Should I see an Osteo if I have headaches?

Hello readers! It’s a new month, which can mean only one thing… It’s time for a cuppa and a sit down so you can read our new blog. This month’s topic is one that millions of Australians (and billions around the world) can relate to. Have you ever had a headache?

We’d be surprised if you said no because headaches are one of the most common symptoms experienced by people.

Nearly everyone experiences a headache at some point in their life. If you or someone you know is part of the minority who has never had one, come forth… Medical researchers may want to meet you!

What are Headaches?

There are many different types of headaches. Some are very common, while others are much less common. Examples include:

• Tension-type headaches
• Migraine
• Cervicogenic headaches (head pain associated with the neck)
• Eyestrain headaches
• Withdrawal headaches
• Dehydration headaches
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) related headaches
• Many other causes, ranging from minor to more serious medical conditions

The Burning Question

If you’ve experienced headaches for a long time, there’s a good chance you’ve tried a range of different approaches to manage them.

One of the questions we’re asked most often is:

“Can an osteopath help with headaches?”

Our answer is usually “maybe.”

The first step is understanding what may be contributing to your headaches. Osteopaths are trained to assess how the muscles, joints, nerves and other structures of the body are functioning, while also considering your medical history, lifestyle and daily activities. This whole-body approach may help identify factors that could be contributing to your symptoms.

Many healthcare professionals play an important role in headache management, and when appropriate, we work alongside your GP and other health professionals to help ensure you receive the care that’s most appropriate for you.

What to Expect from Your Osteopath

Headaches can have many possible contributing factors, so understanding your individual situation is an important part of the assessment.

Your initial consultation includes a detailed discussion about:

• Your current symptoms
• When your headaches started
• Your medical history
• Lifestyle factors
• Work and daily activities

This information helps guide our assessment and identify possible causes or contributing factors.

Some headache types have characteristic features, while others require further assessment. Depending on your presentation, we may assess movement, muscle function, joint mobility, posture, nerve function or, where appropriate, blood pressure.

The Consultation

During your assessment we’ll pay particular attention to how your head, neck, upper back, shoulders and posture move and function together. We also consider other areas of the body where relevant, as movement patterns in one region may influence another.

Once we’ve completed our assessment, we’ll explain our findings and discuss appropriate management options.

We select treatments suitable for you, based on your concerns, known effectiveness, or based on our clinical experience of what may assist patients in their recovery. Effectiveness and recovery varies greatly based on a wide range of factors and this will be discussed with you prior to treatment, along with our suggestions for self-care or prescribed exercises afterwards.

Management may include hands-on techniques, education, lifestyle advice and exercises where appropriate. For some people, keeping a headache diary may also be useful to help identify patterns or triggers over time.

Sometimes headaches can be a sign of a more serious medical condition. If your assessment suggests this may be the case, we’ll explain our concerns and, where appropriate, refer you to your GP or another healthcare provider for further investigation.

Whether treatment is appropriate or a referral is needed, our priority is ensuring you receive the care that’s most suitable for your presentation.

Final comments

If you or someone you know is experiencing headaches, call Infinity Health & Osteo on 03 9846 2800 or Book Online to arrange an assessment and discuss whether osteopathy may be appropriate for your situation.

P.S. Unfortunately, we can’t claim to treat ice cream headaches (brain freeze)… but our advice is still the same: slow down and enjoy it! (We know that’s easier said than done.)

Did you catch our last post on Sleep 101: Sleep 101: Issues waking, falling asleep or never feeling refreshed?

Would you like to know about Concussion? Find out here: Concussion