Headaches are one of the most common conditions affecting new patients in our office. In fact, headaches are the most common neurological condition in the world, affecting 40% of the global population. Instead of just a symptom, they truly are a neurological condition, which is why it’s critical to fix headaches at their source rather than ignoring them or covering them up with medications.
There are many types of headaches, each caused by different kinds of traumas, diet issues, and other stresses. Tension headaches caused by improper posture are the most common, but cluster headaches, stress-induced headaches, sinusitis headaches, and even migraines are common types. While medications like Advil and Tylenol may be effective at helping with headache pain, we know that they don’t fix the actual cause of headaches.
$49 Chiropractic New Patient Special
Includes consultation, examination, motion study x-rays, doctors report of findings.
How Our Headache Care Plan Works
1. Prepare The Soil
Think of our health as a seed that needs to be nurtured. Our health outcomes are entirely dependent on the environment that we create for it. Quality food, nutrition, exercise, and Chiropractic care are the main pillars for positive or negative health outcomes. Just like sunlight, nutritious soil, and water create the best environment for a seed to grow and flourish, so are these pillars for our health.
2. Plant The Seed
Planting and harvesting are both verbs. Taking action to make healthy choices and to make Chiropractic a part of your healthcare routine is vital to making sure the seeds of health are planted in fertile soil.
3. Constantly Nurture
Consistently nurturing our health is vital to success. Sadly, we can’t just workout or eat healthy just once and expect great health results. True health and healing takes time and repetition for great results. Many people who come to see us have had issues that built up over the course of years. It will take time and repetition to correct these issues.
4. Reap What You Sow & Enjoy A Rewarding Harvest
If we make the right decisions, consistently over time, we will reap the rewards of good health. By creating the right environment for our body to heal and be healthy, we will be able to live free of pain, disease, and dysfunction.
How We Treat Headaches in Sun Prairie, WI
Comprehensive Consultation and X-rays
At Harvest Chiropractic, we perform a comprehensive consultation, spinal exam, and motion study X-rays to find the root issues causing your headaches. Typically, we find abnormalities in spinal posture, subluxations (we’ll talk more about this in a moment), and arthritis in the neck as a result of repetitive stress on the spine and from past injuries like falls, concussions, car crashes, etc. Discovering the root cause is essential to caring for each patient, as headaches differ for each person.
Digital X-rays are safe and allow Chiropractors to pinpoint where and how these issues came about so we can adjust daily habits, especially at work and home. The X-rays help the doctor determine the severity of the problem and the amount of care necessary to fix headaches at their source.
Specific Chiropractic Care in Sun Prairie, WI
As promised, subluxation is a big word that simply means a spinal bone is stuck out of alignment and isn’t moving like it is supposed to. While this may not seem like a big issue, we must remember that the spine’s primary function is to protect the spinal cord and spinal nerves. When there is a kink in the armor protecting the nervous system, we have a higher chance of negatively affecting the nervous system. Remember that the nervous system controls and coordinates every single function in the body, so if there is pressure on the nervous system in the neck, not only can you experience pain, but you can also have functional issues like headaches, asthma, allergies, etc. Every patient we see has multiple subluxations, not just one. This creates a layered, onion effect in the spine where one subluxation leads to another, which leads to another. Our care focuses on fixing these subluxations over time so the body can fully heal and function optimally.
We correct subluxations utilizing gentle, specific adjustments that return proper motion and alignment to your vertebrae. Fixing subluxations decreases inflammation and relieves pressure from the nervous system, providing natural pain relief and functional improvement with headaches, migraines, etc.
When it comes to headaches, we typically find subluxations in the upper neck, specifically the Occiput, C1 (Atlas), and C2. Since this is the region of the spine that houses the brain stem and upper part of the spinal cord, any neurological pressure/tension can create many negative effects, namely headaches and upper neck pain just below the skull. What makes Chiropractic so beneficial for patients with headaches is that we address the actual causes of headaches. The traditional treatment model just utilizes medication to cover up the symptoms.
