to chiropractic care, relaxation therapy and anti-inflammatories or muscle relaxants. It is a myth that tension-type headaches are less painful or less disabling than migraines.

Cervicogenic headache is referred pain (pain perceived as occurring in a part of the body other than its true source) perceived in the head from a source in the neck. Cervicogenic headache is a secondary headache, which means that it is caused by another illness or physical issue. In the case of cervicogenic headache, the cause is a disorder of the cervical spine and its component bone, disc and/or soft tissue elements. Numerous pain-sensitive structures exist in the cervical (upper neck) and occipital (back of head) regions. The junction of the skull and cervical vertebrae have regions that are pain generating, including the lining of the cervical spine, the joints, ligaments, cervical nerve roots and vertebral arteries passing through the cervical vertebral bodies.

This is a rare headache form that occurs in people between the ages of 40 and 80. It is unique in that it is a headache that occurs exclusively at night, typically lasting between 15 and 60 minutes. The headaches tend to occur at the same time each night tend to be global (not just on one side) and are not associated with runny nose, tearing or other “cluster” features. There are specific treatments for this kind of headache which does not typically respond to the usual headache medications.