Headache and Migraine Treatment in Apple Valley
If you plan your week around headaches or keep pain relievers in every bag, you know how disruptive the discomfort can be. Medication may quiet the pain, but it doesn’t necessarily explain why it keeps returning.
At Lifeway Chiropractic and Wellness, our chiropractors look at factors that may be involved, including the neck, muscles, posture and daily habits.
When Your Upper Neck May Be Part of the Picture
For some recurring headaches, particularly tension or musculoskeletal ones, the neck may play a role. Nerves exiting the upper neck supply areas of the head as well as surrounding muscles. Our chiropractors often find that tension headaches are accompanied by joint restriction or misalignment, tight muscles and trigger points.
How Sitting and Screen Time Can Affect Your Neck
Your body was built to move, not sit for eight hours. Long drives and screen time can pull the head forward and round the shoulders. Common factors include:
- Forward head posture from computers and phones
- A desk or car seat setup that works against you
- Long stretches without movement
- Dehydration and ongoing stress
- Previous neck injuries, including whiplash
Hat Band Pressure or One-Sided Throbbing
A tension headache may build as the day goes on, wrap around the head like a tight band or seem to start in the neck and spread upward. A migraine is more often one-sided and may be there when you wake up. Although they’re different types of headaches, our chiropractors consider the cervical spine and surrounding muscles when evaluating both.
There Is No Such Thing as a Normal Headache
If you’re reaching for ibuprofen two or three times a week, don’t simply assume headaches are something you have to live with. Frequent or changing headaches deserve an evaluation.
Simple Care First, Then Targeted Therapies
Your first visit starts with a detailed history and exam. Depending on your findings, care may include upper neck adjustments, muscle work, home stretches and recommendations for your workstation or driving posture.
Our team prefers to begin conservatively rather than “throwing the kitchen sink” at every problem. If progress stalls, additional therapies may be considered. StimPod may be used for certain nerve-related symptoms, while cold laser may enter the picture when a neck injury and inflammation are factors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can chiropractic help migraines, or only tension headaches?
Who is a good candidate for StimPod therapy?
Why not just keep managing headaches with medication?
Find Out What May Be Behind Your Headaches
You shouldn’t have to plan your life around the next headache. Let’s find out whether your neck or other factors may be part of the picture. Reach out to Lifeway Chiropractic and Wellness to schedule an evaluation.
