Nearly everyone has a headache at some stage in their life. Constant & recurring headaches can become debilitating. There are many types of headaches, so it is important to get a diagnosis from a qualified health professional.

The most common headache is the tension headache, usually brought on by an irritation or inflammation of pain sensitive areas in the head and neck. The pain can be a dull ache, tenderness or pressure in the head and neck area. Osteopathic treatment can assist with tension headaches by releasing muscles and improving mobility through the joints of the head and neck.

Migraines are another common headache that can be felt as a dull or throbbing pain in the head or neck, and can have other symptoms including nausea, vomiting, and changes in vision. While Osteopaths can assist in the management of migraines, it is important to find the cause of the headache and to get the accompanied symptoms checked out by a GP. To help find the cause of your migraines, having a diary can help. Put in the diary the amount of sleep you’ve had, the amount of water you’ve drank, how stressed you are and the food that you have eaten. By doing this we may be able to find a cause.

Headaches or head pain can also be felt as referred pain from other areas such as your jaw or muscles in your head or neck, which can be from trigger points or irritation within the muscle. Osteopaths can assist by helping locate trigger points and treat the muscle and joint to relieve your head pain.

Another common headache is a cervicogenic headache. The pain caused by a cervicogenic headache begins in the neck and the back of the head and radiates towards the front of the head, usually affecting only one side of the head. This type of headache can be associated with neck pain and stiffness and a reduced range of motion in the neck.