WHAT CAUSES HEADACHE CaseFile
Mrs P, a 73 year old woman, consulted me four months ago complaining of cervical neck pain, back of the head headache, pain in her right shoulder and tingling in her arm. It all started after a terrible fall down a Dutch staircase when she cracked her head at the bottom against the plinth. She was diagnosed at the time with concussion, otherwise just a few bruises. Over the year she had various medical treatments with less than satisfactory results, perhaps because they attributed her headaches to arthritis. However, read on ... Three years ago she consulted her doctor again. "What's giving me such headaches and neck pain, Doctor?" X-rays were ordered. I'm not sure, but her doctor was probably shocked when s/he saw the rontgenfotos. I certainly was.
WHAT CAUSES HEADACHE CaseFile. BACK OF HEAD HEADACHE
REPORT OF FINDINGSMrs P's doctor told her that she had bad arthritis of the neck, and she would have to learn to live with the pain. So she took his word for it. Twenty-five years of stiff neck and headache.Chiropractically I had to report to her the outlook was not good. Yet I have learn't not to dampen hope, that all important ingredient of the health-bake. Dash her hopes with the seriousness of the situation and all was lost. However the reality of the situation I had to report honestly. She already knew (from the examination) that the skin in C5 dermatome was hypersensitive. Worse, there was motor weakness in the Deltoid and Biceps muscles in her right arm. But I told here: "Mrs P there is really much to be done. Your headaches are coming from the second vertebra at the top of your neck, and there is little arthritis up there."
WHAT CAUSES HEADACHE CaseFile. TREATMENTThere was one further complication, an important one. Mrs P had high blood pressure, controlled by medication: 150/70. That didn't bother me, but, a big BUT, in 2003 she had several TIAs and then a stroke. She was certainly in the high risk group for upper cervical manipulation. Read more about stroke chiropractic.STROKE CHIROPRACTIC So we started conservatively with mobilisation of the lower part which had so much arthritis of the neck, use of an activator instrument for her C2 fixation, and adjustment of the Acromio-clavicular joint fixation in her right shoulder. Bingo! After only 4 treatments she said she had 40% less pain and could sleep normally. Eventually, after discussing the risks I have been very gently adjusting her upper cervical spine, whilst mobilising the lower arthritic neck. I had to pinch myself yesterday. Coming in for her six weekly treatment she declared she has no headaches and minimal neck pain. It's stiff without a doubt, and she's sleeping normally for the first time in years. Unfortunately she slipped on the ice last week, and her inversion sprain of the ankle is a beauty. That Chiropractic excels in too. Read more about Chiropractic Ankle Sprain treatment. WHAT CAUSES HEADACHE CaseFile. What made the difference?The treatment, yes of course, but just as important a careful, thorough physical examination that revealed that her real pain, the suboccipital headaches, was not coming from the arthritic lower neck.Her lower neck is a mess too, but in comparison to her upper neck troubles ... she's one very happy lady. Now to fix her ankle!
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