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Headache Treatment in Ottawa

man touching temples Throbbing pain. A dull ache. Sudden pain or “brain freeze” after eating ice cream. Pain on the top of the head. As one of the most common pain conditions experienced worldwide, headaches can range from mildly uncomfortable to extremely debilitating.

These are the following categories of headaches, with the most common types of each:

Primary headaches

  • Migraines
  • Cluster
  • Tension-type
  • Trigeminal autonomic cephalalgia (TAC)

Secondary

  • Medication overuse
  • Neck or head injury
  • Many others

The most common ones that affect most people are tension-type headaches, migraines, medication overuse, and neck-related.

Offering Many Natural Approaches

Chiropractic manipulations have been found effective for treating migraines and headaches that arise from the neck. We see these types of headaches often after car accidents, concussions, and simply poor posture.

Physical therapy is effective for chronic headaches, tension-type ones, and after trauma or neck injuries.

Acupuncture has been one of our most effective tools for treating tension-type headaches.

A Patient Success Story

The success of any condition is heavily based on a proper assessment, as highlighted in the following story:

A new patient scheduled an appointment for multiple complaints, including chronic neck pain and new migraines. The patient eagerly requested that we focus on the headaches, because these were new and becoming increasingly severe. As part of our thorough assessment, we investigated the jaw junction. The neck, head and jaw are intimately related, so an evaluation for headaches should include mandibular function.

There were clear signs of teeth grinding, an asymmetrical bite, and anxiety. Our chiropractor carefully explained that even though the patient’s main complaint was headaches, we felt we needed to address the jaw first. The first treatment focused on the jaw, and a referral was made to their dentist for a mouthguard for teeth grinding.

Our treatment focused on the muscular tension of the jaw, the muscles of the neck, and some spinal manipulation. We discussed how anxiety often results in clenching or grinding while we sleep, making it difficult to control. We also discussed ergonomics and proper neck posture while studying.

Within two weeks, all the issues were resolved by addressing the primarily root cause of the problem. The patient had been chronically clenching and grinding their teeth until the point where migraines started to appear.

How long until patients typically notice relief from headaches?

As the above story depicts, diagnosis and expected recovery depend on the root cause of the problem.

Book an Appointment

If you’re seeking natural relief for your headaches, contact Ottawa Health: Performance and Rehabilitation today to schedule an appointment!

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Headache Treatment in Alta Vista, Ottawa ON | (613) 728-9414