Each year thousands of Martin County residents are involved in car accidents. Here are 3 reasons to choose chiropractic care after a car accident. Some car accidents cause minor damage while others cause major damage. The severity of the damage to vehicles and the severity of the injuries vary. Did you know that the vehicle […]
Offering Veterans Treatment for PTSD
Find veterans treatment for PTSD at Advanced Wellness Solutions.
Dr. Heather J. Walden, Licensed Acupuncture Physician is accepting new patients.
Call (772) 403-7640 to schedule your appointment.
Veterans seeking treatment for PTSD should know that acupuncture can treat PTSD symptoms of depression and pain as well as improving physical and mental health functioning. Acupuncture can also significantly improve sleep quality which in turn improves physical and mental health.
What is PTSD?
PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) can occur after a traumatic (extremely stressful) event. It is common to suffer stress after surviving traumatic events such as combat, being assaulted or even being in a car accident. However, if your stressful reactions don’t subside over time or are impacting how you live your life, you may have PTSD.
Experiencing trauma doesn’t mean you’ll develop PTSD. While about 8% of the general population will experience PTSD, the incidence for veterans is much higher. A public health study of PTSD in Iraq and Afghanistan veterans showed 15.7% of OEF/OIF deployed Veterans screened positive for PTSD compared to 10.9% of non-deployed Veterans.1 It is estimated that 30% of Vietnam Veterans have had PTSD in their lifetime.2
PTSD symptoms
There are four main types of PTSD symptoms:3
- intrusive memories
- avoidance
- negative changes in thinking and mood
- changes in physical and emotional reactions.
Behavioral symptoms of PTSD include agitation, irritability, hostility, hypervigilance, self-destructive behavior, or social isolation. The psychological symptoms of PTSD include flashback, fear, severe anxiety, or mistrust.
PTSD also causes negative mood changes such as a loss of interest or pleasure in activities, guilt, or loneliness. Sleep disturbances including insomnia or nightmares are also common in people suffering from PTSD.
Talk to your doctor or a mental health professional if you or a loved one:
- have had disturbing thoughts and/or feelings about a traumatic event for more than a month
- if these thoughts and/or feelings are extreme or severe,
- feel you (or they) are losing control of your/their life.
Early treatment can help prevent PTSD symptoms from getting worse.
PTSD comorbidities
PTSD often presents simultaneously with other mental health conditions. Depression is the most common comorbidity of PTSD in veterans. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is nearly three to five times more likely to emerge in those with PTSD than those without PTSD.4 Other common comorbidities of PTSD in military veterans include anxiety and substance abuse or dependence. 5
Veterans Treatment for PTSD
Veterans Treatment for PTSDOne of the most frequently reported symptoms of PTSD among OEF/OIF veterans returning from deployment is sleep disturbances. 6 Sleep plays an incredibly important role in physical and mental health. See Sleep Helps you Heal for more information.
While it is important for everyone to find drug free ways to get essential healthy sleep, it’s even more so in veterans suffering from PTSD.
Acupuncture has been commonly used to treat insomnia in China for thousands of years. Dozens of randomized control trials show that acupuncture improves sleep quality. In these studies, acupuncture was superior to medications regarding the number of patients with total sleep duration. In addition, acupuncture plus medications showed better effect than medications alone on total sleep duration. Also, acupuncture plus herbs were significantly better than herbs alone on increase of sleep rates. 7
According to Chinese medicine, there are 2,000 meridian acupuncture points on the body. These points connect the body’s meridians or energetic pathways. Acupuncture is the practice of inserting very fine, sterile needles into specific points to facilitate natural healing.
Dr. Heather J. Walden, Licensed Acupuncture Physician is accepting new patients.
Call (772) 403-7640 to schedule your appointment.
Benefits of Acupuncture for Mental Health
Benefits of Acupuncture for Mental HealthAcupuncture has shown potential benefit in a wide range of mental health disorders including anxiety disorders and substance abuse disorders. While western medicine still can’t determine why acupuncture works, there is growing clinical evidence to support the use of acupuncture for a variety of mental health disorders.
