Headaches and migraines

Headaches and migraines can be very debilitating and affect most people at some stage of their lives. There are more than 200 types of headaches ranging from simple strains to more complex ones.

Headaches often arise from tension, muscle stiffness or joint strain in the neck and upper back. Other causes can include eyestrain, sinus problems, whiplash injury, stress, poor posture, teeth grinding, infection or allergies. If the presentation appears to be a more serious problem, we will refer as necessary. When not serious, we can help diagnose the cause and assist in alleviating the headache through improving mobility and reducing muscular tension in the back, ribcage, head and jaw as well as advising you on posture, diet and exercises.

A migraine is different from other headaches because it may cause symptoms including: Nausea or vomiting, sensitivity to light, sound, or smells. Migraine attacks are experienced as a headache of at least moderate severity usually on one side of the head and occurring with the symptoms above. The headache is usually made worse by physical activity. Migraine attacks usually last from 4 to 72 hours and in most cases there is complete freedom from symptoms between attacks. Certain factors are involved in triggering an attack in those predisposed to migraine. These are usually called trigger factors and can include lifestyle, and hormonal changes.

We will take a thorough case history as well as performing an osteopathic examination and endeavour to identify the cause of the pain (i.e. muscle, joint, ligament), we will also aim to understand why that area of your body is under strain. Osteopathy and massage are a safe alternative to medication for headache. By reducing muscle tension, restoring healthy blood supply to nerves and promoting good movement through the joints, we are able to significantly reduce the presence of nerve irritation and muscle tension helping to alleviate the cause of your headaches.

We will further support your journey back to health by advising on posture, ergonomics, exercises and stretching. If required, we will also communicate with your GP.

IMPORTANT: If the headache you are having is accompanied by fever, nausea, vomiting, bleeding/fluid from ears or nose, dizziness, blurred vision, slurred speech, numbness, tingling or paralysis. This is especially important if this is the first time you are experiencing this headache.
Seek urgent medical advice from your GP

IF YOU WOULD LIKE FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CALL US 01270 629933 OR EMAIL INFO@WEAVERHOUSE.COM

Small changes can bring big results

The average mobile ‘phone user spends 90 minutes on average on their ‘phones each day. This doesn’t sound like a lot, maybe the same time you spend watching TV, however this adds up to 10.5 hours each week that you look at your phone! 

This means less time to exercise, more stress on your body, not to mention the time it takes away from the people around you. You are disengaged from all of those. 

The (tongue-in-cheek) term ‘iposture’ is quickly gaining recognition as the ideal description for the way we hunch over our mobile phones, but it’s no laughing matter as this is one of the main causes of poor posture and lower back pain.

Try scheduling designated time to handle your emails and social media from your computer where you can set up your ergonomics to support good body positioning as you type.

If your phone has a voice dictation feature, learn how to use it and talk your text messages, social media posts, and emails. This may take a little time to get accustomed to, but your neck, shoulders, and back will thank you.

Avoiding the mobile phone slump is simple and anyone can do it. It just requires a little self-discipline and awareness. But it’s worth doing for the difference it will make in your neck, back, and the rest of your body, too!

If you feel that you are suffering from the effects of poor posture give us a call and schedule a free 15-minute osteopathic back and health assessment check 

01270 629933 or email info@weaverhouse.com