Rutland Chiropractic Effective for Cervicogenic Headache

We see a large number of individuals with headaches in our Rutland office, and Dr. Cyr has been able to support many of them. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 50% of all adults have difficulty with some sort of headache disorder, so this actually isn’t a surprise. One of the most common sorts of headaches that our patients are afflicted by is cervicogenic headache which, luckily, chiropractic can usually help.

What is a Cervicogenic Headache?

A cervicogenic headache is one that starts from problems in the cervical spine. It can easily be caused by a problem with either the spine itself (primarily, the vertebrae, joints, or discs), or it could be because of a problem in the muscles and tendons of your neck. This problem in your spine produces compression or irritation of the spinal nerves, which can give you headache pain.

How can you recognize if the headache you are feeling is a cervicogenic headache? Besides obtaining a diagnosis from a healthcare professional, a typical symptom of cervicogenic headaches is tenderness or pain 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 issue is inducing them is remedied, it is critical to get treatment as opposed to just trying to "wait it out." Chiropractic care is an effective approach, and one that offers a great deal of relief.

In one study released in Chiropractic & Osteopathy, experts followed 80 people who had repeated cervicogenic headaches. Half of them received chiropractic care and the other fifty percent engaged in light massage therapy. Each participant was evaluated 12 and 24 weeks after the treatment and it was discovered that chiropractic offered the best effects.

Specifically, this study noted that chiropractic adjustments gave patients greater pain relief and lessened the frequency of headaches that occurred. Moreover, it also diminished the disability that resulted from these painful headaches.

To find out what Dr. Cyr can do for you and your headache pain, call our office today. We'll do our best to get you the pain relief you deserve!

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/