Headaches & Migraines Brooklyn, NY
- Upper Neck Focused Care
- Cervicogenic Headache Relief
- IMPACT Concussion Certified
One of the most interesting concerns I encounter in the office is headaches. People can say they have headaches, but they all have different conditions. I am Dr. Brian Donovan, and here at Nuro Chiropractic, I want to figure out which kind of headache you have.
Next, we need to know whether you are in the right office. The response to treatment of some headaches with musculoskeletal care is phenomenal. However, there are headaches that need physician care.
Descriptions I Often Hear From Headache Patients
- A dull pressure or tight band around the head
- Pain starting at the base of the skull
- Pain traveling toward the forehead
- Ache settling in behind one eye
- Headaches after a day at the computer
- Headaches that follow a stiff neck
The most common migraine symptoms are also present in some patients. Symptoms include throbbing pain, nausea, light or sound sensitivity, visual symptoms, or the need to go in a dark room just to lie down until the headache passes. Treating them requires specific methods, and there is no universal treatment for all.
Process of Evaluating Headaches at Our Brooklyn Office
- 1 Record a detailed account. When you had headaches, frequency, where exactly in the head, duration, what triggers them, and what calms them down.
- 2 Know if there are other symptoms that come with it, such as neck pain, visual changes, dizziness, nausea, numbness, and weakness.
- 3 Check if there are changes in cervical range of motion, joint and muscular function, posture and movement, and tenderness around the neck and base of the skull.
- 4 Know if neck movements or test procedures increase or give you new headaches.
If you have a cervicogenic headache, conservative musculoskeletal care may be beneficial. It is a scenario where the cervical spine and structures around it are contributing.
Treatment for Cervicogenic Headaches
- You’ll choose your comfort level when it comes to Chiropractic adjustments or gentler instrument-assisted techniques.
- The neck and upper back receive soft-tissue therapy, massage, stretching, and mobility work.
- The same load will not keep the issue from going back through postural and ergonomic changes plus exercises that improve cervical and upper-back function.
One of the most common neurological disorders is migraine. I do not give empty promises to patients saying that a spinal adjustment is going to cure the underlying cause of it, since it is not going to.
“If someone with migraines also has significant neck pain or stiffness, there may be things we can address alongside their medical migraine management. I think it is important to be very clear about what we are treating.”
Dr. Brian Donovan, D.C.Headaches That Need Medical Care First
The clue that you need an urgent medical evaluation is when you experience a sudden or severe headache, a new headache after an accident, weakness, facial drooping, difficulty speaking, confusion, fainting, seizure, vision changes, fever, or severe stiff neck.
If a new headache pattern has no definite musculoskeletal explanation, I practice more caution in those scenarios. Prior to any treatment, medical advice from the primary-care physician, a neurologist, or an emergency department is required.
Headache and Migraine FAQs
Can a chiropractor help with migraines?
It depends on what is causing the migraine. If the underlying cause tends to relate to the musculoskeletal component, such as severe stiff neck or upper-back dysfunction, a chiropractor can help while your physician manages the migraines. Two different jobs done by two different people.
How to know if the source of headaches is from my neck?
You’ll know if the specific neck movements or examinations produce new headaches or change them. If the pain starts at the skull’s base, headaches combined with a stiff neck, and a pattern that tracks with your workday all point in the same direction. However, confirmation is done through examination, not just from the mere story.
How many visits to see an improvement in your headaches?
There is no specific timeline. The result depends on the duration of the pattern and what’s aggravating it. Reassessment is done to make sure that everything goes well. If a cervicogenic headache has no good response to treatment, we revisit instead by repeating the same treatments.
Can bad posture be the cause of my headaches?
Sitting for hours can increase the load on the neck and upper back, and after those accumulate and, headaches may be experienced through the afternoon. To counter that up, postural and ergonomic changes are included in the plan.
Should imaging be taken for my headaches?
Not all the time. It is only taken when there is a concern on the history or examination. If there are new patterns or something different from the previous one, or when there are neurological findings. In those cases, adjustment is not the priority, but a referral is needed.
Neck Adjustments Are Not Always Needed For Headaches
Knowing what type of headache is the first step. A plan is built based on the findings if you have a cervical or musculoskeletal component causing that headache. If the findings say otherwise, then a referral will be made. We have to know if this is the right office to help with your headaches and check the ones that need something else.
Nuro Chiropractic, 9408 4th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11209. Serving Bay Ridge, Staten Island, Bensonhurst, Park Slope, Prospect Park, Borough Park, Manhattan, Dyker Heights, Williamsburg, and the greater Brooklyn area.