Headaches & Migraines - Apex Chiropractic Cincinnati

Understanding Headaches

Headaches are a common condition that have many potential causes. You can experience pain in the head, neck and shoulders. There are many types of headaches, the most common being tension-type headaches, and migraines that come with or without an aura.

What Headaches Can Feel Like

Headaches can present in different ways depending on what’s contributing to it. You may experience:

Pain in the sinuses, behind the eyes, at the base of your skull, or only on one side of your head
Dull, aching, sharp, or tight band-like sensations in the head
Sensitivity to light and/or sounds
Pain that radiates into the face, jaw/teeth, neck and sometimes shoulders

Common Triggers

Poor posture or workstation setup
Stress – physical and emotional
Poor diet and sleep
Dehydration
Low blood sugar
Hormone changes
Excessive screen time

Impact on Daily Life

Concentration and difficulty focusing
Decreased productivity at work or school
Increased irritability and mood swings
Avoidance of social events

Why Headache and Migraine Symptoms Can Continue

They are multifactorial and getting all the pieces of the complex puzzle to line up can take time. There’s the physical side of headache/migraine management like altering biomechanics and muscle tension that take time to correct. The nervous system needs its own adjustment time to come down from its heightened state, playing more into the rest and digest side (parasympathetic) instead of the fight or flight side (sympathetic). The chemical side of things includes managing blood sugar or hydration or a well balanced diet. Then there’s the lifestyle management of getting enough restful sleep and proper exercise while also remembering your body’s ergonomics during work or school days.

How Chiropractic Care May Help

Chiropractic care is a safe, holistic approach that can help relieve headaches and migraines, and may even reduce the risk of it becoming chronic. By restoring proper movement in the spine, chiropractic adjustments support how your brain senses and controls your body. This will help you heal more effectively and have less days with such intense symptoms.

We may use:

Gentle chiropractic adjustments – like Activator or cranial techniques

Posture and biomechanics support

Modalities like electric stimulation and moist heat

Lifestyle and nutritional considerations

Our Approach to Headache Care

Every patient case is different. We will create an individualized care plan that’s right for you in your healing journey. This could look like gentle chiropractic adjustments, cranial balancing, and/or lifestyle modifications. We will continue to monitor your progress through items like questionnaires to see how you’re progressing. If the treatment plan needs to be changed in some way, we will do so accordingly. If clinically indicated, we will co-manage your case with other providers to better assist you.