Neck Pain, Headaches, and Migraines - Causes and Treatment Options

What causes pain and what is the source of pain are two different matters. However, these two matters, conceptually, become jumbled up into one. We should always separate these two as they are profoundly different. Causes can be infinite. The way you think, feel, move, or rest may cause the pain. Therefore “causes of pain” may be infinite. However, the source of pain may be local to the place of pain, irritating local pain fibers or much further away, resulting in the need for further investigation and categorization of the pain if long-lasting results, or results at all, are the desired outcome.

Research estimates that 90% of Americans suffer from headaches and/or migraines in any given year. Symptoms of headaches can vary drastically depending on the causative factors. Migraines, however, will often present with similar symptoms during each episode. To help you distinguish a migraine from a headache, a simple mnemonic was created: “P.O.U.N.D.” Pulsating, One-day Duration, Unilateral (one side of the head), Nausea/vomiting, Disabling intensity.

Causative factors for headaches and migraines often can have overlapping symptoms, but they usually will have different aggravating factors. Headaches often are the result of tight, knotted areas or muscular tension creating a referral pattern. Transitional segments of the spine are common areas for trigger points to reside (i.e. the base of the skull and the junction between the neck, shoulders and mid back).

Surrounding all joints there must be a balance between tension and compression of the ligaments, muscles, tendons, and fascia. When a local problem is determined to be a local cause, it can be due to an imbalance of these structures. This requires mobilization and release of tight structures in addition to strengthening weak or inhibited structure of the painful joint as well as the joints above and below.

Headaches and migraines are frequently the consequence of improper, neuromuscular stabilization strategies often times in association to long durations of a given position and/or improper breathing patterns. These causes are typically long-standing once they produce symptoms.

These are a few common diagnoses we screen and treat for regarding migraine and headache symptoms. This list is not exhaustive as many symptoms and concerns do not have great diagnoses.

1. Cervicogenic headaches
2. Tension-type headaches
3. Temporomandibular Joint Disorder – TMJD
4. Trigeminal Neuralgia
5. Stroke
6. Seizure
7. Myofascial Trigger Points
8. Migraines
9. Cervical Radiculopathy
10. Whiplash
11. Facet Syndrome
12. Tendinosis
13. Tendonitis

By offering our various programs we can quickly assess and test what is driving your symptoms and in turn provide quick options for care. Because of this, we will not only speed up recovery, but decrease overall expenses.