Headaches are a common health complaint, with over nine out of 10 people experiencing them at some point in their lives. There are many possible causes of headaches, including tension, sinus issues, eyestrain, and even certain foods. While over-the-counter pain medications can provide temporary relief, they do not address the root cause of the headache.
A chiropractor is trained to identify and treat the underlying cause of headaches using various safe and effective techniques. By focusing on the whole body, a chiropractor can help provide long-term relief and prevent future headaches from occurring. Chiropractic care can help you feel better and live a more healthy life. In addition, chiropractic care can help keep you from taking drugs or pain medications that may have unpleasant side effects.
$79 New Patient Special
- 1-on-1 Consultation
- Neurological Exam
- Comprehensive Movement Analysis
- Computerized Postural Assessment
- Digital X-rays (if necessary)
- AND Detailed Doctor’s Report of Findings
How Our Headache Relief Plan Works
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Create a lifestyle that allows your body to heal so you are empowered to be free from health problems and connect with your joy.
How We Treat Headaches in Boulder, CO
Comprehensive Consultation and Exam
A chiropractor will begin by conducting a comprehensive consultation and exam of your lower back, neck, and head. By performing physical tests and asking questions about the severity, frequency, location, and duration of the headache, a chiropractor can determine if chiropractic care is right for you.
There are over 150 different types of headaches. Determining which headache you are suffering from will define the appropriate steps for care.
Specific Chiropractic Care In Boulder, CO
After your chiropractor has done a comprehensive examination to determine the cause of your headaches, they can develop a specific plan to treat the cause of your headaches. This will be tailored to you and will target areas that may be contributing to the pain. Many headaches are caused by cervical subluxation – spinal misalignments in the neck. These misalignments can disrupt proper muscle balance and function as well as interrupt nerve flow, scrambling communication between the brain and body.
Chiropractic adjustments correct these misalignments to restore proper nerve flow and muscle function, relieving muscle tension.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is one of the most effective non-invasive treatments and can help relieve tension and soreness throughout your entire body. It decreases headaches’ severity by reducing muscle tension in the neck, shoulders, back, and face and improving circulation to accelerate healing. Massage therapy also relieves pain, improves flexibility and range of motion, and helps promote relaxation relieving another cause of headaches, stress.
Custom Therapeutic Exercise Plan
Chiropractors may use various exercises to help you improve your condition and reduce pain. These exercises are customized to you and can help strengthen your neck and back muscles, relieving tension throughout the body.
By improving the function of these muscles, you can continue to feel better long after the massage has ended. In addition, exercises improve your range of motion, relieve soreness, and increase flexibility.
Spinal Decompression
Chiropractors often recommend spinal decompression to help relieve pressure on the nervous system by restoring proper alignment of the vertebrae. This therapy can be used for acute and chronic conditions, helping you feel better faster and preventing headaches from returning.
This non-invasive, non-surgical treatment involves simple equipment to relieve pressure on the spinal discs. This reduces pain and nerve irritation, rehydrating the discs and giving them a chance to heal. Patients can quickly see results in as little as one session and go home immediately, so there’s no interruption in work, school, or other daily activities.
Deep Tissue Laser
In addition to massage and exercise therapy, chiropractors use deep-tissue laser therapy to treat muscle spasms, pain, and stiffness throughout the body. Laser therapy helps to reduce pain and tension throughout the entire body and can help relieve you from headaches over time. Its greatest asset is stimulating healing at the cellular level to aid the nervous system in restoring balance and function to the body.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an alternative medicine that uses tiny needles to stimulate the body’s natural energy flow to relieve pain and discomfort in various areas within the body.
Many chiropractors use acupuncture as part of their treatment plan for headaches, back pain, neck pain, and other conditions. Acupuncture can reduce pain by stimulating specific points in the body to help treat your condition.
Nutritional Supplementation
Our diet plays a significant role in headaches and headache relief. We will often recommend dietary changes that help support your overall health. A diet high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory foods helps reduce stress and lessen the effects of headaches throughout the entire body. These include red beans, cucumber, garlic, black tea, and dark chocolate. Reducing inflammation, especially through natural means like diet, is an excellent way to relieve headaches and prevent future flare-ups.
Digital X-rays
Your chiropractor may recommend digital X-rays to rule out more serious causes of headaches, such as structural issues within the head. X-rays may allow your chiropractor to identify spinal misalignments, bone spurs, and other causes of headaches that require more intensive treatment.
Your chiropractor will use X-rays to determine what kind of treatment will be most effective. By addressing the cause of your headache rather than just the pain, chiropractic care can provide more effective long-term results than traditional medical care.