In 2014, Charles C Engel et. al. ran a well-designed randomized controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of using acupuncture for PTSD in conjunction with usual PTSD care compared to usual PTSD care alone.
The following is taken from Complementary and Alternative Medicine Approaches in the Treatment of PTSD by Gary H. Wynn
Acupuncturists in the study delivered a standardized treatment during the first four sessions to facilitate clearing of trauma, calming the spirit, and balancing the Qi. For the remaining four sessions, the acupuncturist was allowed to adjust the treatment based on clinical findings. Both groups were followed for 12 weeks.
At 12 weeks, the acupuncture treatment group showed significantly greater improvements in PTSD symptoms as well as improvements on ratings of depression, pain, and physical and mental health functioning.
In the study abstract,8
Mean improvement in PTSD severity was significantly greater among those receiving acupuncture than in those receiving UPC. Pre-post effect-sizes for these outcomes were large and robust.
Without treatment, PTSD symptoms usually get worse instead of better. If you suspect you or a loved on is suffering from PTSD, please seek treatment.
Dr. Heather Walden is a retired U.S. Naval Officer as well as a Licensed Acupuncture Physician. She is passionate about restoring health and wellbeing to fellow veterans and their families.
Read Dr. Heather’s special report on the 3 things that have finally been acknowledged to help PTSD.
Dr. Heather J. Walden, Licensed Acupuncture Physician is accepting new patients.
Call (772) 403-7640 to schedule your appointment.
Acupuncture for Pain Relief
Using acupuncture for pain relief is an effective drug free treatment option.
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine have been treating pain and illness for thousands of years. Many studies have been performed to measure the effectiveness of acupuncture. Researchers with the Acupuncture Trialists’ Collaboration compiled the raw data from trials where the main outcome measures were pain and function. The results from these studies concluded that acupuncture is an effective method of treating chronic pain. They concluded that 1
- acupuncture is effective for the treatment of chronic pain
- that the effects of acupuncture persist for up to 12 months,
- and that the benefits of acupuncture cannot be explained away solely by the placebo effect.
The report itself 2 states:
Acupuncture is effective for the treatment of chronic musculoskeletal, headache, and osteoarthritis pain.
Acupuncture for Pain Relief
Acupuncture for Pain ReliefAcupuncture involves the insertion of sterile, fine needles into specific spots to stimulate the body to heal itself. There are 2,000 acupuncture points according to Traditional Chinese medicine. These points are connected by meridians or energetic pathways. Energy or Qi (pronounced “chee” which means vital energy), flows through the body using these pathways.
In a healthy body, Qi (vital energy) flows freely. Pain, lack of function, or illness are signs that Qi has been disrupted.
By stimulating specific points on the body, Dr. Heather can help to restore healthy function to the body.
Dr. Heather J. Walden, Licensed Acupuncture Physician is accepting new patients.
Call (772) 403-7640 to schedule your appointment.
Advanced Wellness Solutions patients frequently tell us that they didn’t realize how much chronic pain was impacting their life.
Living with chronic pain makes everything more difficult. Chronic pain can make performing the simplest tasks more difficult. As if that weren’t enough, chronic pain has been shown to have a significant impact on your mental health as well.
The research makes it clear that chronic pain is bad for your physical health. Studies show that chronic pain can elevate blood pressure, pulse rate, adrenaline and cortisol serum levels, putting hazardous stress on the cardio-vascular system. Chronic pain can cause elevated serum lipids and glucose levels.1
According Perry G. Fine, MD of the Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, Pain Research Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA,1 the long-term consequences of chronic pain include:
- sleep disturbances
- cognitive processes and brain function
- mood/mental health
- cardiovascular health
- sexual function
Chronic Pain Affects Your Sleep
According to a study released by the American Psychological Association 2, healthy sleep has been proven to be the single most important factor, more important than diet, exercise, or even heredity, in predicting longevity.
