Let's Talk About Headaches

Did you know that 80-90% of people have suffered from headaches in their lifetime?  13% of all Americans have migraines. 20% of those have medically resistant headaches that require intervention. If headaches are treated at home, mainly with “as-needed” medication, they have a very high risk of developing medication overuse headache, which can be very difficult to treat.

There are several different types of headaches, including migraine, tension, and cluster headaches. Migraine headaches are often described as being pulsating in nature, moderate to severe in intensity, typically one-sided and can last anywhere from a few hours to several days. Tension headaches are the most common type of headache experienced by adults. Tension headaches are often stress related or associated with musculoskeletal problems in the neck and sometimes even your jaw. Tension headaches are described as a feeling of pressure or tightness and can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Lastly, cluster headaches are the least common of the three headaches. Cluster headaches are described as extreme in pain typically focused around one eye, which lasts for a brief amount of time, however, occurs frequently and reoccurring throughout the day.

For patients who experience chronic headaches, Dr. Daniel Feldman performs a number of interventional procedures, depending on the nature and chronicity of their headaches. Frequently, headaches can be generated by abnormalities in the neck. For these patients, Dr. Feldman often blocks the nerves in the head and neck that are associated with headache development, as well as treat the muscles in the neck and upper back.

There are many different approaches to effectively treat and manage headaches. Treatment often includes effective interventions, as mentioned above, medication, life-style modifications, patient education and physical therapy. Physical therapy has been proven as being an effective and often preferred choice of treatment for many individuals who suffer from headache disorders. Therapy often includes patient education, strengthening, and manual therapy.

At Mendelson Kornblum Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation, we have a devoted team of therapist trained in the assessment, treatment and management of headache disorders. Together with patients and patients’ physicians, therapists will complete a thorough examination. During the examination, a therapist will review a patient’s health history, perform tests, and ask questions to determine the most likely cause of the headaches. After the assessment, the therapist will determine the best individual treatment for a patient.  Treatment can include:

  • Manual therapy such as myofascial release, soft tissue massage, or cranial sacral therapy to increase movement and relieve pain
  • Joint mobilization to the cervical, temporomandibular joint (TMJ), or shoulder to increase mobility and decrease pain
  • Instruct on strengthening exercises for the upper back and neck to improve posture and endurance
  • Education on posture
  • Modification of workstation or office to improve ergonomics

 

Mendelson Kornblum has a robust Chronic Headache Program, which allows our patients to receive advanced treatment of headaches in a calm and relaxing environment. Our highly trained therapists offer one-on-one treatment in a private room, away from noise and lighting that sometimes trigger headaches.

To schedule an appointment to be seen by one of our headache specialists, call

586-439-6243 for our Warren office

734-542-9770 for our Livonia office.

 

 

Posted in Migraine