Pinole Chiropractic Beats Massage for Cervicogenic Headaches

We see a lot of individuals with headaches in our Pinole office, and Dr. Jung has been able to assist many of them. Additionally, the World Health Organization (WHO) states that half of all adults have difficulties with some manner of headache problems, so this certainly isn’t unexpected. One of the most prevalent sorts of headaches that our patients have problems with is cervicogenic headache which, happily, chiropractic can usually help.

What is a Cervicogenic Headache?

A cervicogenic headache is one that starts from a problem in the cervical spine. It could be generated by an issue with either the spine itself (particularly, the vertebrae, joints, or discs), or it might be caused by a problem in the muscles and tendons of your neck. This problem in your spine can cause compaction or aggravation of the spinal nerves, which can bring on headache pain.

How do you tell if the headache you are feeling is a cervicogenic headache? Aside from being given a diagnosis from a healthcare professional, a frequent symptom of cervicogenic headaches is tenderness or pain in your neck. This is occasionally combined with pain in the back of your head or between your shoulder blades.

Chiropractic to the Rescue

Seeing that cervicogenic headaches will not go away until whatever problem is initiating them is corrected, it is vital to receive treatment as opposed to just trying to "wait it out." Chiropractic care is an effective solution, and one that can provide a great deal of relief.

In one study reported in Chiropractic & Osteopathy, researchers followed 80 people who had regular cervicogenic headaches. Half of them received chiropractic care and the other fifty percent engaged in light massage therapy. Each participant was examined 12 and 24 weeks after the treatment and it was discovered that chiropractic provided the most beneficial effects.

Specifically, this study revealed that chiropractic adjustments gave patients greater pain relief and diminished the frequency of headaches that occurred. In addition to that, it also diminished the disability that resulted from these painful headaches.

To find out what Dr. Jung can do for you and your headaches, call us today. We'll do our best to get you the pain relief you deserve!

References

• Haas M, Schneider M, Vavrek D. Illustrating risk difference and number needed to treat from a randomized controlled trial of spinal manipulation for cervicogenic headache. Chiropractic & Osteopathy 2010 18(9).
• World Health Organization. (2012, October). Headache disorders. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs277/en/