Acupuncture for Pain Relief and Insomnia
Acupuncture has been used to treat insomnia in China for thousands of years. Western clinical studies confirm that acupuncture may have a beneficial effect on insomnia.3
Chronic Pain Affects Your Thoughts
Chronic Pain Affects Your ThoughtsIf you’re in chronic pain, you’re not operating at your cognitive best. Memory and attention care impaired in up to two thirds of patients with chronic pain.3
The damage caused by chronic pain isn’t limited to your physical health. Chronic pain affects your emotions, relationships, and your state of mind. Chronic pain is causes changes in the levels of stress hormones and neurochemicals found within your brain and nervous system. This disruption of the delicate balance can affect your mood, thinking and behavior.
Chronic pain can influence your thoughts, feelings, memory, concentration, and even connections with others.
Chronic Pain Affects Your Emotions
The emotional effects of chronic pain include:
- Depression
- Anger
- Anxiety, and
- Fear of re-injury
Living with chronic pain can affect your mood, making you more susceptible to depression, anxiety, and fear. Chronic pain causes sleep disturbances, depression, and a heightened risk of suicide.4
Acupuncture for Pain Relief and Mental Health
According to recent studies, acupuncture may be a valuable adjunct therapy for those suffering from mental health disorders.4
Chronic Pain Affects Your Heart
Chronic pain can lead to a chronic stress reaction that causes an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. This stress reaction can lead to a reduced ability to fight off illnesses and diseases and can increase the risk for heart disease.5
Acupuncture for Heart Health
Acupuncture reduces stress and improves heart function, according to UCLA researchers.6
Chronic Pain Affects Your Sex Life
Chronic pain may interfere with sexuality for several reasons. One is the nature of the pain itself. However, other factors associated with your chronic pain, including mood disorders, decreased sex drive (libido), medications or stress, can also affect your sexual function 6.
Chronic Pain – the Invisible Disability
Chronic pain is the “invisible” disability.7 What this means is it is possible to look like the picture of health but suffer from chronic pain. Chronic pain makes everything more difficult.
Dr. Heather J. Walden, Licensed Acupuncture Physician is accepting new patients.
Call (772) 403-7640 to schedule your appointment.
Advanced Wellness Solutions’ health care practitioners are well-versed in treating chronic pain. Our practitioners will believe you if you say you are in pain. If they can’t find a way to relieve or manage your pain, they’ll refer you to someone who can.
Advanced Wellness solutions offers natural, drug free pain relief treatments that can help our patients achieve a better quality of life.
Advanced Wellness Solutions offers gentle chiropractic care or acupuncture and Chinese medicine for drug free pain relief.
Chiropractic care for shoulder pain
Chiropractic care can treat shoulder pain as well as other joint pain including neck and back pain. Shoulder pain is musculoskeletal pain. Gentle chiropractic care shines as an effective, drug free way to relieve musculoskeletal pain .
No other joint in the body has the range of motion that a fully functioning shoulder does. It’s easily the most mobile joint in the body. This incredible mobility and flexibility comes at a price. Shoulders are prone to injury.
If shoulder pain comes on suddenly and was not caused by an injury, call 911 immediately. Shoulder pain can be a symptom of a heart attack.
The shoulder is a complex arrangement of bone, muscles, nerves, bursa, tendons, and ligaments. When stress is placed on these soft tissues, the result is a shoulder injury.
If you’re suffering from shoulder pain, it’s important to diagnose the cause before treatment begins. Chiropractors are trained to treat is musculoskeletal pain. We know that there are times when the joint that is hurting isn’t the cause of the pain. That’s why we will perform a variety of orthopedic tests to check your range of motion in your shoulders as well as your neck.
Depending upon the results of our physical exam, we may need to order imaging such as a CT scan or MRI. We may need to order this imaging before treatment begins or if the prescribed treatment plan isn’t providing pain relief.
Causes of Shoulder Pain:
Causes of Shoulder Pain:Rotator Cuff Injuries
If you’re a sports fan, you’ve probably heard of a rotator cuff injury. Rotator cuff injuries are a common reason for shoulder pain.
Your rotator cuff isn’t a single organ. Instead the rotator cuff is made up of 4 different muscles and their associated tendons. This unique arrangement of muscles, tendons surround a ball socket like joint allowing you to raise, rotate and move your arm in a wide variety of ways.
