Struggling with Headaches in Mt Pleasant SC?

Headaches are not fun, and migraines are another level of awful. Living with either of these issues can make you feel grumpy, and in the worst-case scenario, leave you unable to function. Medication may help in the short term, but when the problem is ongoing or re-occurring, pills are generally not enough. The source of your headaches and migraines is usually structural, and therefore proper treatment can help you overcome this debilitating issue. Headache relief at our Mt Pleasant SC chiropractic clinic may be the solution you are looking for.

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Headaches and Migraines in Mt Pleasant SC

Whether you are dealing with a persistent ache in your head, or the worst symptoms associated with migraines, including light and noise intolerance, nausea, vomiting, hallucinations, depression, and irritation the cause may be a structural issue. When the spine moves out of position because of developmental issues, trauma, repetitive stress, and other incidents, it can put pressure on the surrounding nerves. When the nerves are compressed or irritated, they send a message to the muscles of the back, neck, and jaw to tighten.

This tightness can lead directly to an acute headache or migraine. Over time the tightness can also pull your bones out of alignment leading to more persistent headaches and migraines. A headache or migraine can be a sign that there are deeper problems arising in your spinal column, and because every other system in your body is impacted by your spinal health, it is very important to deal with these issues when the signs begin to arise. Some different kind of headaches one could encounter include:

• Cluster Headache: A headache on one side of the head that is stabbing in nature and can be accompanied with Horner’s syndrome
• Tension Headache: Bilateral headache lasting from 30 minutes to 7 days which are not induced by activity
• Cervicogenic Headache: Posterior cervical and suboccipital musculature causing a headache. Typically presents with the pain and discomfort from the back of the head traveling to the front
• Migraine: Pulsating headache that lasts about 4-72 hours initiated by activity. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, photo-phonophobia (sensitivity to light and sound)
• Sinus: Acute sinusitis can be triggered by a cold or allergies and may resolve on its own

All types of headaches are treated slightly differently depending on the type. Typically, acupuncture treatment and various physical therapy and chiropractic manual treatment such as myofascial release, trigger point release, cervical traction, stretching, and joint manipulations will improve the overall severity of the headache.

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Common Causes of Headaches

Pinched Nerves:
Cervical spondylosis is also called cervical osteoarthritis. It is a condition involving changes to the bones, discs, and joints of the neck. These changes are caused by the normal wear-and-tear of aging. With age, the discs of the cervical spine gradually break down, lose fluid, and become stiffer. Improving fluidity and motion of the joint, strength around the affected areas, and relaxing muscle will improve pain associated with osteoarthritis of the neck.

Concussions:
Concussions are typically caused by a hit to the head or rapid movements of the head such as whiplash. Some common symptoms are memory loss or deficit, headaches, an increase in anxiety, irritability, vertigo, sensitivity to light, and the inability to focus on specific tasks. Concussions require a specific protocol to allow for appropriate brain healing and should be monitored and tracked, specifically in people who have not fully completed puberty, to allow for full recovery. A specific return to sport protocol needs to be followed to reduce the risk of recurring concussion for athletes.

Dizziness (Vertigo):
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common cause of dizziness and vertigo. This is characterized by short episodes of dizziness, nausea, double vision which is triggered by head movement. Dizziness may also be as a result of poor vision. Specific maneuvers such as Epply’s may be useful to reduce vertigo and dizziness.

Balance Disorders:
Balance disorders are from three different causes such as vision, vestibular, and somatosensory, which is your body’s ability to know where it is in space. Physical therapy to improve one or multiple of these areas is integral for improving balance and to reduce the risk of falls. Also, improving strength and coordination will improve a person’s ability to catch themselves if they are falling.

Jaw Pain (TMJ):
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder describes a complex group of muscular and articular disorders affecting the jaw. Most common causes include muscular or related to the joint and disc between the joint. If the jaw has clicking associated with movement it is typically related to a disc issue between the joint. Other triggers include bruxism, clenching, postural abnormalities such as a forward head posture. ⅓ of patients involved in a whiplash injury develop TMD. Treatment both intra-orally and extra-orally will help to improve pain with opening, talking, and chewing as well as annoying clicking or popping associated with mouth movements.

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Chiropractic Treatment for Headaches and Migraines

Chiropractic care has a long history of successfully treating headaches and migraines. Chiropractors in Mt Pleasant SC have an extensive understanding of subtle issues occurring in the spine which, due to its connection with the nervous system, is very often the source of pain. A chiropractic treatment starts with a thorough evaluation that will rule out other possible causes of your headache and examine your spine for issues of misalignment.

The assessment will determine the exact type of treatment that is necessary for the specific issue at the root of the pain. Using gentle and non-invasive techniques a chiropractor is able to achieve adjustments to the spine that, although they may seem subtle, can provide almost instant relief and restore your long-term health. Unlike medications that treat the problem on the surface level and provide only short-term relief, a chiropractic adjustment will address the cause of your headache or migraine and provide lasting results that will improve your quality of life.

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WHAT TO DO NEXT…

If you’re currently experiencing any of these symptoms and would like to learn more about how we can help, My Chiro iQ Chiropractic happily welcomes you for a complimentary consultation with Dr. Ross to determine what will be the best course of action for you. After an examination, he can provide an individualized approach to the root of the problem.

Call for your appointment today! (843) 766-4444