How Chiropractors Help People Who Suffer From Headaches

If you are among one of the 3 billion people worldwide who suffered headaches this year, you are undoubtedly familiar with the traditional methods that people use to treat them, including taking some type of over the counter medication that is supposed to eliminate the pain and reduce any associated swelling. There are many other types of treatment that you may have attempted as well, including taking pharmaceutical concoctions designed to treat pain. However, none of these solutions provide permanent relief that addresses the problem at the core.

In the past few decades, there have been an increasing number of patients throughout the country that have begun to seek alternative forms of therapy for all types of conditions, including headaches. One form of treatment that is very promising for physical as well as other types of pain is chiropractic.

This form of alternative care has been used successfully for over a hundred years and has become a regular part of the Canadian healthcare delivery system. In fact, there are an increasing number of insurance providers that are willing to pay for chiropractic because of its effectiveness.

When a person goes to school to learn about chiropractic, they begin by studying the human anatomy in great detail, just like other medical professionals. However, in addition to looking at how all of the parts work together physically, their training primarily revolves around the diagnosis and treatment of dysfunctional joints in the spine, sometimes known as subluxations.

Theses problem joints irritate nerve tissue and that affects organ function, soft tissue like muscle, ligaments and tendons and can eventually manifest as other health problems if not treated.

Once the nerves are disrupted pain may result. While it usually manifests itself as physical pain, this is not always the case. In some instances, the person may experience difficulties with sleep or other routine habits.

On the first visit with your Ottawa chiropractor, a review of previous health issues will be completed to determine what types of nerve irritation may be occurring. He or she will listen to you attentively and make an assessment, including determining what types of treatment will best suit the patient.

In the case of headaches, the patient commonly has problem joints (subluxations) in the cervical spine. This may be accompanied by muscles that are unduly tight in the neck, shoulders and nearby areas. Irritation to the nerves may cause sharp stabbing pains or there may be a continual dull throb in the region.

The chiropractor will assess the area and then move forward with treatment known as a chiropractic adjustment in order to relieve the irritation and pain. The relief is may be instantaneous, with an increase in positive symptoms for the following few hours, or it may take time. Not all headaches are created equal.

However, chiropractors don’t just focus on relieving symptoms but rather correcting the problem; therefore, additional treatments may follow to help correct the cause. In addition, the chiropractor will take the time to educate you on the importance of self-care and the role of the chiropractor, especially if you’ve never been to one before.

If you need further help with your headaches or are ready to see how beneficial chiropractic care can be to your overall health, please give us a call or click below so that you can schedule an appointment with Dr. David King, our Ottawa chiropractor.