Headaches

Headaches can be more than just a minor inconvenience; they can significantly impact your daily life and overall well-being. At our clinic, we specialise in diagnosing and treating various types of headaches, providing relief through tailored treatments with an osteopath.

Common Types of Headaches We Treat

Our experienced team is equipped to manage a range of headache types, including but not limited to:

• Tension Headaches: Often characterised by a dull, aching pain and a sensation of tightness or pressure around the forehead or the back of the head and neck.

• Migraine Headaches: Severe headaches that may cause throbbing pain, usually on one side of the head, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound.

• Cluster Headaches: Intense, piercing pain typically around one eye, occurring in clusters or cycles, often at the same time each day.

• Cervicogenic Headaches: Headaches that originate from issues in the cervical spine (neck), presenting as pain radiating from the neck to the forehead, temples, or around the eyes.

• Sinus Headaches: Pain and pressure around the sinuses (forehead, cheeks, and eyes), often accompanied by nasal congestion.

Symptoms of Headaches

The symptoms of headaches can vary depending on the type and cause, but common symptoms include:

• Pain: Can range from dull and aching to sharp and throbbing.

• Pressure or Tightness: Sensation of tightness or pressure around the head, neck, or behind the eyes.

• Sensitivity: Increased sensitivity to light, sound, or smells.

• Nausea and Vomiting: Often associated with migraines.

• Visual Disturbances: Aura or visual changes, such as flashing lights or blind spots, particularly with migraines.

• Neck Pain: Stiffness or pain in the neck, especially with cervicogenic headaches.

Our Approach to Treatment

Our approach to treating headaches focuses on identifying the underlying cause and providing comprehensive care to alleviate pain and prevent recurrence. Our treatment methods include:

• Manual Therapy: Hands-on techniques to manipulate and mobilise the muscles and joints of the neck, shoulders, and back, aiming to reduce tension and improve circulation.

  
  

• Exercise Therapy: Personalised exercise programmes to strengthen neck and shoulder muscles, improve posture, and enhance overall physical function.

• Postural Education: Guidance on maintaining proper posture in daily activities to reduce strain on the neck and shoulders, preventing tension headaches.

• Lifestyle and Stress Management: Strategies to manage stress, improve sleep, and adopt healthy habits that can help reduce the frequency and severity of headaches.

• Trigger Point Therapy: Techniques to release tight muscle knots (trigger points) that can refer pain to the head and neck.