Dry Needling for headaches is safe very effective

Before we can discuss a headache treatment we need to understand the type of headache you are experiencing.

There are many different causes and types of headaches. The headaches we treat can be categorized simply as musculoskeletal and/or chemical in nature.

The most common type that we see is the musculoskeletal headache, which involves tightness, weakness, and improper joint motion of the neck that causes symptoms at the base, sides, or front of the skull.

A chemical headache is caused by abnormal chemistry in the body and can be related to hormones, food allergies, blood sugar, or many other factors.

How many different headache treatments does Advanced Healthcare & Sports Injury offer?

At AHSI, we are able to the determine the causes of most headaches. The classification of these headaches are:

• tension headache
• cluster headache
• cervicogenic headache
• migraine headache

The signs and symptoms of these are varied and are determined by the Doctor. Also, there is the very rare possibility of a pathologic headache, which involves a disease process that could be potentially life threatening. Our chiropractors are trained to identify if this is a possibility and refer to the appropriate healthcare professional.

Is each headache treated differently?

The causes of each person’s headaches are quite varied; thus, our headache treatment must adapt to the specific cause(s). In general, our treatment protocols for headaches will involve utilizing Dry Needling, MMT or IASTM to relax tight or injured tissues, exercises to strengthen weak muscles, adjustments to improve motion of stiff joints, and patient education to decrease likelihood of reoccurrence. Also, if there are chemical triggers (food allergies, nutrient deficiencies, etc) those must be addressed, as well.

What happens during migraine headache treatments?

Patients often carry the incorrect diagnosis of migraine headaches. There are a specific set of criteria that must be met for the correct diagnosis of migraine to be made.

A high percentage of migraine sufferers also have tension of the jaw muscles, often referred to as “TMJ.” Simply put, we strive to relax tight muscles, adjust stiff or injured joints, and strengthen weak areas for long lasting results.

What happens during cluster headache treatments?

Cluster headaches can be very painful and involve brief attacks of sudden, severe pain usually on one side of the head. In addition to the above treatments, modification of dietary patterns is used most often used for this condition.

Is a sinus headache treatment different than a regular headache treatment?

A “regular headache” is most often referring to a tension headache, which is usually the result of excessive muscle tightness in key areas, stiff joints, and poor posture.

A sinus headache results from excessive pressure in the sinuses and is often correlated to allergy problems. There is usually some contribution of muscle/joint tightness that is helpful in relieving some discomfort. However, nutritional and allergy concerns must also be addressed.

How long does it take to get well?

It varies based on the complexity of the problem. However, we typically expect lasting, noticeable improvement within 2 weeks of beginning care, although results often occurs faster.