Common Causes of Headaches in Sun Prairie, WI
Poor Posture
Many patients’ spinal posture is so far forward compared to the optimal curve. This stresses the spine, nervous system, discs, joints, and muscles, triggering daily stress or tension headaches. “Tech Neck” is another common postural abnormality that can develop and lead to headaches and neck pain. Nowadays, whether at home or at work, many people spend most of their day looking down. This causes abnormal adaptations that put too much stress on the spine, nervous system, and other supporting structures. Not only does this lead to pain, but also premature spinal degeneration, known as arthritis.
I once had a 16-year-old with full-blown arthritis in her neck, like a 75-year-old would have. Arthritis is less about age and more about the amount of misalignment over time. Think of the tires on your car—the more out of alignment they are, the quicker they will wear out unevenly. This is why it is so vital to seek help immediately for headaches. The problem is typically much deeper than just a symptom, and if we can address it quickly, we have a better chance for success.
Car Accidents
Car accidents, no matter when they happen in a person’s life, are another reason why we see so many patients with headaches. We know that an impact of just 8 mph can cause a whiplash injury. Many patients think whiplash just affects the brain and causes concussions, but the neck is also injured due to the immense force the neck absorbs in a collision. Beyond injuring brain tissue, these forces compress discs, overextend ligaments and tendons, and can create tears, causing actual damage to the bones of the spine. This damage creates immense amounts of inflammation, and if you don’t fix subluxations from these collisions (or ones that were already there) in short order, scar tissue can form, leading to long-term chronic conditions like headaches, migraines, neck pain, etc. This is why you need to come and see us for care shortly after a car accident. It could be the difference between long-term health or long-term pain and dysfunction.
Migraines
Migraine headaches are typically indicated by symptoms beyond pain, including:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Light and sound sensitivity
- Tingling
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Potential visual difficulties
These migraine symptoms indicate what headaches can become when left unchecked over time. The issues become so severe they affect the nervous system, resulting in dysfunction in the visual, sensory, balance, and vestibular systems. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to seek help from a chiropractor if you have headaches or migraines. These issues are extremely debilitating in the long term, and while the pain is bad enough as it is, it can keep people from being able to work, do the things they enjoy, and be present with the people they love. Sadly, I see the damage headaches and migraines do to patients’ lives every day, and I genuinely hope those suffering from these issues seek out help. We’d love to do that for you here at Harvest Chiropractic.
At Harvest Chiropractic in Sun Prairie, our focus is our patients’ health, and we know that patients and families that utilize our care are MUCH healthier than those that don’t. We look forward to serving you and your family in our office for headaches or any other health issues you may be experiencing. If you have questions or would like to schedule an appointment with us, please feel free to reach out to us via phone at 608-318-3602 or email us at team@getharvestchiro.com. Thank you, and we look forward to meeting you soon.
Check Out Our Location Near You
110 N Grand Ave #104, Sun Prairie, WI 53590
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a chiropractor in Sun Prairie, WI, good for headaches?
Absolutely! At Harvest Chiropractic, we work with patients with headaches every day and get great results. In most cases, their headaches and migraines are completely resolved.
When should you see a chiropractor for headaches?
As soon as possible! Headaches are the #1 neurological condition in the world. It’s not just about pain; headaches have adverse effects that inhibit the nervous system’s ability to control every function in your body. The earlier you seek help, the better your chance of quickly resolving your symptoms.
Are chiropractors covered by insurance for headaches?
Yes, chiropractors at Harvest Chiropractic are covered by insurance for headaches. In fact, most, if not all, insurance plans have some sort of chiropractic coverage. However, it is important to note that each patient’s health insurance plan is different, which is why we do a benefits check to make sure we know exactly what is covered and what isn’t before we render any services.
Can getting your neck adjusted help with headaches?
Absolutely! In fact, it may be the best way, instead of masking the pain caused by issues in the head and neck area with medications, creams, etc. Fixing the issues at their source can not only help get you better results but also longer-lasting relief.
Is chiropractic effective for migraines?
Great question! Correcting your posture under the supervision of a chiropractor and fixing the issues causing tension headaches is a great way to relieve tension headaches. At Harvest Chiropractic, we actually work with you to help make work and home life more ergonomic, making the process more efficient and effective.
$49 Chiropractic New Patient Special
Includes consultation, examination, motion study x-rays, doctors report of findings.