Headaches

What types of headaches can occur?

Several different types of headaches can occur. The most common types of headaches are migraines and tension headaches. A migraine is a severe headache that may last for many hours or even days if the patient doesn’t receive treatment. Migraines usually affect only one side of the head at a time, and they cause throbbing pain, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, and sensitivity to sound.

Tension headaches typically affect the entire head. They cause a dull aching, feelings of tightness, and tenderness in the shoulders and scalp. Tension headaches aren’t usually as severe as migraines, but they can still be painful and disruptive for patients.

What causes headaches?

The exact cause of most headaches isn’t known. However, tension headaches typically occur because of stress and muscle contractions. Migraines, on the other hand, occur because of a change in the way the trigeminal nerve interacts with the brainstem. In most cases, migraines occur after specific triggers, such as changes in the weather, consumption of specific foods, hormone fluctuations and emotional stress.

How does Innovative Medical Center treat headaches?

Innovative Medical Center offers several different types of treatment for patients with frequent headaches. Some of the treatments the doctors at Innovative Medical Center may recommend include:

• Corrective exercises - Corrective exercises can address weak muscles and bad posture habits that may contribute to the development of headaches.
• Trigger point injections - Trigger point injections contain medication that alleviates pain. Doctors administer these injections in specific locations on the body to relieve pain from headaches.
• Soft tissue massage - In some cases, migraines and headaches occur because of tension in the muscles. Soft tissue massage can relieve some of this tension, which can reduce the frequency and intensity of headaches.
• Spinal manipulation - Many people with frequent headaches have problems with alignments in the spine, especially in the neck. Spinal manipulation can resolve these issues and aid in the prevention and treatment of headaches.

Can Innovative Medical Center treat an active headache?

Innovative Medical Center can treat patients who are currently experiencing a headache, as well as those who are hoping to prevent future headaches.