Headaches & Migraines Centennial, CO
- Upper Neck Focused Care
- Cervicogenic Headache Relief
- IMPACT Concussion Certified
Many people who are experiencing headaches on a regular basis tend to build a routine to manage these conditions. They often keep medications available in a bottle in their desk drawers, and they darken their bedrooms for better sleep. However, many still fail to realize how these headaches started in the first place, and the source can come unexpectedly from other parts of the body instead.
At Axis Health and Wellness in Centennial, Dr. Tony Nicholas finds that 90% of the time, migraines start in the upper neck and radiate around the head. Many might feel pain behind one of their eyes, and if the case is cervicogenic, it can often originate from the neck. Any misalignments can irritate the nerves, and this creates pressure. When the neck is the source of the pain, treating it can also ease the headache that an individual may feel.
The Pattern Behind the Headaches Most Patients Recognize
- Patients may feel that the headache is located at the base of the skull.
- It radiates around the head that makes it feel like a band is tightening around the area.
- It ends up behind one eye which is experienced by most people.
- It shows up after spending a long time sitting behind a desk.
If this is the same sequence that you’re experiencing, then no amount of ibuprofen can ease the pain caused by the vertebrae pressing on the nerves.
“90% of the time, headaches and migraines start in the upper neck and then radiate around the head and go behind an eye. But a chiropractor does amazing results for headaches.”
Dr. Tony Nicholas, D.C.Where Chronic Headaches Come From
The usual causes behind a cervicogenic headache that’s common in the findings are the following:
- Poor desk posture, especially if the head tends to drift toward a monitor
- An old whiplash injury that never got treated
- Car accidents, even the minor ones
- Head impacts that resulted in concussions
- Upper trap and neck muscle spasm
- A neck that has ached quietly for years
Dr. Tony holds a certification in IMPACT, which is a concussion protocol, and he’s qualified to treat concussion-related headaches. He also partners with other medical providers to give the patients the best results.
How Headaches Get Treated in Centennial
- Chiropractic adjustments which focus on the upper cervical spine, take the pressure off the nerves for pain relief.
- Dry needling in the cervical area that’s helpful for trap muscles that are going into spasms.
- SoftWave therapy is used as a stimulant in the upper cervical spine, which can be helpful for patients who have head trauma.
- Posture and structural correction especially if the cause is sitting for long hours in front of a desk, can help achieve long-term results.
What Your First Visit Looks Like
- 1Checking the full headache history. The doctor will determine what triggered the headache, and they will want to know any injuries that have occurred in the past.
- 2A thorough exam of the neck and how it moves. Cervicogenic headaches tend to show up in the cervical spine during a medical examination so the doctor can come up with the right treatment plan.
- 3X-rays of the cervical spine. Any misalignment pressing on a nerve can show up on an X-ray, so there’s no guessing.
- 4A plan matched to your pain level. The doctor will take a gentle approach because they follow a do-no-harm rule during each session.
Get Medical Care First If
- You have headache that causes slurred speech, or if you have trouble hearing.
- Dizziness is felt alongside the headache.
- There’s vomiting after a head injury, and the patient has lost consciousness.
These signs mean that there should be medical evaluation because they are serious. The clinic often treats a recurring behind-the-eye type of headache that the pills in the drawer have failed to cure.
How Long Does the Treatment Take?
A timeline is generally followed where the patient may require frequent visits at first, like two to three days a week, so the pressure can be taken off, and they can get relief. This will also help determine the root cause of the headache, and the practitioner may make corrections in the body for the best results. However, if the condition doesn’t improve around the 8th to 12th visit, they will refer the patient to a more advanced medical specialist to know what’s going on.
How Much Does it Cost?
The first visit can be up to $29, which is cost-effective, and it’s less than the price of most people’s ibuprofen medication. The clinic also accepts insurance except Medicaid, plus HSA and FSA cards, CareCredit, Cherry, cash, and credit cards, with payment plans available, including no-interest options.
Headache & Migraine FAQs
Can a chiropractor really help migraines?
Yes. According to Dr. Tony’s experience, 90% of headaches often start in the upper neck, and chiropractic care can do amazing work in these kinds of cases. The treatment focuses on misalignments that may be pressing on the nerves, and the specialist will also apply SoftWave stimulation to alleviate the pain.
My headaches started after a car accident. Is that connected?
Most likely because whiplash can create misalignment in the upper neck, and headaches are one of its classic symptoms. It can sometimes show up months after the collision, especially if there was no treatment done. The hospital bill is typically charged to the patient’s insurance provider, so make sure to gather medical records to support the claims.
What about headaches after hitting my head?
Fresh head injuries with slurred speech need medical care first, and this is the same for those who have blacked out after a car collision. When the serious cases are handled, the specialist can step in to address the lingering headaches, especially if they’re connected to the neck. Dr. Tony has seen that SoftWave stimulation can help patients get the relief that they need.
Why does a long desk day end in a headache?
Hours of a head drifting forward toward a monitor load the upper neck exactly where cervicogenic headaches begin. The muscles spasm, the vertebrae get pressed out of their pattern, and by late afternoon the band around the skull shows up on schedule.
Those cases pair adjustments with posture correction, because if the position that causes it never changes, the headache keeps coming back.
How many visits until the headaches ease up?
Relief can be felt within two to three weeks until the headache calms down, and the treatment can focus more on structural correction, which requires fewer sessions. How long the therapy will last will depend on how long the condition has been present, and there are also re-evaluations along the way.
Do I have to stop taking my headache medication?
No. However, it’s important to consult with your doctor for the best results. The goal of care is to prevent people from depending too much on prescription drugs by treating the root cause of the headache instead of just managing it when it occurs.
Retire the Desk Drawer Pharmacy
If your headaches start at the neck and settle around the eyes, this is an indication that something needs to change. Get the cervical spine examined and imaged and treat the source instead of the symptoms. Fortunately, the right clinic treats headaches for Centennial, Greenwood Village, Lone Tree, Highlands Ranch, Littleton, Aurora, Parker, and Castle Rock, so it’s worth visiting.