Westernport osteopathy
Headaches, Migraines/ Vertigo
Osteopathy for Headaches and Migraines
We all know how draining a headache can be, especially when one strikes right before an important moment like an exam or sports match. Generally speaking there are plenty of ways to treat common headaches, like rehydrating with a glass of water, or taking ten minutes to lie down in a quiet room. But chronic headaches and migraines can be a symptom of an underlying cause, and we’re here to help alongside your other care team members in treating those symptoms.
What is the difference between a migraine and a headache?
While most of us will experience a headache from time to time, not all of us are so unlucky to experience a migraine. A headache simply refers to pains that occur in your head, be it pressure, a dull ache or a sharp pain. Headaches frequently occur in the forehead, temples or around the crown of the head depending on their cause. Common headache types include
Tension headaches. These are by far the most common type that we see and treat. Tension headaches are often caused by strained muscles, including eyestrain, stress or anxiety.
Sinus headaches. If you’ve ever had a blocked sinus or sinus infection, you may know this one well. Sinus headaches occur alongside sinus issue symptoms like a blocked nose, cough, congestion and facial pressure and can often be mistaken for a migraine.
Cluster headaches. These headaches occur usually in one area or side of the head and as the name suggests, tend to come in cycles of headache attacks, with small periods of relief between them.
Secondary causes. This is a wide range of causes for head pain including injury and medical conditions, and should always be ruled out first by your doctor.
Migraines are intense headaches that are frequently accompanied by other symptoms such as
- Sensitivity to lights and sounds
- Vomiting and nauseous
- Muscle aches like neck and shoulder pain
- Pain behind the eye or ears
Migraines are usually sorted into two categories: Migraine with aura, and migraine without aura. An “aura” refers to a particular sensation felt before a migraine attack begins, which varies greatly from person to person. A common aura is seeing flashing lights or unusual shapes, or having a strange heightening or dulling of the other senses.
Migraines can be triggered by a wide range of things, including some headache causes. These include
- A lack of sleep, or skipping meals
- Anxiety and stress
- Hormone changes
- Some forms of contraceptives
- Caffeine, Alcohol and other drugs
- A change in altitude or barometric pressure e.g Flying.
With so many underlying causes influencing both headaches and migraines, we may also refer you to a further specialist such as naturopath or pain management specialist, to better treat your symptoms and understand your needs.
How can osteopathy help with headaches or migraines?
In order to provide the best care possible, we may refer you to another health care practitioner if we believe further testing is required, or more serious medical concerns need to be addressed by another specialist. But for many, osteopathy is a positive way to treat symptoms from a whole-body perspective.
For example, your ongoing headache issues may be a reflection of your lifestyle as a whole. With investigation, we may find that your general day to day life is causing you headaches due to a range of causes such as dehydration, work stress and sitting in an office chair most of the day with curved shoulders, putting strain on your neck. By looking at your body as a whole, we are identifying causes as well as focusing on symptom relief. This is equally important for migraine sufferers, who need to understand their triggers in order to prevent further attacks.
From here, we can utilise a wide range of physical therapies to influence the body’s systems. This is likely to include manual osteopathic therapies, as well as other modalities such as dry needling and cupping. In the example above, this might look like focusing on releasing the tension in the shoulder and neck muscles, as well as examining and treating further down the spine.
Finally, it is essential that you feel empowered in your own ability to improve your wellbeing. We may suggest a range of interventions or exercises that can assist in your symptom management, such as a more ergonomic chair, or sit/stand arrangement for work. This may also include some relaxation techniques to assist in stress management.
Osteopathy for headaches and migraines on the Mornington Peninsula
If you are seeking a hands-on approach to headache and migraine management, or perhaps would like to reduce your reliance on pain-relief medication, our team is here to support you in achieving your goals and living a more pain-free lifestyle. If you’d like to learn more, contact us on (03) 5977 7342 or book online for your consultation today.