There are three different types of rotator cuff injury: 1
- Rotator Cuff Tendinitis is when the tendons are irritated and/or damaged,
- when shoulder pain is used by the bursa being inflamed and swollen it’s called Rotator Cuff Bursitis,
- if the bony process on the scapula is rubbing (impinging) upon the tendons and bursa of the rotator cuff, it’s called Rotator Cuff Impingement.
Postural Syndrome
Poor office posture injuries (postural syndrome) are repetitive use injuries. Poor ergonomics can cause musculoskeletal disorders. Ergonomics describes how you interact with your environment. Poor workspace ergonomics can result in
- headaches
- shoulder pain
- back pain
- neck pain
- wrist pain
If you spend 8-10 hours a day with your shoulders rolled forward, your head jutting forward and your upper back slouched, you’ll eventually develop postural syndrome.
Notice the word “eventually” in the sentence above. You see, the human body is great at “making do” with whatever situation you put it in. It will do it’s best to adapt. However, as you keep stressing your body, you then suffer from a repetitive use injury. In repetitive use injuries, pain develops over time. As you can see from the list above, shoulder pain is part of postural syndrome.
Chiropractic care is very effective at relieving shoulder pain and other symptoms of postural postural syndrome. However, for long term relief, you should address your workplace ergonomics. Click here to learn how to create an ergonomic home office.
Frozen Shoulder
Adhesive capsulitis (a,k.a. frozen shoulder) is sneaky. Frozen shoulder is difficult to diagnose. It isn’t caused by an injury. It also gets worse over time. Most importantly though, the pain is difficult to explain. Patients will try to describe it as a dull pain located deep inside the shoulder.
In the earliest stages, the symptoms are mild becoming more severe over time. As the conditions worsens, the shoulder may become so stiff that it’s almost impossible to move. Thus the moniker, “frozen shoulder.” 2
Frozen shoulder can be treated with gentle chiropractic care.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder is rare and usually caused by a previous injury. Chiropractic care maximizes the function of arthritic joints. Gentle chiropractic care can treat osteoarthritis. 3
Chiropractic Care of Shoulder Pain
Chiropractors focus on the relationships between the structure and function of joints, muscles and other soft tissues. They accomplish drug free pain relief without surgery through manual manipulations and other therapies. These therapies reduce inflammation and swelling and aid in natural healing.
There are many therapies chiropractors use to relieve shoulder pain. Chiropractic treatments include:
- Chiropractic adjustments
- prescribed exercises
- ultrasound
- electrical muscle stimulation
- application of ice/heat
These chiropractic therapies can
- provide pain relief
- restore mobility
- increase range of motion.
Most patients choosing chiropractic care of shoulder pain are able to return to their normal activities within 6-8 weeks without resorting to steroid injections or surgery.
If you’re experiencing shoulder pain, call Advanced Wellness Solutions.
2 Martin County Gentle Chiropractic Locations
Advanced Wellness Solutions is pleased to announce our 2nd Martin County gentle chiropractic location at 5759 SE Federal Hwy, Stuart, FL 34997.
Accepting new patients. Call (772) 403-7640 to schedule your appointment.
We Accept All Major Medical Health Insurance and Medicare.
On February 1, 2021, Dr. Wayne Conlon, DC and Dr. Laurie Conlon, DC sold their practice to Dr. Danielle Hurd, DC and moved to Massachusetts.
This practice acquisition means Advanced Wellness Solutions now has 2 Stuart, FL chiropractic care locations to provide relief from chronic pain as well as auto accident injuries.
Dr. Danielle provides the same effective gentle chiropractic care previously offered by Dr. Laurie. She also provides the golf specific chiropractic care previously provided by Dr. Wayne.
The 1st Martin County Gentle Chiropractic Care office is located just south of the intersection of Kanner Hwy and Monterey. The Kanner Hwy, Stuart FL location is convenient for Palm City, North Stuart, and Jensen Beach residents.
The 2nd Martin County Gentle Chiropractic Care office is located at 5759 SE Federal Hwy, Stuart, FL. This location is on the 2nd floor of the Seacoast Bank Building at the intersection of Cove Road and US 1. It has a handicapped accessible elevator. The Cove Road location is convenient for South Stuart, Hobe Sound and patients living on the island including those in Jupiter Beach.
