Ronkonkoma Chiropractic Beats Massage for Cervicogenic Headaches

We see a large number of individuals with headaches in our Ronkonkoma office, and Dr. Priolo has been able to provide relief for many of them. Indeed, the World Health Organization (WHO) states that 50 percent of all adults have difficulties with some type of headache problems, so this really isn’t surprising. One of the most prevalent kinds of headaches that our patients experience is cervicogenic headache which, luckily for us, chiropractic can generally help.

What is a Cervicogenic Headache?

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

How do you distinguish if the headache you are feeling is a cervicogenic headache? Aside from being given a diagnosis from a healthcare specialist, a typical symptom of cervicogenic headaches is tenderness or discomfort in your neck. This is occasionally combined with pain in the back of your head or between your shoulder blades.

How Chiropractic Helps

Because cervicogenic headaches will not go away until whatever issue is initiating them is remedied, it is critical to receive treatment rather than just trying to "wait it out." Chiropractic care is an effective solution, and one that can provide a great deal of headache pain relief.

In one study reported in Chiropractic & Osteopathy, experts followed 80 people who had recurrent cervicogenic headaches. Fifty percent received chiropractic care and the other half engaged in light massage therapy. Each participant was evaluated 12 and 24 weeks after the treatment and it was found that chiropractic offered the optimum outcomes.

In particular, this study revealed that chiropractic adjustments provided patients enhanced pain relief and reduced the number of headaches that occurred. What's more, it also lessened the disability that resulted from these painful headaches.

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

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/