Headaches & Migraines
Headache disorders are painful and disabling. They can cause substantial personal suffering, impaired quality of life and high financial cost. Repeated headache attacks – and often the constant fear of the next one – can affect family life, social life and employment. Despite this, many people – including many health care professionals – tend to perceive headache as a minor or trivial complaint. As a result, the physical, emotional, social and economic burdens of headaches are poorly acknowledged.
The World Health Organization: “How common are headaches?“
11 February 2014 | Q&A
TYPES OF HEADACHES
Migraine Headache
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 Headache
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.
Posttraumatic Headache
Contrary to popular belief, a cluster headache is not simple a collection of headaches that come in a bunch together. A cluster headache is a type of headache which is relatively short-lived (compared with migraine) lasting usually between 20 minutes and two hours. It is always one-sided and is associated with symptoms such as a stuffy nose on one side, tearing, an enlarged pupil, or a droopy lid.
The headaches tend to occur several to many times a day for a period of days to weeks, and then disappear for a variable amount of time, usually weeks to months. Treatments for cluster differ significantly from treatments for other headache types. Clusters are, by reputation, some of the most painful headaches imaginable. It is important to have a treatment plan in place before a cluster begins.
Cervicogenic Headache
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.
Hypnic Headache
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.
Cluster Headache
Nearly 1.7 million traumatic brain injuries (TBI) occur every year in the US, and they have a significant impact on the lives of patients and their families. Headache is the most common complaint, and it can occur after mild, moderate or severe injury.
Post-traumatic headache (PTH) is defined by the International Headache Society as: “a headache developing within seven days of the injury or after regaining consciousness.” Different types of headache have been described, but the most common headache resembles migraine (moderate to severe in intensity, pulsating, associated nausea/vomiting or light/sound sensitivity, worsened with routine activity), and tension-type headache (mild to moderate in intensity, non-pulsating headache with either light or sound sensitivity but no nausea or vomiting).PTH is commonly associated with many symptoms including dizziness, insomnia, poor concentration, memory problems, sensitivity to noise or bright lights, fatigue as well as mood and personality changes like depression and nervousness4,5.
Headache Sufferers Experience A Loss of Life Satisfaction
In study after study, chronic headache suffers report a loss of life satisfaction and quality of life. From missing out on life’s important events, to chronic disability, to not feeling like the person they once were. This results in discontent and unhappiness for not only themselves, but their family members as well.
…But There is HOPE!
We have helped hundreds of headache sufferers regain their life!
Our unique approach to helping headache sufferers obtain relief, correct the root cause of their headaches, and live a life of health and vitality has helped hundreds of patients in the Upstate.
Don’t Just Take Our Word For It. Check Out What Our Patients Have to Say.
What People Are Saying…
I was taking 12 Advil tablets per day every day to manage my pain. I was suffering from chronic migraines, IBS, and a complete lack of energy. Someone referred me to Dr. Lewis. I was hesitant, but decided I had nothing to lose. I was put at ease with the friendly staff and Dr. Lewis explained everything to me. After the unique approach of incorporating chiropractic care and nutrition, I have seen great results! I now have not taken any medications in over a month, I feel great! I have lost 13 pounds so far after completing the Ultimate Body Cleanse and now have a ton of energy! Going to Dr. Lewis has been one of the best decisions I have every made!
OUR PROCESS TO CORRECTING THE CAUSE OF YOUR HEADACHES AND RESTORING HEALTH
Consultation
The first step in our process to restoring your health is to complete a comprehensive consultation of your health concern. We will discuss your health problems, how they are effecting you, previous treatments, and discover what your health goals are. Whether you want to run a 5k, get back on the golf course, focus at work so you can get that big promotion, or be the focused mom that you have always wanted to be…without pain holding you back; we will ensure our treatment is centered on the goals that are important to you.
36-Point Examination
The next step in our process is to conduct a thorough physical, orthopedic, and neurologic examination to determine the cause of your health concern. Our desire is to know exactly what is causing the problem so we can correct it and get you back to doing what you love. These tests may include:
- Specific Instrumentation and Visualization
- Static and Motion Palpation
- Digital Postural Analyses
- Computerized Range of Motion Assessments
- BioImpedance Analysis
- Orthopedic Testing
- Neurologic Testing
SPECIALIZED
Digital Motion Study X-rays
The third step in our evaluation will be to perform highly specialized digital motion study X-rays, if our examination determines necessity. These specialized X-rays will show us what is working for you and what is not working correctly for you. This allows us to focusing in on exactly what is causing your problem so that we can provide a lasting correction of the cause.
Comprehensive Treatment Plan
The final step will be for us to sit down and formulate a plan, together, focused on restoring you to the life you want to live. Once formulated, we will enact this plan to get you back on track. Your health goals and your results are what drive our passion. We want you to be “Happy, Healthy, and Living the Life You Want to Live.”
“You Deserve to Be Happy, Health, and to Live the Life You Want to Live.”
-Dr. Kevin P. Lewis
DON’T SPEND ONE MORE DAY IN PAIN THAN YOU HAVE TO. CALL US TODAY!
Scientific Sources:
- https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-conditions/brain-and-nerves/headache/types.html
- https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/post-traumatic-headache/#:~:text=Post%2Dtraumatic%20headache%20(PTH),to%20severe%20in%20intensity%2C%20pulsating%2C
- https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/cervicogenic-headache/