The Gentle Chiropractic Care You Expect from Advanced Wellness Solutions
Dr. Danielle provides the same effective gentle chiropractic care Dr. Laurie provided for her patients. Dr. Danielle also provides the golf specific chiropractic care provided by Dr. Wayne.
The biggest transition Conlon Chiropractic patients have had to make is that Advanced Wellness Solutions only sees patients by appointment.
Dr. Danielle splits her time between these two offices. She sees patients in the Kanner Hwy office on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoon. She sees patients at the Seacoast Bank Cove Road/US 1 office at 5759 SE Federal Hwy, Stuart, FL 34997 on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday morning.
If you want to meet our office dog William, you’ll have to visit the Kanner Hwy location. The construction of the new WaWa next to the SeaCoast bank building makes him anxious.
If you’re a former Conlon Chiropractic patient, give us a call.
Call (772) 403-7640 to schedule your appointment with Advanced Wellness Solutions today!
Gentle Chiropractic Care for Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is difficult to diagnose and to treat. While there’s no cure, gentle chiropractic care for fibromyalgia can help manage the pain, fatigue and poor quality sleep that afflicts patients.
Accepting new patients. Call 855-509-5400 to schedule your appointment.
We Accept All Major Medical Health Insurance and Medicare.
Fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain in the joints, muscles, tendons and other soft tissues throughout the body. Patients may also experience other symptoms such as fatigue, difficulty sleeping, as well as memory and mood issues.
Not that long ago, if you were suffering from pain, fatigue and muscle spasms, your doctor would run a variety of tests. If the tests showed nothing and you kept pestering you doctor, that’s how you’d get diagnosed with fibromyalgia. That’s no longer the case. Today we know that fibromyalgia is a real and researchers are making progress unraveling this mysterious condition. For example, we now know that, fibromyalgia is not an autoimmune or inflammation based illness as was once suspected. Research studies suggest that the nervous system plays a role in the illness. Researchers believe that the fibromyalgia patient’s nervous system amplifies painful sensations, affecting the way the patient’s brain processes pain signals. 1
Gentle Chiropractic Care for Fibromyalgia
Chiropractic care can help manage the symptoms of fibromyalgia, such as pain, fatigue and quality of sleep. Gentle chiropractic care can help improve your sleep which is important because sleep helps you heal.
According to a clinical trial published by the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2
“Chiropractic management improved patients’ cervical and lumbar ranges of motion, straight leg raise and reported pain levels.“
Many patients with fibromyalgia also suffer from headaches, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, irritable bowel syndrome as well as anxiety and depression.3
Symptoms of fibromyalgia
- muscles spasms.
- fatigue
- poor quality sleep
- “fibro fog” which is characterized by trouble with remembering, learning, paying attention, and concentrating.
- widespread pain.
If you’re suffering from the symptoms of fibromyalgia, you owe it to yourself to give gentle chiropractic a try. Schedule your appointment by calling: 855-509-5400
Gentle Chiropractic for Car Accident Injuries: Infographic
Car accidents seem to be happening more frequently these days. It turns out that while the number of car accidents is down due to reduced traffic volume, the rate of car crashes is actually up in many cities. Drivers under stress seem to be causing the injury and fatality rates to climb for both drivers and passengers.1 That’s why we’ve created an infographic illustrating why you should choose gentle chiropractic care for car accident injuries
Gentle Chiropractic Care for Car Accident Injuries
There are 3 Compelling Reasons to Choose Chiropractic Care after a Car Accident, When choosing a chiropractor, you may want to choose one that practices effective gentle chiropractic care.
Gentle chiropractic care will help prevent long-term, chronic pain conditions and allow you to achieve optimal recovery after an auto accident. Gentle Chiropractic Care is a newer method of chiropractic care. It replaces high-velocity adjustments with low-velocity, low amplitude manipulations. Gentle chiropractic adjustments target a specific area. Gentle chiropractic care is more comfortable and provides maximum benefit from minimal visits.
