What To Do About That Nagging Headache?

Most all of us have suffered from a headache at some point and know that they can have a significant impact on your social, home and work life. “14.2% of U.S. adults 18 or older reported having a migraine or severe headache in the previous 3 months according to the 2012 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), and headache or pain in the head was the fourth leading cause of visits to the emergency department (ED) in 2009-2010. Opioids were administered at 35% of ED visits for headache.” ¹

There are several types of headaches and many are combinations of different types.  A migraine is defined as “severe throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation, usually on just one side of the head. It’s often accompanied by nausea, vomiting and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine attacks can cause significant pain for hours to days and can be so severe that the pain is disabling”² Other types of headaches include tension, rebound, cluster, cervicogenic (from the neck joints), temporomandibular(jaw) and sinus, among others.

There are many contributing factors or triggers that may cause a headache: Hormonal triggers, dietary triggers, environmental, physical and psychological. It is important to identify which factors apply to you.

Medication is not the only, and in many cases not the preferred, method of intervention to manage headaches. Prevention of the headache is the most desirable approach.

Headache management is best achieved with a team approach. A physical therapist can be an important member of this team. It starts by conducting a thorough evaluation to address any contributing factors there may be to triggering of any headaches. Some factors are not changeable or addressed by a PT (genetics, hormones, allergies), but many are. Some interventions may involve lifestyle change (less caffeine or alcohol, dietary modifications), postural change at work or with daily activities, biofeedback to learn to feel and manage tension.  Manual therapy can be utilized to treat identified jaw instability or arthritis, chronic muscle irritability, or cervical arthritis.  Exercise instruction for mobility and/or strength and stabilization can be very helpful. Other healthcare providers may include a physician, acupuncturist, and a dietitian.

While it is oftentimes difficult to eliminate headaches completely, decreasing the severity and frequency of them contributes to less need for medications that can have their own consequences, less missed work and an improved social and family life. Don’t let that nagging headache go unaddressed.

Are you seeking relief from your headache? Contact us today to set up a free consultation or a comprehensive evaluation. Learn more about our physical therapy services here: http://www.liveyourlifept.com/physical-therapy-wellness-services/physical-therapy

In Good Health,

Alana Howey, PT, MS, OCS
Physical Therapist
Live Your Life^TM
Bringing Physical Therapy & Wellness to You!

Alana Howey, PT, MS, OCS graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN in 1985 with a B.A. biology degree. She went on to study at Texas Woman’s University and graduated with a MS in physical therapy in 1987. She has over 25 years of practice in Minnesota. The bulk of her career she has been practicing in outpatient orthopedic physical therapy, treating a wide range of client ages and challenges. She developed a specialty in treating temporomandibular dysfunction, headaches and cervical dysfunction. She also applies a more holistic approach to rebalancing the entire body system with postural restoration for complex, multi-joint challenges. She received a board certification as a clinical specialist in orthopedics in 1999 and was recertified in 2009.

Alana loves guiding clients to reach their goals and aspire to higher potential! She is excited to meet people in their homes to make a specialized program work for them.

When not working, Alana is kept busy with her husband and two daughters. She loves to garden, bike, travel, and take long hikes with her dog.

References
 ^{1 Burch, R. C. “The Prevalence and Burden of Migraine and Severe Headache in the United States: Updated Statistics from Government Health Surveillance Studies.” Headache. U.S. National Library of Medicine, Jan. 2015.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25600719 Accessed 31 Aug. 2017.
2 “Migraine.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 26 Apr. 2017.  http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-headache/symptoms-causes/dxc-20202434 31 Aug. 2017.}