As a headache sufferer isn’t it frustrating when you hear of people who rarely get headaches? You are not alone. There is a large group of people within the community where headaches are the ‘norm’. The first sign of stress, a lack of sleep, a missed meal, or simply too much socializing or sensory stimulation. Headache. Why does this happen? What can we do about it?
Naturally, we all process stress in different ways, and the outcome of this stress may present in different ways – normally within the body and unfortunately, there are a select few who get headaches.
In our experience, we have encountered a number of these patients and helped all of them too. We’ve come to learn that headaches can be multifactorial which allows us to put our detective hats on and find the problem and the solution. Headaches need to be targeted from every aspect and it is a team effort that is worth perusing. We see the results. The key is consistency.
What types of headaches are there?
The most prevalent type of headache is a tension-type headache. They can range from infrequent to chronic. The classic sign of a tension-type headache is when a patient describes their headache as if there is a vice-like band squeezing around their entire head which is not normally aggravated by movement and can last anywhere between a few hours and a few days. There may be some associated neck and shoulder stiffness or pain. Some of the risk factors and potential causes of tension-type headaches are generalized stress, lack of sleep, muscular tension, previous neck injury, postural imbalances, and depression.
The second type of headache is cervicogenic headache. These often go hand in hand with tension-type headaches and occur when the problem is originating from the neck and the head pain that’s happening is referred from the neck. This already means that the pain may be provoked by neck and head movements and instead of squeezing around the head it is more likely to be felt around the forehead, behind the eyes, and around the temples and ears and we cannot forget – neck pain. More often than not we find that these patients also experience tenderness of the muscles, joints, and ligaments of the neck and shoulders.
Migraine headaches: Need we say more? Migraines are known for how terrible and terrifying they can be. Despite the prevalence and the amount of research done on these types of headaches, the cause is still unknown. It is believed that instead of a migraine being a ‘headache’ per se, it is believed that it is a neurological disorder where abnormal nerve signals are triggered (by various things discussed below) resulting in a chemical release affecting blood vessels and localized inflammatory cells. The common picture of migraine would include the ‘prodrome’ symptoms such as dark spots in the visual field, pins, and needles, strange speech symptoms such as slurring or even intense fatigue, food cravings, and excessive thirst. And as quickly as these symptoms come, they go away and are followed by a sudden and intense headache. Migraines have a set of common triggers known to most – alcohol, chocolate, bananas, skipping meals, hormonal changes, stress, and less sleep or even bright lights and strong odors. Migraine headaches are characterized by a one-sided, throbbing headache that is moderate to severe, aggravated by movement, and is associated with nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to sound and light. Each person is an individual and the symptoms, prodrome, and triggers will differ from person to person.
Cluster headaches: This is another example of a terrible type of headache. They are the least common type and therefore lesser known but the people who get them know every detail because they are so stressful. These headaches come in cycles with severe short-lived headaches every single day which can last between weeks and months or even years at a time. The symptoms do not vary much between cases and are known by the severe drilling pain in the temple or behind the eye. It is short-lived (15 minutes to 2 hours) and is associated with a running nose, tearing eye, facial swelling, or a drooping eye. The cause is also not fully understood but is known to be triggered by stress, alcohol, nitrites in food (aged cheese), or allergies. This type of headache is extremely taxing and because of their severity and chronicity, they take a massive mental health toll on the person experiencing them as well as those around them which also needs to be addressed with treatment.
And finally, there are pathological headaches. These are the headaches that come secondary to other conditions such as head trauma, tumors, or even glaucoma and each condition would be managed according to the primary problem. Sinus headaches are included in this category which is a type of headache that sees incredible results when treated with Chiropractic. Rebound headaches are also lesser-known headaches that are so prevalent and so important to manage. This is when the body gets ‘addicted’ to painkiller medications (taken to relieve a headache) then the medication is not taken, a rebound headache is triggered, and more medication is taken to relieve it. The snowball effect takes place.
Headaches also do not need to be one or the other. When you suffer from one type of headache, you may be suffering from a combination. A good example is Katie. Katie suffered from headaches and migraines for most of her life. At 49 years old, she didn’t believe there could be a change. When she came to Chirolink after a friend begged her to give it a go, a new world opened to her. On most days, Katie would get a headache. Low-grade, constant, and nagging. On other days, the intensity could be a bit more and not quite as manageable and on occasional days (twice a month) they were severe and crippling migraines. She was truly grateful for pain-free days. After our assessment, it was easy to tell that Katie was experiencing cervicogenic and tension-type headaches with the occasional migraine. We get excited when patients like Katie come to our rooms because we know what a difference it can make in their lives! With the appropriate care and homework, Katie had relief for the first time in a very long time. She was consistent and prioritized her maintenance care and wow, did she see the results!
We understand the frustration of regular headaches. As much as it can become a ‘normal’ part of your daily life, it isn’t. We also understand the frustration of a once-off headache every few months that is difficult to break. Overall, headaches are difficult to live with no matter how mild. They lower your mood, your everyday resilience, and your happiness.
Don’t hesitate to book your appointment. Seek the help that you deserve and see the results. It does not have to be ‘normal’ anymore.