Headache & Migraine
Chronic headaches and migraines are the most common neurological problems experienced in Australia today and affect an estimated two million Australians. So if you are finding that everyday activities are almost impossible when debilitating headache pain strikes, it is time to take action!
At Your Health Hub, our Physiotherapists and Osteopaths work in conjunction with other practitioners in the team when treating patients with headache and migraine. Acupuncture, Dietician advice and guidance on avoiding food triggers, exercise Physiologists, Nutritionists and others are all ready to play a part in the holistic treatment plan tailored for each individual patient. Please call Your Health Hub on 03 6122 0150 to arrange an appointment and discover for yourself how an integrative treatment plan can help you.
The Most Common Causes of Headache Pain
Tension: These can arise from chronic stress or tension that causes the muscles in the shoulders and neck to tighten, constricting nerves and blood vessels or from forward head posture or poor workstation ergonomics. These are the most common cause of primary headache and patients often suffer from mood swings, concentration problems, and nausea.
Cluster: These usually affect one side of the head only. Pain can be intense around the temple and the eye on the affected side. Patients often experience a watering eye and nasal congestion.
Cervicogenic: These are characterised by a problem arising in the neck or shoulders. Like cluster Headaches, this type usually affects only one side of the head. Pain seems centred behind the eyeball and can be so intense that moving causes feelings of nausea and vomiting.
TMJ: These are due to a dysfunction of the TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) in the jaw. The cause could be a facial injury, but stress is often a factor as affected patients may clench or grind their teeth.
Migraines: These severe and debilitating bouts of pain can last for days. Patients often report pulsating pain, hypersensitivity to light and sound, nausea, sickness and visual disturbances.
How Can Your Health Hub Help?
Osteopathy is a very low risk, highly effective treatment for most causes of primary headaches. By reducing muscle tension and inflammation, restoring flexibility, range of movement and correct blood supply, pain is significantly reduced and the severity and frequency of future recurrences can be lessened.
Acupuncture can reduce the severity and duration of pain in patients with chronic headache and migraine. Studies have also shown that acupuncture may have benefits as a prophylactic in reducing the number and severity of attacks and associated symptoms (such as nausea) experienced by patients.
Physiotherapy can help patients to decrease or eliminate headache pain. We work with each patient to understand the cause of the problem and implement treatment protocols that include exercise such as clinical Pilates.
We can also offer other, self-management measures such as Mindfulness coaching to reduce stress levels and teaching how to improve posture and workplace ergonomics.
It is vital that headache patients get a correct diagnosis of the cause of their pain so that the right treatment can begin right away. At your initial assessment appointment, we will take a medical history, discuss your symptoms and the most likely causes of the problem. By performing a thorough, but non-invasive examination, we can identify which joints, muscles and other structures are affected, imbalanced or out of alignment. After this, we will agree on a holistic treatment plan aimed at returning you to optimal health as soon as possible.