Understanding Headaches

What are Headaches?

Headaches are a common form of discomfort or pain affecting the head, face, or upper neck, significantly impacting daily activities and quality of life. They can be caused by a long list of possible factors or triggers, including but not limited to:

Hormonal factors
Environmental triggers (dust, smoke, allergens, noise, bright light)
Head injury (trauma, whiplash)
Stiffness in muscles and/or joints of the neck
Dehydration
Sinister pathologies (infections, brain tumours, increased intracranial pressure)

I Need To Book An Appointment

When to Seek Professional Help

Seek immediate medical advice if experiencing:

Sudden, severe headache ("thunderclap" headache)
Neurological symptoms (weakness, visual disturbances)
Headaches following trauma or injury
Headaches with fever, stiff neck, or altered consciousness

Migraine

Typically characterized by moderate to severe throbbing pain, often one-sided.
May include symptoms like nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light (photophobia), and sound (phonophobia).
May occur with an aura (blurred vision, tingling, altered taste, ringing in the ears
Can last from 4 to 72 hours if untreated.

Cluster Headache

Severe, sharp pain usually around one eye or one side of the head.
Accompanied by autonomic symptoms such as watery eye, nasal congestion, or drooping eyelid.
Attacks typically occur in clusters, lasting from 15 minutes to 3 hours.
Typically, multiple headaches a day for multiple days, then periods with no headaches

Types of Headache

Tension-Type

Most common type of headache.
Usually described as a constant, dull, pressing pain or tightness around the head.
Rarely associated with nausea or vomiting, and typically mild to moderate intensity.
Pain is felt on both sides of the head.
Pain is typically no worse for exercise or activity

Cervicogenic Headache

Pain originates from the neck, often due to structural neck issues or tension.
Characteristically unilateral (one-sided), starting in the neck and radiating to the head or face.
Associated with restricted neck movement and tenderness of cervical muscles.
May get worse with particular neck positions

Recognising Differences Between Headaches

Migraine: Throbbing, unilateral pain with sensory sensitivities.
Tension-Type: Bilateral, pressing or tightening sensation without significant associated symptoms.
Cluster: Intense unilateral pain with distinct autonomic symptoms and short duration.
Cervicogenic: Pain linked directly to neck movement or sustained postures.

How Manual Therapy and Osteopathy May Help

Evidence suggests that manual therapy, including osteopathic interventions, may help reduce frequency, intensity, and duration of tension-type and cervicogenic headaches by: