Headache treatment in New Milton

Are you getting frequent headaches?
Are headaches affecting day to day life?
Have you tried keeping a headache diary?
Do you get pain in your neck and shoulders?

Testimonials

“I see Katherine fairly regularly for my migraines, lower back pain and tight shoulders. She eases my discomfort with stretches and massage and gives me information about the problem and stretches to practice at home. Katherine always tries to squeeze me into her schedule when I contact at the last minute. She evidently cares about her clients and is passionate about osteopathy regularly sharing information from her professional development courses which is relevant to the problem. Katherine is welcoming, friendly and puts me at ease. I’d recommend her to anyone!” J.Tizzard

“Would thoroughly recommend Katherine. Was recommended her by my partner who had a positive experience with Katherine resolving his posturally related tension headaches“ E.Thurston

“I went to see Katherine at the Osteopaths after I had been to my doctor to find out why I was getting so many headaches, also I had neck and lower back problems

The doctor just did a blood test and couldn’t find any problems, so I was recommended by a friend to try a Osteopath to see if they could help.

I wasn’t sure if that would help, but I’m pleased to say that Katherine really help me with my neck, back, and amazingly with my headaches, I now do the exercises she gave me to do at home and have a lot fewer headaches.

So I can really recommend the Osteopath to anyone who has any of the problems that I’ve had.” J.Dance

Types of headaches and their causes

Headaches are a very common problem but can seriously impact a persons quality of life. While most headaches are not serious a new onset of headaches / change in nature of headaches especially after the age of 50 should be seen by a GP. Also any headaches with associated symptoms such as vision or hearing changes needs investigating.

Tension Headaches:
- Description: Result from muscle tension in the head and neck.
- Symptoms: Dull, steady pain often felt on both sides of the head.
- Triggers: Stress, poor posture, or prolonged periods of screen time.
Migraines:
- Description: Intense, throbbing pain often accompanied by other symptoms.
- Symptoms: Sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, and visual disturbances.
- Triggers: Hormonal changes, certain foods, lack of sleep, or environmental factors.
Cluster Headaches:
- Description: Severe, recurring headaches occurring in clusters.
- Symptoms: Intense pain, usually around one eye, tearing, and nasal congestion.
- Frequency: Often strikes multiple times a day for several weeks or months.
Sinus Headaches:
- Description: Associated with inflammation of the sinuses (sinusitis).
- Symptoms: Pain in the forehead, cheekbones, or bridge of the nose.
- Triggers: Sinus infections, allergies, or changes in air pressure.
Cervicogenic Headaches:
- Description: Originates from issues in the neck or cervical spine.
- Symptoms: Pain typically on one side, may radiate to the forehead or behind the eyes.
- Triggers: Neck injuries, poor posture, or degenerative conditions

Conventional treatment for headaches

Conventional headache management will depend on the type of headaches. Often in mild but persistent cases little help is offered to address the route cause with patient often resorting to reliance on over the counter pain killers. Over reliance on pain killers can actually lead to painkiller overuse/rebound headaches so this is something to be very aware of.

A more in-depth approach to headaches would involves a multifaceted approach. Lifestyle modifications, including stress management and regular sleep, play a crucial role. Dietary adjustments involve staying hydrated and avoiding triggers. Counseling, behavioral therapy, and physical therapy, including exercise and posture correction, contribute to long-term prevention.

With more severe headaches, ie severe/frequent migraines etc other drugs can be used to treat symptoms or as a prophylaxis. Other medical procedures like nerve blocks or Botox injections may be considered for certain cases.

Keeping a headache diary helps track patterns/triggers and aids in finding the best personalised treatment.

How we as osteopaths approach treatment for headaches.

As osteopaths, our goal is to assist you in understanding the type of headache you're experiencing. We often recommend maintaining a headache diary, with apps like Migraine Buddy which offers valuable insights to help you manage headache triggers. It is important to recognise that multiple headache types, like tension headaches and migraines, can coexist.

As osteopaths we are well place to help with tension and cervicogentic headaches. We can look at:

Muscle Tension: Osteopaths can identify and alleviate muscle tension in the neck, shoulders, and head, which often contributes to tension headaches.
Joint Mobility: By improving the mobility of joints in the neck and spine, osteopathy may reduce strain and tension and reduce inflammation around the joints, potentially alleviating certain types of headaches.
Posture: Addressing issues with posture and alignment can help prevent headaches triggered by poor ergonomics or musculoskeletal imbalances.
Stress Reduction: Osteopathy may contribute to overall stress reduction by promoting relaxation and improving the body's adaptive responses, potentially reducing the frequency or intensity of stress-related headaches.
Lifestyle: We can help you by discussing your lifestyle and looking to see if any changes can be made to reduce headache triggers.

Our New Milton clinic offers a convenient location for patients travelling from Christchurch, Highcliffe, Barton-on-Sea and the surrounding New Forest area. With nearby parking and easy access by local transport links, attending appointments is straightforward. We focus on helping you reduce pain, improve mobility and stay active long term.
To book, click here or call 01425 517017.

Katherine Terry, Registered Osteopath, BSc (Hons) Ost