We always ask new patients about headaches and are continually surprised by the response ‘oh, only normal headaches’.
Unfortunately for lots of us headaches have become a daily or weekly occurrence and so may seem normal, however headaches should not be accepted as just one of those things.
It is estimated that headaches cost the economy £4.4 billion each year and the NHS £250 million. There are over 100 different types of headaches with the most common being:
Cervicogenic headaches
Tension Type headaches
Migraine Headaches
Cluster Headaches
Sinus Headaches.
In some cases, headaches can be an indication of something serious and if you ever experience a headache with any of the below you should contact 999 immediately.
Paralysis or weakness in 1 or both arms or 1 side of the face.
Slurred or garbled speech.
A sudden agonising headache resulting in a severe pain unlike anything experienced before.
A headache along with a high temperature (fever), stiff neck, mental confusion, seizures, double vision, and a rash.
However, the good news is that the vast majority of headaches are not a medical emergency and particularly with cervicogenic headaches, we can look at a number of treatment options.
Cervicogenic means from the neck and this type of headache is often associated with tightness in the upper vertebrae (bones) of our neck and small muscles called sub occipitals which attach on to the base of our skull. When dealing with headaches we need to improve mobility in our necks; this can be done through chiropractic care and home-based rehabilitation. Another important thing is to reduce the stress we place on our necks through good posture particularly when sitting at the desk or scrolling on our phones. So, if you are struggling with headaches and no longer want to accept them as normal, then give us a call. We have also attached a video showing a great stretch for your spine to help reduce some of that desk-based tension