Car accidents are often violent. Subjecting occupants to incredible forces during a collision. The occupants of the car are thrown first one way and then the other. The motion of the occupants will be stopped by either the seat belt, the dashboard, or a door or window. The force of the accident puts incredibly pressure on the neck and back. Both the neck and back are sensitive to sudden movements and forces. It’s no surprise that the 4 most common car accident injuries are all forms of soft tissue injuries.
- Headaches
- Neck Pain
- Shoulder Pain
- Back Pain
If you or someone you know has been in a car accident and you need gentle chiropractic treatment, call Advanced Wellness Solutions at 855-509-5400 to schedule an appointment.
Chiropractic Care Provides Chronic Pain Relief
One of the things we often hear patients say after treatment is, “I didn’t realize how much chronic pain was affecting my life!” It’s very gratifying to be able to provide chronic pain relief. We’re happy to help our patients get back to enjoying life instead of simply struggling to survive the day. Unfortunately, many chronic pain patients suffered needlessly and only find us as a “last resort” after they’ve tried everything else.
Living with chronic pain makes everything more difficult. Performing even the simplest tasks can be difficult when you’re in chronic pain. Whether it’s headache pain, back pain, neck pain or hip or knee pain, chronic pain leads to a stress reaction throughout the body. Chronic pain can cause muscles to tighten and spasm which in turn results in even more pain.
Studies show that chronic pain can elevate blood pressure, pulse rate, adrenaline and cortisol serum levels, putting hazardous stress on the cardio-vascular system. Chronic pain may also experience elevate serum lipids and glucose levels.1
So it’s clear that chronic pain is bad for your physical health. However, the damage caused by chronic pain doesn’t stop with your physical body. Chronic pain also affects your emotions, your relationships, and even your state of mind. Chronic pain is known to change the levels of stress hormones and neurochemicals found within your brain and nervous system. This disruption of the delicate balance can affect your mood, thinking and behavior.
People suffering from chronic pain tend to have poor sleep and sleep disturbances. This leads to fatigue, trouble concentrating, decreased appetite, and mood changes. Poor quality sleep, the frustration of dealing with chronic pain and the elevation of stress hormones can then depression and anxiety.
Overuse of Pain Relief Medication Can Cause Headaches
Overuse of Pain Relief Medication Can Cause HeadachesWhen you’re in chronic pain, it’s fast and easy to reach for pain relief medication. Unfortunately, repeated use of pain relievers can cause medication overuse headaches.1 Medication-overuse headache (MOH) is clinical diagnosis. It’s classified as a secondary disorder affecting patients who use pain relieving medication (OTC or prescription) more than two to three days per week.
The bad news: the most effective treatment for MOH is to stop using pain relieving medication.2
The good news: gentle chiropractic care can effectively treat chronic pain without drugs or other medication. Finding effective treatments for chronic pain can restore healthy sleep patterns which in turn can reduce blood pressure, pulse rate while lowering adrenaline and cortisol serum levels.
Dr. Danielle Hurd, DC practices effective gentle chiropractic at Advanced Wellness Solutions. Dr. Danielle pursues a drug free approach to chronic pain relief when prudent and possible. If she is unable to provide chronic pain relief, she will refer you to medical professional with the needed expertise in the appropriate specialty.
Could Chiropractic Care Help Your Headaches?
Headaches are a very common health complaint. Sometimes, headaches are mild. Other times they can be frequent and severe, disrupting your life at home and work. Fortunately, chiropractic care for headaches can provide effective, drug free headache pain relief.
It’s important to take headaches seriously. You should see your doctor if your headache pattern changes, or if your headaches are getting worse.
Seek emergency care if you have any of these signs and symptoms:
- An abrupt, severe headache, often like a thunderclap
- Headache with a fever, nausea or vomiting, stiff neck, mental confusion, seizures, numbness, or speaking difficulties, which may signal a number of serious conditions such as stroke, meningitis, encephalitis or brain tumor
- Headache after a head injury, even if it’s a minor fall or bump, especially if it gets worse.
