Your Headache Solutions

The Area of Your Headache or Migraine Pain

Dean Watson — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 03:33:40 +0000

Where do you feel the pain of your headache or migraine?

This is a really important question for us because the area of your headache or migraine can give us a really strong indication as to which spinal segment we are dealing with.

For example if the pain of your headache or migraine is right behind your eye this suggests very strongly that the spinal segment at fault is that one which lies between the second and third cervical vertebrae (C2-3 segment). Along with this you are likely to feel accompanying neck stiffness or discomfort and if it is on the same side of your headache this is relevant!

Sometimes this neck discomfort or pain may travel up and over the top of the head, fairly close to the midline to end behind your eye, once again this demonstrates that the spinal segment at fault is the C2-3 segment. By the way if your headache is accompanied by significant nausea this provides further evidence of C2-3 involvement – and your pain is likely to be throbbing or pounding in nature.

If your pain is more across the forehead above your eyebrows, this suggests very strongly that the spinal segment at fault is that joint which lies between the skull and first vertebrae (CO-C1 segment).

Similarly, if the pain of your headache or migraine is around the side of your head around your ear, this indicates to us that the spinal segment most likely to be at fault is CO-C1. Some headache sufferers experience a band around their head as if a hat they are wearing is too tight – this is more like an ache, pressure or tightness. Often this type of presentation is misdiagnosed as a ‘tension-type’ headache – it really is an unrecognised cervicogenic headache!

To Summarise & Steps to Finding a Practitioner

So to summarise, if your headache or migraine is one sided and can occur on either side, or can swap sides within the same episode; if your headache or migraine is preceded or accompanied by neck stiffness, pain or discomfort; and if your headache or migraine has gradually increased in frequency over the years, there is a strong probability that your headache or migraine is coming from a neck disorder. But the final confirmation is temporary reproduction and lessening of familiar head pain when we examine your neck. This is a key to diagnosing neck related or cervicogenic headache.

Would you like an Internationally Trained Practitioner to assist you with your Headache or Migraine pain?

A Gradual Increase In The Frequency of Your Pain

Dean Watson — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 03:32:50 +0000

Has there been a gradual increase in frequency of your headache or migraine over the years?

If yes, this is a clear indicator that your neck is involved.

A gradual (as distinct from a sudden, recent) increase in frequency indicates that a neck disorder (usually stiffness of one or more of then top three spinal segments) is worsening and results in a gradual increase in frequency in headache or migraine over the years – sometimes to become continuous – a constant headache! A gradual increase in frequency in headache or migraine over the years suggests very strongly that your neck is the source of your headache or migraine.

However that’s not to say if there hasn’t been an increase in the frequency of your headache or migraine over the years then your neck is not involved.

The other change that often accompanies a gradual increase in frequency is that over the years you are needing to take stronger (as the one you are taking is having less and less of an effect) and stronger medication – this is another indication that your headache or migraine is the result of a worsening neck disorder.

To Summarise & Steps to Finding a Practitioner

Would you like an Internationally Trained Practitioner to assist you with your Headache or Migraine pain?

Neck Stiffness, Discomfort or Pain

Dean Watson — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 03:32:17 +0000

Is your headache or migraine preceded or accompanied by neck stiffness, discomfort or pain?

If so, this a strong indicator that your neck is involved.

Furthermore if your neck stiffness, discomfort or pain radiates down towards your shoulder blade, or running out over the top towards the shoulder this tells us that it is the C2-3 segment, that is, the joint between the second and third vertebrae that is at fault.

If the joint between the first and second vertebrae (C1-2 segment) is stiffness, discomfort or pain is felt a couple of centimetres below the base of your skull – and does not spread like C2-3.

Likewise if the headache or migraine is emanating coming from the joint between the skull and the first vertebrae (CO-C1 segment), the discomfort, stiffness (if you feel any at all – many headache sufferers are not aware of a problem until we lay our thumbs on it!) will be just under the base of the skull.

To Summarise & Steps to Finding a Practitioner

Would you like an Internationally Trained Practitioner to assist you with your Headache or Migraine pain?

One Sided Headache or Migraine Pain

Dean Watson — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 03:30:38 +0000

Is your headache or migraine one sided?

If yes, is it always on the same side or can it swap sides?

For example, if your headache or migraine is on the right on one occasion, can it be on the left on the next occasion?

Or does it swap sides within the same headache or migraine episode?

If your headache or migraine swaps sides it is your neck and not only that it indicates that it is likely to be a subtle disturbance of the disc between the second and third vertebrae (C2-3 segment) that is at fault.

However, even if your headache is one sided and doesn’t change sides, it doesn’t rule out the possibility that your neck is involved.

Based on my clinical observations of over 21,000 hours with headache and migraine sufferers, if your headache is one sided and it can swap sides between episodes, or within the same episode then it is clearly your neck.

Of this I am in no doubt!

To Summarise & Steps to Finding a Practitioner

Would you like an Internationally Trained Practitioner to assist you with your Headache or Migraine pain?

Successful Headache and Migraine Treatment

dean — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:15:38 +0000

Several authorities recently summarised the reasons why headache and migraine treatment often fails.

Amongst other factors, they suggested that the diagnosis is incomplete or incorrect and that this could occur for various reasons.