Common Types of Headaches in Boulder, CO
Tension Headache
Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. They tend to occur in the neck and scalp. They can be caused by stress, overuse of muscles, and neck strain. Symptoms include a dull headache with stabbing pain on one side of the head. Relieving muscle tension and restoring balance to the musculoskeletal system helps relieve tension headaches and prevent them from returning.
Migraine
Migraines are debilitating headaches typically associated with nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, sound, and smell. Many migraine sufferers experience an aura or visual disturbances before a migraine attack. Headaches typically accompany light sensitivity, but the pain can range from mild to excruciating.
Cluster Headache
Cluster headaches are among the most painful. These headaches occur at the front of the face and behind the eye. They occur in clusters, lasting anywhere from 15 minutes to three hours at a time over six to eight weeks. A patient will typically have between one and three attacks daily during a cluster headache period.
Sinus Headache
Sinus headaches are headaches that occur from sinus pressure or nasal congestion. They may include symptoms such as pain, tenderness, and swelling of the face, sinuses, or throat. Sinus headaches typically cause less pain than migraine headaches but can last several days.
Cervicogenic Headache
Muscle tension or subluxation in the neck causes cervicogenic headaches. They are typically accompanied by neck stiffness, pain on one side of the head, and ear pain. Cervicogenic headaches can be caused by something as simple as sleeping with your head turned in an awkward position. This can easily be corrected with a cervical chiropractic adjustment.
Concussion Headache
Headaches are often the result of a concussion, a mild traumatic brain injury where the brain bounces around the skull. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, sound, or noise. The headaches can range from mild to severe, with pain that is felt on one side of the head and forehead. Also, you may notice that your vision is blurry, or you see stars or flashing lights.
Pregnancy Headache
Headaches that happen during pregnancy can range from mild to severe. The pain can occur anywhere in the head and face but is typically worse on one side. One or both sides of the head may be affected, which may cause visual changes.
Whiplash Headache
A whiplash headache is often the result of a whiplash injury. These injuries are common during a car accident or among athletes when the neck snaps backward and forward in a violent, rapid motion. Symptoms include a dull but intense pain on one side of the head. You may also notice pain or tenderness around your ears and jaw. Also, the pain may radiate up the back of your neck. A whiplash injury may also damage spinal structure requiring the care of a chiropractor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a chiropractor good for headaches?
Chiropractors are excellent at diagnosing and treating headaches. Much of their work involves identifying the underlying cause of the headache for long-term headache relief.
When should you see a chiropractor for headaches?
Headaches are common, but they are not normal. It is our body warning us of a deeper problem. Chiropractors can help pinpoint the underlying cause and address that for long-term relief rather than continually chasing symptoms.
Is a massage or chiropractic better for headaches?
Research has shown that patients who receive both massage and chiropractic care have the most favorable outcomes. This is especially true if your headaches are the result of muscle tension. In addition, research has shown that relaxation techniques can significantly reduce pain, even without a spinal adjustment.
Do medical doctors recommend chiropractors for headaches?
In many cases, medical doctors will recommend a chiropractor for their patients. Conventional medical treatment involves painkillers and muscle relaxers. These methods may temporarily relieve pain symptoms, but chiropractors can address the structural issues that are the source of your headaches. Structural problems require structural solutions.
How can I relieve my headaches?
Until you have experienced a chiropractic adjustment, you should avoid strenuous activity and heavy lifting. You should also maintain a healthy diet, take relaxation breaks, and release any tension in the neck and shoulders.
Is chiropractic effective for migraines?
Chiropractic can help relieve the symptoms of migraines. A chiropractor can adjust your spine and balance energy flow through your nervous system. Chiropractic care can increase circulation in the areas of the head that cause migraines, which can reduce inflammation and pain caused by migraines. In addition, chiropractic care can help reduce the likelihood of a migraine attack.
What is a natural way to relieve tension headaches?
Research has shown that a natural way to relieve tension headaches is to use a relaxation technique, like progressive muscle relaxation. The technique involves tensing specific muscles for five seconds and then relaxing them for twenty seconds. The exercise should be performed for ten minutes, which may help relieve headaches faster than other treatments.
Medical doctors and providers often recommend chiropractors because they have tried-and-true methods to reduce the frequency and intensity of chronic pain disorders such as migraines, whiplash headaches, and tension headaches. Headaches may be relieved with basic over-the-counter pain medication, but these medications often leave the patient with additional side effects. The best medicine for a headache is natural chiropractic care.
$79 New Patient Special
Includes 1-on-1 Consultation, Neurological Exam, Comprehensive Movement Analysis, Computerized Postural Assessment, Digital X-rays (if necessary), and Detailed Doctor’s Report of Findings.