Chronic Pain & Headaches

As healthcare providers, osteopaths are perfectly placed to treating people who suffer from many kinds of headaches. By correcting alignment and restoring mobility in the spine and joints, osteopathic treatment can decrease the muscular tension, increase blood flow and reduce nerve irritation, getting rid of the headaches for good.

Despite there being 200 types of headache known to medical professionals, the most common types are:

Tension headaches – these are often associated with stress and postural tension, affect both sides of your head, and are often likened to a feeling of tightness or pressure.

Migraines – these have many causes or triggers, one is referral from the upper neck. They tend to affect one side of your head and can also cause nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, visual disturbances and sensitivity to light or sound.

Cervicogenic headaches – these are also referred from the upper neck. They tend to occur on a daily basis at the back of the head near the top of your neck, and can sometimes cause pain around the eyes.

Many of the headaches people experience originate from tension, muscle stiffness or joint strain in the neck and upper thoracic region. And with other factors causing headaches, including eye strain, sinus congestion, whiplash, stress, poor posture, jaw imbalance and teeth grinding, hormone imbalances, blood pressure issues and allergies, it’s no surprise that they’re one of the most common medical complaints.

With many headaches occurring due to muscle tension and joint restriction, osteopathy can help relieve pain through gentle manipulation of the muscles and joints in your neck and spine, as well as other areas that might be contributing to the problem. These include the upper back, the shoulders and the tissues in your head.

Cranial Osteopathy or craniasacral therapy has also proven to be of immense benefit in such conditions.