If suffering from headaches has got you down, you are not alone. Headaches are the most common ailment that individuals suffer from and see their doctors about. While their doctor may prescribe an over-the-counter pain medication that works intermittently to relieve your pain, it is not getting to the root of why you have headaches in the first place. If you're tired of having an aching head, then maybe you should visit your local chiropractor instead.
Chiropractors are well schooled in how the spine and all of its surroundings function. They know that each vertebrate's health is crucial in how the human body functions on a day-to-day basis. There are tons of nerves splicing through the cavities between each vertebrate and if a disc slips, pain will ensue.
As for headaches, chiropractors are great at relieving them as well. They understand the types of headaches that people suffer from and why. They also know what can be done to end the suffering once and for all and will work with you to try and help pinpoint why your headaches are occurring and how to get rid of them.
Tension headaches are the most common form of headache and the easiest to treat. These headaches stem from your neck and shoulder muscles tensing up for long periods of time-- hence the name. Along with spinal manipulations to make sure your back is in proper alignment, your chiropractor will also suggest message therapy to help your muscles release and return to their normal flexible selves.
Another type of headache is called a migraine. These are tough to treat, but those who have sought chiropractic care have noted a vast improvement in both the severity and frequency in which they occur.
Migraines are characterized by intense shooting pains on one side of the head. The pain often can be behind one eye. The aversion to light and sound is greatly intensified when suffering from a migraine and nausea will usually ensue. You will need to make several chiropractic visits when suffering from this type of headache.
The last type of headache, a cluster headache, is considered the most severe headache to have. Just as the name implies, cluster headaches often occur several times in one day and are characterized by a shooting or throbbing pain in the head that leaves the sufferer debilitated until the pain ceases. Again, several concurrent visits to your chiropractor for both spinal manipulations and message therapy will be needed to cope with these headaches.
Regardless of whether you suffer from tension headaches, cluster headaches, or migraines, a spinal adjustment done on a regular basis will go a long way at reducing the number of headaches you suffer from. They work to not only treat the headaches themselves, but will guide you on how you can be better aware of the triggers and teach you stretching and exercise techniques that you can do on your own time to prevent headaches in the first place. Chiropractors are safe, effective, and wonderful at what they do.
To find out more about chiropractic approaches to reducing headache pain, visit a HealthSource Chiropractic and Progressive Rehabilitation specialist nearest you today.
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Chiropractor in Littleton, CO | A Holistic Approach to Heada...
Chiropractor Littleton CO: The New Decompression Techniques
The age old use of traction to help reduce back and neck pain has found a new format in decompression treatments. Whereas old techniques involved securing your head in a collar of some sort, attaching it to ropes and providing traction with weight, new machines eliminate that fabulous appearance of being hung.
New spinal decompression tables now have the ability to target specific areas of the back, providing traction for smaller areas. This allows the treating doctor to focus on a bulging disc without stretching the rest of the back unnecessarily. Each treatment takes between 15 and 20 minutes and is usually followed by icing and a short period of rest. The course of treatment recommended for spinal decompression is between four to six weeks.
There are two models of decompression tables in common use. Both function in the same manner. The patient is placed upon a table and padded straps are used over the chest and abdomen. Small cushioned pads are placed behind the neck. The table is then programmed to stretch certain areas of the patient’s back at regular intervals allowing for a cyclic stretch and relax format. The treatment should not cause excessive pain.
The advantages of spinal decompression for disc injuries are clear. If this works for your back pain, you avoid the need to have potentially invasive surgery. The American Spinal Decompression Association suggests that using spinal decompression helps create a “vacuum” effect that encourages leaked material from injured discs to return to its proper location. It further suggests that the cycles of traction and relaxation encourage water and nutrients to flood the area assisting in healing.
Spinal decompression is currently used to treat sciatica, back pain, disc disorders, and spinal stenosis. Figures on the success of these treatments vary from study to study. One thing is certain; you want to make sure that the practitioner providing the treatment is well versed in the process. Some studies show that poorly trained providers can cause more damage to your back with excessively aggressive treatment.
Whether or not this is a good option for you is something you must discuss with your doctor. Certain conditions of the spine don’t allow for this kind of treatment. If you are dealing with constant numbness and pain and are facing surgery, you might want to try this before agreeing to something more invasive. Combining spinal decompression with massage prior to treatment is likely to produce a better effect.
Opponents of this course of treatment cite the expense and the lack of corroborating evidence that the treatment is effective. As said before, the results of current studies are mixed. Some studies show moderate results, others no results at all. As in all new medical techniques, time alone will tell if spinal decompression is effective in the long term.
Spinal decompression therapy is worth considering if you can find a well trained, reasonably priced practitioner. The availability of another non-invasive back pain treatment will provide more options for people suffering from a variety of back related injuries.
