Headaches are very common and result from irritation to the pain sensing structures of the head, upper neck, and face. Almost half of the population complains of some level of recurrent headaches during their lifetime, however most of these are treated with over the counter remedies and are not seen by physicians.

If you have a new onset headache that starts under the age of 5 or over the age of 50 you should be evaluated by a physician.  You should also be evaluated if your headache pattern changes suddenly, if you have changes in vision, fever, weight loss, or if you lose sensation or function in any areas of your body.  These could indicate an underlying disease process that needs to be diagnosed and treated.

The majority of headaches are considered tension headaches or migraine headaches.  Tension headaches are mild to moderate in intensity, are typically on both sides of the head, and feel like a tightness around your head.  Migraine headaches are usually more severe in intensity, usually on one side, and associated with nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light or sound, and/or aura.

Both of these headaches involve irritation to the pain sensitive structures of the head and neck including muscles at the base of the skull, the membranes of the head and neck, arteries, and dural sinuses.  Various things can make the pain sensing fibers more sensitive than normal: lack of sleep, hormone changes, food sensitivities, withdrawal from caffeine or medication, and stress.

Osteopathic Manipulation can help restore normal biomechanical relationships of the head and neck with gentle hands on techniques.  Techniques may address the overall posture of your body, restrictions of joints, muscles or connective tissue, the membranes around the brain and skull, the nervous system, and the blood flow to the head and neck.  This can often result in significant reductions in pain and the need for less medication!

Your overall treatment and management should be directed by your physician(s).  In addition to medication and osteopathic manipulation, here are some things to consider as a part of your treatment plan.

• Get regular and an appropriate amount of sleep (at least 7 hours daily)
• Stay well hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day
• Perform daily exercises and stretches
• Reduce stress (e.g. mindfulness breathing)
• Some supplements may be useful for migraine:
  • Butterbur extract 75 mg twice daily
  • Magnesium L-Threonate 1500-2000 mg per day
  • Riboflavin 400 mg per day
  • Coenzyme Q10 300 mg per day