Reach for a Chiropractor--Not Drugs--for Cervicogenic Headache

Many patients come to our Salem clinic suffering from headache without understanding the exact cause. Although the causes of headache are varied and complex, it is possible that your chronic headache stems from problems in the neck. Cervicogenic headaches are steady, non-throbbing headaches located at the base of the skull, with pain extending down the neck to the upper back, and sometimes above the eyes. Sometimes patients experienced related symptoms of cervicogenic dizziness. The name "cervicogenic" refers to the origin of the headache in the cervical spine, or the part of the spine within the neck. These headaches often develop after auto injuries or whiplash.

Addressing dysfunctions in the cervical spine is tantamount to recovery from cervicogenic headache. Chiropractic adjustments, gentle stretching, and exercise rehabilitation can correct these dysfunctions.

Medical studies suggest that chiropractic neck adjustments can relieve cervicogenic headache. One recent study compared the effectiveness of chiropractic adjustments to light massage in treating 80 patients with chronic cervicogenic headache. Chiropractic patients received high-velocity, low-amplitude spinal adjustments applied to the thoracic and cervical spine, like what we offer our Salem patients. The control group received light massage which consisted of gentle kneading in the neck and shoulder muscles.

The chiropractic group had significantly better results compared to the control group. By the end of the study, they had a 50% reduction in overall symptoms and a 33% drop in medication use.

Within the chiropractic group, half received eight spinal adjustments, while the other received 16 adjustments. Both groups experienced similar results, but the higher dose group did have a slight advantage when it came to improvements in disability. Still, all chiropractic patients experienced reductions in disability and pain.

Dr. Geary Michels is experienced in diagnosing and treating headache for patients in Salem, OR. Schedule an appointment with Michels Spinal Rehab and Associaties for headache relief today.

References

Haas M, Spegman A, Peterson D, Aickin M, Vavrek D. Dose response and efficacy of spinal manipulation for chronic cervicogenic headache: a pilot randomized controlled trial. The Spine Journal 2010; 10: 117-128.

Haas M, Spegman A, Peterson D, Aickin M, Vavrek D. Dose response and efficacy of spinal manipulation for chronic cervicogenic headache: a pilot randomized controlled trial. The Spine Journal 2010; 10: 117-128.