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Kish Chiropractic Clinic: Peter J, Kish, RN, DC

Headaches

What is a headache and why do I get them?

The answer to that question will require a bit of an explanation. Headache is a term used for a multitude of symptoms causing pain anywhere in your head and neck. Although some headaches originate from inside your skull, the majority are from muscles and nerves in your neck and on the outside of your head. This last group of headaches are commonly referred to as Muscular or Tension headaches. They originate when the nerves and soft tissues of your neck muscles are damaged from trauma (slip, trip, fall, auto accident), from poor posture and from overuse.

When there is irritation to the muscle and nervous system in the head and neck area, your body will tighten the muscles to protect and stabilize the area. Unfortunately, once your muscles begin to splint or tighten, they become fatigued and stressed and further irritated, while at the same time they compress the vertebra together causing joint pain, swelling and locking. The pain information being sent through the sensory nerves from these stressed joints and muscles travel back to the spinal cord alerting the body that there is more stress in the area. In turn, the muscles are told to tighten more to protect the injured area. This negative feedback cycle of pain information will continue until you take steps to alter it by mobilizing the locked joints (chiropractic adjustments) and decrease your muscle spasm (Ice, stretching, rest, and postural correction).

At some point many people use heat and over the counter NSAIDS (Ibuprophen, Naprosyn, Aspirin) to decrease their pain, or they go to their MD for muscle relaxants. These comfort measures may help, but once the drugs are out of their system, the pain returns as the originating cause is still present.

The question everyone wants answered is: why does my headache keep coming back? The simple answer is, the pattern of spasm and joint compression remains because of inadequate treatment. If you find yourself in this situation, call me, 437-3600. I will answer your questions. And if you wish, I will see you in the office for a free consultation to see if I can help you. Don't wait, call today.

Warning: The most dangerous headaches are from brain tumors, infections in the brain (encephilitis) or it's coverings (meningitis) and blood vessels (aneurysms and migraine). For these conditions, it is appropriate to consult with your Medical Doctor as soon as possible. Although I have had good results treating migraine patients, it is appropriate for your MD to rule out other more dangerous causes first.

If you have questions about a problem you are having, or have a condition that other treatment has not helped, call for a consultation or examination today. 608-437-3600.

For more information, e-mail us at info@kishchiropractic.com

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