Do you have chronic headaches? Perhaps your doctor diagnosed you with migraines or tension headaches, or maybe you feel that familiar pounding headache pain every time you sit at your workstation for too long. It’s important to uncover the cause of your pain. See a chiropractor for headaches as soon as possible for holistic care that addresses your lifestyle as well as any underlying medical conditions that may be contributing to your discomfort. Learn more below about what a headache chiropractor does, how this professional differs from a typical headache doctor, and how to schedule your first chiropractic appointment.
What Is a Chiropractor?
Chiropractors are healthcare professionals who focus on the nerves, muscles, and joints of the body. You may hear your chiropractor mention the “neuromusculoskeletal system”, or he or she may simply talk about “adjusting” your spine. These professionals may take x-rays, a CT scan, conduct physical examinations, and develop treatment plans to correct spinal misalignments and postural abnormalities.
While a chiropractor is a type of doctor, these individuals attend chiropractic school and receive a Doctor of Chiropractic designation rather than a Medical Doctor, or MD, classification.
Chiropractors do not prescribe headache medicine, but they may recommend treating headache symptoms through a treatment plan focused on lifestyle changes, meditation, or supplements that can help patients relax, achieve better sleep, and correct postural misalignment while at work.
What Are Chiropractic Adjustments?
A cornerstone of chiropractic care is the belief that the body can heal itself in the right conditions. Chiropractors function as headache doctors by focusing on adjusting the spine and maintaining good alignment to set the stage for the body to recover. If you visit a chiropractor for headaches, you may be surprised when he or she addresses the health of your entire spine and body before focusing on your head. During an adjustment session, you will lie or sit on the doctor’s therapy table. He or she will use his or her hands or instruments to correct your spinal alignment in a painless, non-invasive manner.
If anything hurts during an adjustment appointment, be sure to tell your practitioner immediately. This process should not be uncomfortable. Many patients enjoy their adjustments and find them relaxing.
Why Should I See a Chiropractor for Headache?
Are you struggling with tension headaches while at work? Is your arthritis contributing to chronic discomfort and the overuse of pain medication? Are you experiencing a migraine? You’d like to reduce your use of ibuprofen or opioid medication, but lifestyle modifications you’ve made, such as exercising and eating healthier foods, do not seem to be helping as much as they should.
A headache doctor such as an experienced chiropractor at Chiropractic Approach may be able to help pinpoint the exact cause of your struggles, adjust your spine to help you maintain good physical alignment, and recommend products that can help you experience better health and family life.
Often, muscle fatigue causes tension headaches. Chiropractors relieve this tension by addressing problems in the patient’s spinal alignment and posture.
Spinal discs contain soft, malleable insides that resemble jelly. When a disc ruptures or bulges, the jelly-like substance can press on the surrounding nerves’ roots and create chronic pain. If you have been diagnosed with chronic pain caused by a ruptured or herniated disc, chiropractic treatment may provide a holistic treatment that provides relief and does not involve long-term doses of pain medication.
How Chiropractors Treat Headaches
Your chiropractor will treat your headache when he or she determines the cause. On one hand, recovery may be as simple as receiving a series of adjustments, purchasing a more supportive pillow, or improving the ergonomics of your home office workstation. On the other hand, you may already be aware that you suffer from arthritis of your neck, a bulging cervical disc, or a long-standing diagnosis of chronic migraine.
You can still benefit from chiropractic treatment if you have a diagnosis of chronic pain. Often, chronic pain patients sleep better and experience a better quality of life when combining their medical treatments with chiropractic care. Though chiropractors cannot prescribe medication, they may be able to help you improve your physical health to the point that you need less of it.
Get In Touch with Chiro Approach Headache Specialists
Our chiropractors are highly trained health professionals and can be experienced in the treatment of headaches and other chronic pain conditions. Get in touch with Chiropractic Approach today to learn more about visiting a chiropractor for a headache, what to wear to your first appointment, and what you should expect during your first chiropractic adjustment. Schedule your consultation and start living a life with healthier alignment today!
