“My head is killing me!! I have had a dull achy pain in the back of my head for the past two weeks. It is an intense dull ache that just won’t go away. The pain gradually gets worse throughout the day as I try to do my work. The pain spreads up the back of my head, around my ears, and even behind my eyes. I have been taking some pain medication, but it never gets rid of it. I will eventually have to find somewhere to lay down so that I don’t scream. I don’t know what to do to stop this pain.”

Every year in the US, there are approximately 45 million people that are dealing with chronic headaches. The most common types of headaches are Tension Type Headaches(TTH), Cervicogenic Headaches, and Migraine Headaches. There are many other types of headaches but only the most common will be discussed in this article.

The head pain story at the beginning of this article is classic for a Tension Type Headache(TTH). TTH comes from muscle tension in the neck area. This tension develops as a result of the prolonged sitting positions that most jobs these days require. The classic example is someone sitting at the computer for hours on end. They are tense from emotional stress and then they start to tense there neck, chest, shoulder, and back muscles as they work. This brings the shoulders and head forward, which further increases the tension of the neck muscles. The symptoms are dull achy head pain with tightness or pressure in the forehead, side, and back of the head. TTH is the most common type of headache experienced by adults affecting 10-65% of the population. According to the International Headache Society, these headaches can last from 30 minutes to 7 days, usually do not include nausea/vomiting but may cause sensitivity to light or noise. These headaches can be very disruptive to a person’s daily activities. Treatment of this type of headache usually includes over-the-counter pain medications and rest. The best treatment is to correct the forward head and shoulder posture. Chiropractic adjustments to the upper neck and shoulders can reduce muscular tension in these areas and prevent the problem from turning into a headache. Read the rest of this entry »