The Only Process for Managing Headaches

One Accord Physical Therapy Blog The Only Process for Managing Headaches
headache relief

As we grow older, our bodies go through various changes that can affect our health. One of the most common health issues that people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s struggle with is headaches. If you're someone who experiences frequent headaches or migraines, then you know just how debilitating they can be. They can make it difficult to focus, work, or even enjoy your free time. In this blog post, we'll explore the causes of headaches and migraines and provide some tips on how to manage them.

Causes of Headaches and Migraines

Headaches and migraines can be caused by a variety of factors. Some of the most common causes include stress, poor sleep patterns, dehydration, and certain foods. Hormonal changes, particularly in women, can also trigger headaches or migraines. Additionally, underlying medical conditions like high blood pressure, sinus infections, and head injuries can lead to headaches.


Managing Headaches and Migraines

Fortunately, there are several ways to manage headaches and migraines. Here are a few tips:


1. Keep a headache diary: Keeping track of when your headaches occur and what activities you were doing before they started can help you identify triggers. This can include certain foods, stressors, or changes in your sleep patterns.


2. Drink plenty of water: Dehydration can be a common trigger for headaches. Make sure you are drinking enough water throughout the day to stay hydrated.


3. Get enough sleep: Sleep is essential for your overall health, and it can also help prevent headaches. Make sure you are getting enough sleep each night and try to establish a consistent sleep schedule.


4. Manage stress: Stress can be a major trigger for headaches. Find ways to manage your stress levels, such as practicing relaxation techniques like meditation or deep breathing exercises.

When to Seek Medical Attention

While most headaches can be managed with lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medications, there are times when you should seek medical attention. If you experience any of the following symptoms, make an appointment with your doctor:


- Severe headaches that come on suddenly

- Headaches that are accompanied by a stiff neck, fever, or confusion

- Headaches that are accompanied by vision changes or slurred speech

- Headaches that are triggered by physical activity

Our process includes three steps:

STEP I: Step one includes an intake questionnaire and a thirty-minute telemedicine visit with our headache and migraine specialist. 

This will indicate if you would benefit from an in-person examination. This includes a detailed history of your headaches. 
Next, we will map out the area of the headache and analyze the behavior of the symptoms. This is so vital to both treatment success, and long-term outcomes as it gives us critical pieces of the puzzle and helps us target our treatment approaches.

Step II: Step two is a 1-hour in-person visit typically covered by your insurance. During this visit, you will experience the following:
A screening of your upper cervical region and nervous system for any red flags that may deem you innapprotiate for our care, and may even necessitate a referral to a trusted specialist.


We will perform a thorough physical examination of the entire neck, with special attention paid to the upper three cervical spine joints.  Our aim is to reproduce and reduce your the headache symptoms with our session. This vital step tells us if your specific presentation will respond to our treatment strategies. 


During this visit, we will tell you:

Step III: Step three is our ongoing headache and migraine program. Typically patients are seen 10-12 times over a 3-6 month period, sometimes much shorter, often much longer, depending on the severity, complexity and your compliance with our recommendations. 

You will be progressed through three phases of recovery:

Phase 1: Goal is to calm symptoms down by de-sensitizign the trigeminal cervical complex.

Phase 2: Goal is to create stability and/or mobitliy in the upper cervical spine. 

Phase 3: Goal is to return to function, performance and long term management of your symptoms, while you get back to doing the activities you love.

Ideally, patients are seen twice a week for the first 2-3 weeks, depending on their unique presentation.

Frequency is reduced as we see positive results to one time a week, or every other week or monthly, depending on how well you respond to treatments and comply with your home program. 
We assess the cervical spine every visit and update our treatment goals and home exercise program and address any behavior modifications that need to be implemented.

Every visit will include a critical aspect of lifestyle medicine coaching, as we know from experience that lifestyle factors such as sleep, stress, and nutrition play a role in the long-term success of our patients. 

Conclusion

Headaches and migraines can be a common issue for men and women in their 30s, 40s, and 50s. While there are several factors that can trigger headaches, there are also several ways to manage them. By keeping a headache diary, staying hydrated, getting enough sleep, managing stress, and using over-the-counter pain relievers when necessary, you can reduce the frequency and severity of your headaches. However, if you experience any severe or concerning symptoms, make sure to call us to schedule an initial evaluation. 855-331-7522

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