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For most Americans, over-the-counter painkillers are the first line of defense against headaches. While these analgesics—including aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen—provide temporary relief, they can also cause rebound headaches and increase the frequency and severity of headaches. The same can be said about many prescription painkillers.

The human body uses pain as a warning sign that something is wrong. When pain is masked with medications, the cause of the problem is ignored; the body compensates for this by increasing pain and other symptoms.

Most headaches are not caused by problems related to the head or skull. In fact, the brain itself does not have pain receptors. The vast majority of headaches are caused by problems associated with the muscles, ligament, joints, and nerves of the middle and upper cervical (neck) region.

There are many types of headaches. The following list includes the most prevalent forms:

Tension-Type Headaches: Tension-type headaches are the most common type experienced by adults. These headaches may be the result of spasms in the muscles of the neck, jaw, and face.

Migraine Headaches: Migraine headaches usually occur in conjunction with other neurological symptoms such as sensitivity to light and sound; numbness and tingling; or auditory and visual disturbances. Migraine headaches produce a throbbing pain that is often concentrated on one side of the head.

Cluster Headaches: Cluster headaches occur periodically. They involve cycles of pain followed by remission.

Sinus Headaches: Sinus headaches are caused by inflammation of the sinuses due to allergies or as the result of an infection.

Medical Treatment/Pain Management for Headaches: Physiatry

A Physiatrist is a medical doctor specializing in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. For headache patients, this type of physician will often recommend a combination of therapies, including physical therapy, acupuncture, massage therapy, or chiropractic (more on these treatments below).

When conservative treatments have been exhausted, and headache symptoms continue, some patients are considered candidates for minimally invasive procedures such as Trigger Point Injections or Epidural Steroid Injections.

Trigger Point Injections may be used to treat headaches associated with myofascial trigger points (hypersensitive areas in the muscles that can lead to headache). Trigger Point Injections use a local anesthetic medication and/or cortisone.

In some cases, patients with neck pain also experience headaches. When neck pain is treated properly, headache pain may be alleviated. Physiatrists perform Epidural Steroid Injections to relieve pain and inflammation associated with neck pain and headaches. This treatment involves the injection of a long-lasting steroid (cortisone) into the epidural space—the area that surrounds the spinal sac and acts as cushioning for the nerves and spinal cord.

Acupuncture for Headaches

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese technique; it is based on the principle that all pain and disorder in the body is caused by blocked or imbalanced Qi (life energy). The goal of acupuncture is to relieve pain and re-establish health by restoring the body to its natural, balanced state.

For headaches, acupuncture prompts the release of endorphins, which are produced by the body and act as painkillers. Acupuncture may also help to increase serotonin levels (studies show that chronic headache sufferers often have low levels of serotonin). Serotonin helps to improve mood while blocking pain signals before they can reach the brain.

Acupuncture is painless, drug-free, and has no side effects.

Headaches and Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is used to normalize the musculoskeletal system in order to ease tension and stress on the soft tissues and joints of the spine. Physical therapy for headaches may include any of the following techniques:

• Therapeutic Exercise;
• Massage;
• Hot and Cold Therapies;
• Traction;
• Electrotherapy;
• Ultrasound; and
• Low Level Laser Therapy.

Chiropractic Care for Headaches

When misalignments in the neck (cervical spine) irritate the nerves of the spine that travel to and from the brain, headaches are often the result. This misalignment may also cause some headache sufferers to become more susceptible to chemical imbalances in the brain that cause headache. Chiropractic works to remove pressure against inflamed nerves and relieve pain by realigning the vertebrae of the spine.

Headache Treatment with Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage is a healthy, drug-free treatment option for relieving the stress and anxiety that can often lead to headaches. Deep tissue massage is instrumental in the release of muscle tension and chronic knots (known as adhesions) that are a part of the cycle of stress and pain. Studies also suggest that, like acupuncture, deep tissue massage may also enhance levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that can be a helpful pain management and mood-enhancing tool.

Headache Treatment at Monmouth Pain and Rehabilitation Center

At our Red Bank, NJ office, we understand that chronic pain conditions can be difficult to treat. Many headache sufferers visit a dizzying array of healthcare practitioners in search of a solution for their headache pain. This often involves visiting multiple offices for medical care, acupuncture, physical therapy, massage therapy, and/or chiropractic care. This process can be confusing and (even worse) ineffective when healthcare practitioners do not work cooperatively with each other.
Monmouth Pain and Rehabilitation Center offers a different solution. By incorporating all of these disciplines under one roof, headache treatment in our Monmouth County office is more effective and cohesive.
To learn more about treatment for headaches in Monmouth County, please contact our Red Bank, NJ multi-disciplinary facility.