One of the reasons is ‘misdiagnosis’. I have mentioned this research before but diagnosing headache and migraine is like ‘a dog’s breakfast’; it is all over the place with many patients receiving 2 or 3 diagnoses or patients being misdiagnosed – diagnosed as migraine when in fact it was a cervicogenic (neck-related) headache …..!

The medical profession refuses to acknowledge cervicogenic factors – why? Because relating to it does not fit the medical model and anything that does not fit into the medical model is discarded as unworthy of serious consideration.

The entire diagnostic process needs to be reviewed as well as approaches to treatment. Until cervicogenic factors are considered, headache and migraine treatment will remain unsatisfactory with the only option for you, the headache sufferer, being pharmacological management.

Cheers

Dean

(Lipton RB, Silberstein SD, Saper JR, Bigal ME, Goadsby PJ. Why headache treatment fails. Neurology 2003;60:1064-1070

Yi X et al Cervicogenic headache in patients with presumed migraine: missed diagnosis or misdiagnosis? J Pain. 2005 Oct;6(10):700-3)

Worsening Migraine Attacks

dean — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:15:04 +0000

Worsening Migraine Attacks are decreased significantly by cervicogenic (neck) treatment. Recent evidence suggests that migraine is an increasing condition in which over time, the attacks become more frequent, more severe, less responsive to medication, and perhaps lasting longer.

Research has shown that by decreasing information (surgically) from cervical (neck) nerves deceases the long term worsening of the migraine process. The natural progression of cervicogenic (neck) headache is exactly the same – if it is left untreated, cervicogenic headache becomes more frequent, more severe and eventually becomes continuous. This indicates that with the passage of time the neck disorder is gradually worsening (and it is likely to be loss of function or stiffness). This research supports the idea that cervicogenic (neck) disorders are the reason for not only worsening of the migraine process but also for the migraine process in the first place i.e. sensitisation of the brainstem.

Now I am not suggesting that migraine sufferers rush off and have the relatively minor surgery performed in this study (in fact I respectfully suggest that skilled treatment of the neck would have achieved the same result), but this research clearly demonstrates disorders of the upper neck are significantly involved in the migraine process.

Cheers

Dean

(Perry CJ, Blake P and Goadsby PJ Intervention altering the natural history of chronic migraine. Is chroni?cation of migraine headache a harbinger of peripheral afferent nerve involvement? Cephalalgia 2009; 29 (Suppl. 1):1–166)

How Common Is Migraine?

dean — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:15:32 +0000

There are plenty of statistics in relation to the incidence of migraine, but a recent survey revealed more than just gender incidence.

This survey of over 120,000 households found that four out of ten females and two out of ten males respectively will experience migraine at some stage in their lifetime – most likely before aged 35 years……

….. and that the greatest frequency of attacks are likely to occur between the ages of 20 and 24 years in females and 15 to 19 in males. The authors reported that these findings were in accordance with previous studies.

Clearly this is a significant problem for many!

Cheers

Dean

(Stewart WF, Wood C, Reed ML, Roy J, Lipton RB. Cumulative lifetime migraine incidence in women and men. Cephalalgia 2008;28:1170-1178)

Is Migraine Inherited?

dean — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:15:19 +0000

Is migraine inherited?

In a previous post I mentioned a recent survey which reported that 40 per cent of females will experience migraine in their lifetime.

Why is it then, that if three females in a family of ten for example, the assumption is often made that migraine is inherited? This incidence is no more than what occurs in the general population.

This assumption immediately leads to “ …. well you just have to live with it; there’s nothing we can do but manage the attacks.” This is a life sentence and not necessarily the case.

A skilled examination of the neck will confirm or eliminate cervicogenic disorders as the cause of your migraine condition.

Cheers

Dean

(Stewart WF, Wood C, Reed ML, Roy J, Lipton RB. Cumulative lifetime migraine incidence i women and men. Cephalalgia 2008;28:1170-1178)

Optimising Headache and Migraine Treatment

dean — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 00:05:55 +0000

Whilst I was in the UK recently I had the opportunity to meet with several of my accredited practitioners.

I am pleased to say that the results of treatment/feedback from headache and migraine sufferers was amazing. This has increased their (the practitioners’) enthusiasm for a more substantial course (I am already doing two and one day courses).

There was unanimous agreement that it should be a ten day course for small groups of already accredited practitioners. In this course or ‘Master -Class’, the aim would be to examine and treat headache and migraine sufferers on 3-4 occasions, and how to progress from one treatment session to the next.

It was always my aim to develop the best possible teaching model – here it comes! (and it is being driven by practitioners wanting the best possible outcomes for you the headache or migraine sufferer).

Cheers

Dean

The Headache and Migraine Sufferers Bill of Rights (cont)

dean — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 00:05:08 +0000

A balanced approach to research is required

The last 2 ‘bills’ read:

“The headache sufferer has the right of access to an authorised healthcare provider and to relevant treatment, regardless of age, sex, race, state of health and economic standing and regardless of the geographical, cultural and economic circumstances of his/her community.”

and

“The headache sufferer has the right to expect society and the medical profession to conduct research in the field of headache to improve the understanding and treatment of headache in the future.”

The only issue I have is with conducting research – if research resources investigating the role of the neck equalled that which is put into drug solution then perhaps a more balanced and effective approach finding a would result.

Cheers

Dean

(Members’ Handbook. International Headache Society 2000 Scandinavian University Press)