At Corrective Care Chiropractic, we see patients with headaches every day. Approximately 50% of Americans suffer from chronic headaches. They are very common, but they are not normal! A headache is a body signal or a warning telling you that something is wrong. All headaches are not the same. There are many different types of headaches – tension headaches, migraine headaches, or headaches from a trauma such as a concussion or whiplash, etc.
The causes of headaches are numerous, depending on where the headache is located and when it occurs (time of day). Stress, dehydration, traumas such as car accidents or sports injuries, or even certain foods can trigger headaches. However, as chiropractors, we find that headaches result from misalignments in the spine, which we call subluxations. These subluxations result from chemical, emotional, or physical stressors on the spine. Chemical – certain foods we eat, emotional – mental stress, and physical – micro or macro traumas.
It is common to take a pain reliever like Advil or Tylenol when you get a headache. While this may relieve the pain, it is only temporary. Medications mask the symptoms without addressing the actual cause of the headache! Furthermore, all medications come with some risk or side effects.
A Chiropractor will identify the actual cause of your headaches and correct them, so you no longer have to live in pain!
$99 New Patient Special
Includes consultation with your doctor, thorough chiropractic examination and customized plan of action. Excludes Medicare.
How Our Care Plan Works
1. Discover The Root Cause
Instead of chasing symptoms, we take time to find out why you’re experiencing them. Our thorough exam helps reveal the underlying issues so we can address them with confidence.
2. Your Goals. Our Findings.
We combine your goals, your lifestyle and your expectations with our clinical findings to build a clear, personalized plan aligned with where you want to go.
3. Become A Stronger, Healthier Version Of You
With consistent, corrective-focused care, you don’t just feel better—you function better. We’re here to help you rebuild your health from within and be your best self.
How We Treat Headaches In Westford, MA
Comprehensive Consultation and Exam
When you present to our office with a complaint of headaches, the first step is to conduct a thorough consultation and review of your medical history to determine when the headaches began and what may have caused them (for example, a trauma such as a car accident or a fall).
Our examination consists of a Thermography scan that measures heat and inflammation on the skin, Nervoscope instrumentation, posture analysis, bilateral weight scales, static and dynamic palpation of the spine, and, finally, digital full-spine x-rays. This detailed exam allows us to get to the root cause of headaches so we can correct the problem.
Nutritional Supplementation
There are many different types and causes of headaches. Depending on the type of headache, other complicating factors may contribute to your headaches. The food we eat, the drinks we consume, and the chemicals in our environment can all cause headaches.
A significant trigger for headaches is the artificial sweeteners found in diet sodas. Certain chemicals and dyes in processed foods can cause headaches, as can a high-sugar diet. These foods should be avoided. A diet of whole foods, with healthy fats and protein, is healing for the body and supports a healthy nervous system.
In addition to chiropractic care, some supplements that could help lessen headaches include magnesium glycinate, Omega-3 fish oil, and even essential oils such as peppermint oil. These are a more natural way to relieve a headache than medication.
Common Types of Headaches We Treat in Westford, MA
Tension Headache
Tension headaches are caused by stress. We live chronically stressful lives. When we are stressed, we sometimes clench our jaws, which can cause a headache that feels like pain in our jaw or a band of pain around our forehead. We also carry tension in our shoulders and necks, which can lead to a tension headache.
Chiropractors correct tension headaches by identifying the cause through an examination and x-rays, then developing a plan and a series of adjustments to relieve your headaches.
Migraine
Migraine headaches are more common in women and are typically hormone-related. These headaches can be excruciating and even debilitating. Some people even experience an “aura”, have vision changes, light and sound sensitivity, or even nausea and vomiting.
It is vital to identify the cause of your migraine headaches, and a specific chiropractor will do that. By relieving nerve interference through spinal adjustments, migraine headaches can be alleviated.
Sinus Headache
These headaches feel like pressure across the forehead and in the sinuses on either side of the nose. Sinus headaches can also cause pain in the jaw or ears due to excessive inflammation and fluid buildup in the sinuses that cannot drain.
In cases of allergies and sinus headaches, a chiropractor will often find subluxations or misalignments in the occiput (base of the skull) and the upper cervical spine. Specific Gonstead adjustments of the upper cervical spine will relieve the pressure and thereby reduce the headache. We can also apply gentle pressure to the frontal and maxillary sinuses to ease the pain and allow the fluid to drain.
Cervicogenic Headache
These headaches are typically one-sided, beginning at the base of the skull and travelling upwards to the forehead. You might think this headache comes from the head, but it is actually coming from the neck; that’s why it’s called cervicogenic, “cervico” meaning neck.
These headaches are caused by poor posture, too much sitting, and even macro or micro traumas to the neck and degenerative disc disease. The best way to get rid of cervicogenic headaches is to have your spine checked by a specific Gonstead chiropractor who will identify the cause through a thorough consultation, examination, and x-rays. Chiropractic adjustments will correct the neck subluxations that are causing your headache.
Check Out Our Location Near You
234 Littleton Rd Unit B Suite 1A, Westford, MA 01886
Frequently Asked Questions
When should you see a chiropractor for headaches?
A headache is a warning sign that something is wrong. Do not ignore a headache. A specific chiropractor will get to the cause of your headache and determine how to correct it so your body can heal.
How can I relieve my headaches?
Headaches typically do not resolve on their own. The best way to relieve headaches is to get to the cause – a chiropractor can do that. Specific adjustments of the spine will take pressure off the nerves and relieve the headache.
Can getting your neck adjusted relieve a headache?
Yes, a specific Gonstead neck adjustment can correct the subluxation (misalignment of the spine) that may be causing your headache.
Is chiropractic effective for migraines?
We have had great results with patients who have migraine headaches. A chiropractic examination will get to the root cause of the migraine. A specific adjustment will help relieve pressure on the nerves, allowing the body to heal and function better, and reducing migraine symptoms.
Is a chiropractor in Westford, MA, good for headaches?
We have many patients who come to our office with headaches, and we have had excellent results in helping them. Our doctors practice a specific technique called Gonstead, which is very effective for treating headaches.
$99 New Patient Special
Includes consultation with your doctor, thorough chiropractic examination and customized plan of action. Excludes Medicare.