- A sudden, severe headache unlike any other headache you’ve experienced
- Headache that gets progressively worse over days and changes in pattern
Overuse of Pain Relief Medication Can Actually Cause More Headaches
If you have frequent headaches, you should know that repeated use of pain relievers can cause another type of headache, overuse headaches.1 Medication-overuse headache (MOH) is clinical diagnosis. It’s classified as a secondary disorder affecting patients who use pain relieving medication (OTC or prescription) more than two to three days per week.
The bad news: the most effective treatment for MOH is to stop using pain relieving medication.2
The good news: chiropractic care for headaches can help many different types of headaches. Current evidence suggests that chiropractic care, including manual therapy, can be effective in treating cervicogenic and tension headaches. Studies have also shown that chiropractic care can help decrease the intensity and frequency of migraines.3
Different Types of Headaches
Tension Headaches:
Tension Headaches:Chiropractic care is very effective at helping to manage tension headaches. Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. Sometimes, a dull, aching pain is a tension headache. You may feel tightness or pressure across your forehead or on the sides and back of your head. You may also feel tenderness on your scalp, neck and shoulder muscles.
Sometimes the pain of tension headaches can be so severe that it is difficult to distinguish it from a migraine. To make matters worse, it’s possible to suffer from both tension headaches and migraine headaches.
It’s rare to have migraine like visual disturbances, nausea or vomiting with tension headaches. However, like migraines, you may experience an increased sensitivity to either light or sound with a tension headache.
One way to tell if it’s a migraine or a tension headache is that physical activity often makes migraine pain worse, while it doesn’t for tension headaches.
Tension headaches are often due to a combination of stress and back or neck strain. That’s why chiropractic care has been proven to help provide relief for these headaches.
Migraine Headaches:
Migraine headaches are serious. They are surprisingly common and a leading cause of disability.4 Studies show that chiropractic care can help relieve migraine pain by reducing muscle tension and correcting postural strain on soft tissues. Study authors suspect that spinal manipulations also activate descending pain inhibitory pathways responsible for pain modulation.5
There is no cure for migraine headaches. Unfortunately, many medications used to treat migraine have alarming and disabling side effects. As a result, more people who are suffering from migraine headaches are turning to alternative care options such as chiropractic care. 6
Cluster Headaches:
Cluster headaches are a rare but devastating form of non-life threatening headaches. These headaches occur in cycles with each cycle lasting weeks to months. They are also called “suicide headaches” because of the extreme pain that they cause.
Cluster headaches result when the trigeminal nerve is pinched, compressed, or shifted improperly due to a spinal misalignment. This is why chiropractic care is ideally suited to treat cluster headaches.
During the cluster headache cycle, headaches can happen as frequently as every day and last for a few minutes to a few hours. After going through a cycle of cluster headaches, the sufferer will go into a period of remission. During this period of remission no headaches will occur. A period of remission can last anywhere from several months to years.
Because of the cycles of intense pain, patients who suffer from cluster headaches can be emotionally raw by the time they seek treatment. These headaches are severe and have earned the nickname suicide headaches for a reason.
TMJ Headaches:
TMJ headaches are caused by temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction. Less severe TMJ problems can cause annoying and sometimes painful clicking. Temporomandibular joint dysfunction can cause a painful headache with a dull, aching pain in and around the ear. In some cases, the pain travels to the side of the scalp, back of the head or down into the neck. Tenderness in the jaw area and neck is common in these kinds of headaches. TMJ dysfunction is often made worse by chewing, excessive talking or yawning.
Chiropractors can provide significant relief of the pain caused by TMJ dysfunction by manipulation. Unfortunately, most people are unaware that the jaw can be adjusted. Adjusting the jaw is a delicate procedure that requires a skilled hand using a very light technique or gentle chiropractic care. Because of the finesse involved, there usually isn’t the satisfying “clunk” which accompanies many other joint manipulations.
Gentle Chiropractic Care for Headaches
Gentle chiropractic care replaces high-velocity adjustments with low-velocity, low amplitude manipulations. It is performed with a gentle touch, targeting a specific area. Gentle chiropractic care is more comfortable and provides maximum benefit from minimal visits.
