Migraine & Headache Treatment | SERVING NEW CANAAN & WESPORT – LOCATED IN RIDGEFIELD CT
One out of every six Americans suffers from severe headaches and migraines.
Dr. David Johnston at the Osteopathic Wellness Center offers holistic health care for migraines and headaches, combining aspects of modern medicine with the effective hands-on therapies of osteopathic medicine. To receive customized care for your migraine or headache, call the office in Ridgefield, Connecticut, or book an appointment online.
Migraine & Headaches Q&A
What are the different types of headaches?
Primary headaches originate in the nerves, blood vessels, or muscles of your head and neck You can also have a secondary headache, which is caused by another medical condition, such as a concussion or sinus infection.
Many aspects of daily life lead to headaches. An unhealthy diet, alcohol, lack of sleep, and poor posture are only a few lifestyle issues that often cause headaches.
The types of headaches frequently treated by Dr. Johnston include:
- Chronic headaches – Chronic headaches are defined as headaches that occur 15 days or more a month for at least three months. Any type of headache can be chronic.
- Migraines – Migraines often begin as a dull ache that worsens into an intense pain that lasts at least four hours and could persist for days. These headaches are triggered by something in your external or internal environment, such as stress, fatigue, lack of sleep, foods, or caffeine.\
- Tension headaches – In addition to headache pain, tension headaches often cause tense, tender spots on your scalp, neck, and shoulder muscles.
- Sinus headaches – When an infection causes mucus to build up in your sinuses, pressure builds and leads to a headache accompanied by nasal congestion and a runny nose.
- Post-concussion headaches – In most cases, these back conditions develop over time due to age-related changes and degeneration.
What symptoms might I develop with a headache?
Migraines cause intense, throbbing pain that’s worse with movement. You’ll also have symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, blurry vision, and sensitivity to lights, sounds, and smells.
Tension headaches typically cause a dull pain and the feeling of pressure across your forehead, while sinus headaches are well-known for pressure and pain around the sinuses. A post-concussion headache often resembles tension or migraine headaches.
Your headache symptoms could go away in less than an hour, last for days, or even persist for months. They could be limited to one localized area or affect both sides of your head.
What osteopathic techniques can help treat headaches?
Dr. Johnston uses gentle, hands-on osteopathic manipulations to restore circulation in the central nervous system and loosen muscle tension in your neck and upper back. As a holistic practitioner, he also explores aspects of your diet, exercise, and lifestyle that may contribute to your headaches.
These are a few of the osteopathic techniques that effectively relieve headaches:
- Cervical soft tissue massage to relieve spasms associated with tension headaches
- Occipital decompression to relieve migraines by stretching tissues at the base of the skull
- Myofascial unwinding to treat tissues surrounding the spasming muscles
Conditions We Treat
Learn more about the various conditions we treat with our health & wellness services.
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