Usually, the occasional headache is nothing to be alarmed about. We all find ourselves in a stressful situation, overexert ourselves, or get dehydrated every so often. But, what happens if your headaches go on for months, even years? When this happens in people following some type of head or neck injury, these headaches are known as post-traumatic headaches. Post-traumatic headaches develop within the week following the initial injury, which could have been a car accident, sporting injury, or just a slip and fall. An astonishing 71% to 91% of patients who develop post-traumatic headaches will have headaches that last for over a year.
Despite how common a condition headaches are, the treatment options remain limited. Most approaches focus on symptomatic relief. Options range from natural remedies (such as aromatherapy or acupressure) to over-the-counter painkillers, to more powerful prescription drugs. While these options can provide some much-needed relief, the results are often fleeting, and the headache ultimately returns.
The Head-Neck Connection
Chances are if an injury was bad enough for post-traumatic headaches to develop, it was bad enough to cause spinal misalignment as well. The upper cervical spine, consisting of the top two vertebrae in the neck, is particularly prone to misalignment because of its unique design and biomechanics. This area of the spine is critical to the normal functioning of the nervous system as well as overall health, but it is unfortunately overlooked following an injury.
We specialize in the specific analysis and correction of the upper cervical spine. In my practice, I see many people whose headaches or migraines either began or worsened after a trauma. What each of these people has in common is a misalignment of the topmost vertebra in the neck, the atlas. Correcting the atlas with gentle, precise adjustments helps to restore normal neck motion, as well as normal blood flow and nervous system function. This is why we see people with post-traumatic headaches achieve lasting relief while under our care.
To schedule a complimentary NUCCA consultation call 608-783-0384