Headaches

Headaches are incredibly common and usually result in mild to severe disability, pain and lifestyle disruption. Headaches can be experienced as a dull or sharp ache or pain in the head region with or without accompanying symptoms such as nausea, disturbed vision, sensitivity to noise and bright lights and muscular and joint tightness in the neck and shoulder region.

Despite their prevalence, one of the challenges underlying the management of headaches is identifying the causative triggers. Headaches can arise in reaction to psychological symptoms (such as anxiety, depression and chronic stress), hormonal or chemical imbalances (including problematic oestrogen and progesterone levels) or physical stress (such as sustained poor posture, muscular weakness and imbalances, or after a whiplash injury to the neck).

Many individuals elect to manage their headaches through pharmacological means such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (Nurofen, Voltaren) or paracetamol (Panadol). While these remedies can produce varying levels of relief, they are not effective for all individuals and their short term and long term use can result in unpleasant side-effects. Additionally their use is not always safe for individuals taking other prescription medications.

Headaches relating to joint and muscle tightness in the neck typically involve neck pain or discomfort that then spreads into the head (usually the front or the side). An individuals' symptoms are often exacerbated when they try to actively move their head and neck in various directions.

You might be wondering at this point - "how does my neck have anything to do with my headache?"

Well, that's a good question, and there are a few important reasons.

Firstly, our head weighs about the same as a bowling ball. Whenever we are sitting or standing, our neck joints and muscles are constantly working to support the weight of this bowling ball. If the muscles are not strong enough or there is joint degeneration (arthritis) in the neck, these support structures begin to fatigue and we adapt a different posture to be able to continue with our activities. Once the muscles and joints reach a level of fatigue they can begin to cause noticeable pain and stiffness.

Secondly, the nerves that supply sensation and movement around the head originate from the part of the spinal cord that sits next to the upper part of the neck. These nerves travel from the spinal cord, pass through a small passage in the spine (called the intervertebral foramina) before traversing into different regions of the head. When the joints in the upper part of the neck become stiff, they narrow the amount of room the exiting nerves have, resulting in increased nerve pressure that is experienced as a headache. Therefore, once the pressure around the joints and nerves is relieved, the headache will often dissipate.

Physiotherapy and massage offers an alternative management for headaches. These techniques are safe and side-effect free and involve loosening the joints and muscles that are triggering the headache symptoms. Through posture education and muscle retraining, over time, physiotherapy can help to address the actual cause of the headache rather than simply masking the headache symptoms. These techniques work most effectively for headaches that are related to joint and muscular tightness in the neck that has resulted from sustained poor postures, muscular weaknesses and imbalances or a whiplash injury following a car accident or significant fall. The relaxation effects of massage may also help individuals experiencing headaches that primarily relate to anxiety and stress.

If you are struggling with headaches and searching for someone who will listen, work with you and help you achieve relief from your symptoms, call Brighton Bay Physiotherapy in Melbourne now on 8506 0451 to make an appointment with one of our dynamic, highly skilled physiotherapists. Does someone you know seek pain relief?