What causes headache casefile

What causes headache casefile when it's clearly not from the arthritis in the cervical spine?

There are many causes of headache; doctors of every ilk need to be diligent.

This patient takes you on a little tour of the causes of back of head headache, in this instance supposedly from arthritis of the neck.

Mrs P, a 73 year old woman, consulted me four months ago complaining of cervical neck and suboccipital pain, an ache 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 and, 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.

Back of head headache

What causes headache casefile

What causes headache casefile takes you on a little tour of the causes of back of skull pain; in this case supposedly arthritis of the neck.

Mrs P's doctor told her that she had bad arthritis of the neck; that was the cause of her neck pain and headache. And she would have to learn to live with the pain. Anti inflammatory drugs and analgesics would help.  So she took his word for it. Twenty-five years of stiff neck and headache.

Did you know that over 200,000 Americans die every year from the side effects of medication. Luckily Mrs P was as strong as an ox, and the drugs hadn't had a major iatrogenic illness effect on her. Not yet.

Chiropractic help

Incidental findings are those that are true, but have no bearing on the condition being considered. For example, a patient may have high blood pressure, or poor eyesight, but it has no bearing on their headaches.

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.

So I told her, 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 very little arthritis up there. The lower neck pain and weakness in your arm will be far more difficult.

Chiropractic help had much to offer to this what causes headache casefile but there were no promises of instant relief. With a long standing condition you have to be patient whilst your doctor tries different combinations of adjustments in order to correct the problem; and accept that it probably won't get completely better. Miracles we do at once but the impossible takes a little longer and may be unachievable.

TREATMENT

There 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 
• arm pain
  
  

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 AcromioClavicular 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. There's absolutely no hope of get properly better so she has joined that group who come in "onder controle'. Chiropractic Maintenance Care is controversial but coming in for her six weekly treatment she declared she has no headaches and minimal neck pain. It's stiff without a doubt, but 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. There Chiropractic excels in too. Read more about Chiropractic Ankle Sprain treatment.

• ANKLE SPRAIN TREATMENT ...

What made the difference?

WHAT CAUSES HEADACHE CaseFile

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!

• ANKLE JOINT PAIN CASE FILE ...

Pinched nerve in neck

Pinched nerve in neck is often posture related. Never underestimate the effect of long hours in front of the computer and and our bad habits on the spine. They can be devastating. Right now I've moved back to my native South Africa, and my set-up at the computer can only be described as terrible. We'll change it within a week, already I can feel the effect in my neck, arm and shoulders.

A PINCHED NERVE IN NECK should be a major consideration in every what causes headache casefile.

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WHAT CAUSES HEADACHE CaseFile

• Return from this CaseFile to WHAT CAUSES HEADACHE ?
  

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