Headaches and migraines are painful and can affect your everyday activities. No matter where you’re at in life, they can appear seemingly out of nowhere or, in some cases, result from known factors like your family history or an injury. Unfortunately, headaches can also severely impair your ability to focus and function. On top of this, symptoms such as light and sound sensitivity can make everyday environments unbearable.
The good news is that head-related pain is manageable and treatable with care like chiropractic, so you can get back to feeling like yourself again.
Dr. Amy Brown, a chiropractor practising at Langs Chiropractic and Coronation Chiropractic, Massage, & Physiotherapy in Cambridge, Ontario has noticed an increase in office workers experiencing head-related pain over the last few years. She believes this could be related to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced many workers to set up a makeshift office in their home and sit for longer periods behind the computer.
To stay healthy and comfortable while working from home or at the office, it’s important to take note of your setup and regular breaks away from your desk, and to listen to your body. With help from experienced health care professionals like Dr. Brown, you can get relief from headache discomfort and strain that comes from long hours spent sitting at your desk.
What to Expect When Getting Help from a Chiropractor for Headaches and Migraines
As part of the diagnostic or assessment process, your chiropractor will ask questions and perform tests to better understand your current health, as well as your spine, muscles, joints, and related nervous system issues. They may also order X-rays or refer you to your family doctor or nurse practitioner for diagnostic tests to assess your condition.
For headaches specifically, they’ll also conduct a thorough health exam, including a physical health assessment and neurological testing. It’s crucial for your chiropractor to decide if you need additional care from other health care professionals as part of your overall treatment plan. That’s why it’s important to be honest and provide all the information you can when meeting with your chiropractor. Even seemingly insignificant details can be important. This approach ensures you receive the proper treatment and care to help you feel your best.
Your treatment plan may include hands-on manual therapy, trigger point therapy, and soft tissue treatment. It will often also include at-home therapeutic exercises to help relieve tension related to your pain, such as stretches to relieve tight muscles, home-management strategies (like using hot and cold compresses and advice for the most effective ergonomics setup), and strengthening exercises.
A Holistic Approach to Care
Chiropractic care can be a great option if you’re suffering from headaches and migraines. It’s been found effective at alleviating and even eliminating these symptoms, reducing inflammation, improving your range of motion, and restoring function. By using gentle, non-invasive manipulation of the spine and other joints to correct misalignments, chiropractors can help reduce tension in your neck and spine, which can be a major source of headaches.
Remember, when it comes to dealing with head-related pain, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. It’s often due to a variety of reasons and requires several approaches from different health care professionals. That’s why a chiropractor considers various lifestyle modifications, such as diet, exercise, stretching and stress management to help relieve symptoms and prevent future headaches.
Combining chiropractic care with other treatments, such as registered massage therapy and acupuncture at the advice of your chiropractor may also help ease chronic headaches and acute episodes. This type of holistic approach can help you regain your strength, mobility, and quality of life.
Contact Your Local Chiropractor for Help
If you can relate to this but are not ready to reach out for help, look at your office setup and the environment you spent most of you time in. Make sure it’s not causing you issues. Also try to move more and take short breaks throughout your day.
If this doesn’t work, consult your family doctor or nurse practitioner to rule out any serious causes and consider visiting your local chiropractor to help reduce the frequency or severity of your headaches.
A chiropractor is qualified to assess and diagnose your spine, muscles, joints, and related nerve conditions. They’ll provide you with a treatment plan, which will likely include manual therapy, at-home therapeutic exercises, and strength training to help you get through long days confidently and as pain-free as possible.
To find a chiropractor near you, use the chiropractor locator on our website. In Ontario, you can visit a chiropractor without a referral from a doctor, nurse practitioner or other health care professional.
(This article was developed in consultation with Dr. Amy Brown, practising at Langs Chiropractic and Coronation Chiropractic, Massage, & Physiotherapy in Cambridge, Ontario)