When a headache strikes, it can be hard to think about anything else, especially if it’s sharp, pulsing, or one-sided. One of the simplest, most natural remedies? Ice. Cold therapy has been used for generations to ease pain and reduce inflammation, and it can be particularly helpful for migraine and inflammatory headaches. Here’s how toContinueContinue reading “Cool Relief: How to Use Ice for Headaches”
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Understanding Post-Traumatic Headaches After Concussion
When you sustain a concussion, the headache that follows isn’t always a single entity—it can arise from multiple underlying generators. In this post, we’ll explore some of the common mechanisms that may contribute to post-traumatic headaches, shedding light on the complexities of headache generation after a concussion and providing references to help you dive deeperContinueContinue reading “Understanding Post-Traumatic Headaches After Concussion”
From Migraines to Occipital Neuralgia: How Ice Can Help Relieve Headaches
If you’ve ever reached for an ice pack during a headache, you know how quickly the cooling sensation can bring relief. Cold therapy is a natural and effective way to manage various types of headache pain, from migraines and tension headaches to nerve-generated headaches like occipital neuralgia. By numbing pain, reducing inflammation, and narrowing bloodContinueContinue reading “From Migraines to Occipital Neuralgia: How Ice Can Help Relieve Headaches”
Technology Spotlight: Vagal Nerve Stimulation for Migraine
Transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation (tVNS) is a non-invasive technique that involves stimulating the vagus nerve through the skin, typically using a handheld device that delivers electrical impulses. It has gained attention as a potential therapy for various conditions, including headaches, without the need for surgical implantation. Here’s how tVNS can potentially help with Migraines: MechanismContinueContinue reading “Technology Spotlight: Vagal Nerve Stimulation for Migraine”
5 Ways Neck Problems Affect Migraine Headaches
Neck impairments and migraine headaches are often connected through a complex interplay of factors, and while not all migraines are directly caused by neck problems, there is evidence to suggest that neck issues can contribute to or exacerbate migraine attacks in some individuals. Here’s how they can be related: Muscle Tension: Muscle tension and tightnessContinueContinue reading “5 Ways Neck Problems Affect Migraine Headaches”
Technology Spotlight: Cefaly
There are a lot of technology options out in the world to help manage headaches. One technology that I have been using with patients since 2013, before it got FDA clearance in 2014, is Cefaly. Cefaly is FDA approved specifically for treatment of migraine. It works by electrically stimulating the supratrochlear and supraorbital nerves, whichContinueContinue reading “Technology Spotlight: Cefaly”
3 Shoulder Exercises to Reduce Neck Pain
No matter what caused your neck pain or headaches, posture almost always plays a role in perpetuating the pain. It is estimated that for every inch your head sits in front of your shoulders, you add about 10 lbs of weight to skull. Now imagine sitting at desk for for 8+ hours a day andContinueContinue reading “3 Shoulder Exercises to Reduce Neck Pain”
Ice vs. Heat
When you have a headache, ice and heat can be beneficial to help relieve the headache. Many people have heard of and tried both of these modalities to help their pain, however, I have found that many people don’t have a good grasp on the how, where, when, and why of using ice and heat.ContinueContinue reading “Ice vs. Heat”
3 Possible Sources of Headaches
Whether you have migraines, tension type headaches, cervicogenic headaches or a combination of any of these, treating the neck can help. Research shows that physical therapy can help reduce pain intensity, headache frequency and headache duration for any of these types of headaches. When a patient complaining of headaches, walks into my clinic there areContinueContinue reading “3 Possible Sources of Headaches”
Dry Needling for Forehead Headaches: Top 5 Muscles to Consider
Muscles of the neck can refer pain into the head causing you to have a headache. It can be daunting to try and figure out which muscle is the problem. Thankfully, we have evidence to tell us where a muscles will typically refer to. Of course, there will always be individuals who have atypical referralContinueContinue reading “Dry Needling for Forehead Headaches: Top 5 Muscles to Consider”
The Headache Therapist 