Headache and Migraine Treatment in Aurora

Do you need a "checkup from the neck up?" or just looking for headache and migraine treatment in Aurora? If you've been plagued by headaches, sharp pains around one eye, or the dizzying array of symptoms that accompany migraine attacks, you probably want to find a solution that goes above and beyond simple pain-relieving medications. You'll find that solution here at Total Wellness Center. Our Aurora chiropractor, Dr. Holly Geerson, can figure out why you're suffering from those debilitating symptoms and then come up with a customized, drug-free headache or migraine treatment plan to help you enjoy life again.

Causes, Symptoms, and Types of Headaches and Migraines

Do you have a headache, or do you have a migraine? Either condition can cause serious pain that makes work, sleep, or everyday tasks impossible. The primary difference, at least from the perspective of the sufferer, is in the range of symptoms. A headache is exactly that -- a pain in the head -- while a migraine is often accompanied by other symptoms. Some migraine conditions treated by our Aurora chiropractor don't even involve head pain. Let's look at the different kinds of headaches and migraines, including their causes and effects.

• Tension headaches - Tension headaches are by far the most common type of headache. They're caused by muscle spasms in the neck, usually near the base of the skull. Whiplash (from a Car Crash Injury), overuse, or an unbalanced head position can create enough stress to produce these spasms, which then tug on membranes that send pain signals into the head. Most tension headaches are characterized as a diffuse, sometimes throbbing ache.
• Cluster headaches - Cluster headaches are so named because they tend to occur in clusters of attacks over short periods of time. They seem to be associated with upper cervical problems such as cervical spinal stenosis. Cluster headaches cause sharp, agonizing pain in or around the eye.
• Migraines - Migraines are mysterious in origin, although they appear to involve biochemical imbalances that cause sudden changes in the cranial blood vessels. A variety of triggers, from specific foods and flashing lights to changes in barometric pressure, can trigger migraines in susceptible people. Common migraines cause debilitating pain, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, and light/sound sensitivity. Complicated migraines may also produce bizarre visual symptoms known as auras. "Silent" migraines can produce a variety of disorienting and sickening migraine symptoms without also causing a headache.

Chiropractic Treatment and Related Drug-Free Options

As you can see, headaches and migraines can have different underlying causes and produce different effects. It's no surprise, then, that temporary, one-size-fits-all treatments such as painkillers can't do much to help you with your condition. For more meaningful relief, you need the non-pharmaceutical care offered by chiropractors. Our Aurora chiropractor will ask you about your medical history, current medications, environment, and any other factors that might be contributing to your issues. A careful examination of the cervical spine can reveal the presence of stenosis or a misalignment between the skull and the upper neck. 

Once our chiropractor has a better idea of exactly what your problem is, she can prescribe all-natural treatments that address the problem at its source. For tension and cluster headaches, this often means administering chiropractic adjustments to the cervical spine. By normalizing your head and neck alignment, chiropractors can reduce muscular strain, muscle spasms, and neurological headache triggers. Massage and laser therapy may also prove helpful for people who struggle with tense, tight, or damaged soft tissues.

Migraines respond well to chiropractic treatment, probably because chiropractic adjustments improve nerve signaling for better overall systemic function. Studies show that chiropractic care can significantly ease migraine pain while reducing the frequency of attacks by up to 40 percent. Our Aurora chiropractor can also offer guidance on how you can avoid your known migraine triggers by changing your lifestyle or diet.

Contact Our Aurora Chiropractor for Migraine or Headache Treatment

Are you ready for migraine or headache treatment that really works? Call Total Wellness Center at (303) 627-7995 to speak to our Aurora chiropractor!