Do you have a dull, vice-like headache over most of your head but worse in the front of your head in your temples, and at the base of your head near your neck?
You may experience what we call a cervicogenic headache. These headaches are found to originate from the neck and or shoulders. Painful ‘pressure points’ or ‘knots’ can reproduce the headache when pressure is applied to the area. We find these in the head and neck area.
Tension headaches are often caused by stress and muscle tension in the neck and shoulders. As these muscles work hard to support your head over the course of the day, they develop trigger points that can cause pain and tension when pressed.
With the right physiotherapy treatment, tension headaches can respond to treatment. This can include working with trigger points, as well as advice and education on posture, neck stretches, heat, and massage. All these aspects can help reduce tension and stress in the body which contribute to headache pain.
Cluster headaches are one of the most painful types of headaches. They are called ‘suicide’ headaches because people with them sometimes feel like taking their own lives because of the extreme pain that can be associated with them. Sudden and severe attacks of headache characterise cluster headaches on one side of the face.
These may last for a few weeks or months at a time, and sufferers can have one or two bouts of these attacks per year. Although there is no known cause, there are certain ‘triggers’ that can cause a cluster headache.
They characterised cluster headaches by severe and sudden stabbing pain which occurs around one eye but can also radiate to the temple or other parts of the face. They only last for 30 minutes to two hours, but the pain can be excruciating, making it difficult to do much more than sit in a dark room until it passes.
During an attack, the sufferer often experiences a droopy lid on the same side as the affected area and may have trouble sleeping during an episode. Cluster headaches usually happen in bouts, with periods of remission between attacks that last weeks or months at a time.
For people with cluster headaches, treatment may involve the use of medicines to help stop or reduce the severity of these attacks. Surgery is not recommended as a treatment option for these individuals. We can also use physiotherapy as therapy to help manage the condition.
If you have ever experienced a headache, then you are likely familiar with the common pain and discomfort they can bring. But did you know there is another type of headache? One that nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and extreme sensitivity to sound light, touch, and smell often accompanies? These symptoms are most commonly associated with migraines.
Migraine headaches can be very debilitating, making it difficult for those who suffer from them to carry on with their everyday lives. There are different migraines, with the most common being migraines with aura. A warning sign that appears before the headache, such as seeing flashes of light or distorted vision, characterises this type of migraine. Other types of migraines include migraines without aura and chronic migraines.
There is no known cure for migraines, but there are treatments that can help to manage the symptoms. These include using pain relievers, anti-inflammatory drugs, and certain types of antidepressants. Sometimes surgical procedures may be recommended as a treatment option.
Physiotherapy can also help manage migraines by teaching people how to control their symptoms and providing them with exercises.
There are several home remedies that people commonly use to relieve their headaches. However, some are not suitable for everyone and can cause adverse effects if they are used incorrectly, or if we took certain medicines or supplements alongside them. Sometimes, the symptoms may be caused by something else altogether — meaning the ‘remedy’ only makes things worse.
