(3-minute read)
As the weather gets hotter, some patients are asking if osteopathic treatment of chronic headaches is available in Bristol.
Chronic headaches can sometimes be triggered by heat waves or prolonged periods of hotter weather conditions across the city. These can be dehydration-related, but not always.
According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), around 10 million people in the UK suffer from chronic headaches and migraines.
It is estimated that this results in more than three billion lost work days due to absenteeism and costs the economy over £4 billion.
There can be long delays waiting for NHS treatment, with some patients reporting waits of up to five years for proper care. We all appreciate the strain suffered by the NHS today.
One of the first things to consider is whether the problem is a chronic headache or a more complex migraine. This article from Medical News Today is a helpful read to understand the differences between both.
Can an osteopath treat chronic headaches?
If there is a musculoskeletal origin to the headache then osteopathic treatment of chronic headaches in Bristol is a good option.
Osteopaths are good at diagnostics and consultation to establish if a chronic headache is likely to be suitable for treatment.
A Bristol osteopath can check for ‘red flags' (more serious issues) that may be causing the headaches. This also enables an appropriate referral to be rapidly made for a patient.
Osteopathy and chronic headaches:
Chronic headaches can be due to problems with the muscles, joints or ligament structures in the neck or below.
Tensions or chronic strain patterns can build up in the neck and base of the skull which can lead to chronic headaches.
Distant problems further down the spine (or even in the limbs) can cause adaptations or compensations that can then also lead to chronic headaches.
The chronic headache may be caused by something distant from the head itself.
Osteopathic diagnosis is good for piecing together the musculoskeletal puzzle to identify what is causing pain.
How does a Bristol osteopath treat chronic headaches?
There are a number of ways in which osteopathic treatment of chronic headaches can benefit patients in Bristol, including:
- Addressing contributing factors can often resolve a chronic headache.
- Osteopathic treatment of muscles and joints both locally and distant to the head, can alleviate the problem.
- As well as traditional mechanical osteopathic treatment, many osteopaths in Bristol use cranial osteopathy which can help to reduce strain and stresses in and around the skull to relieve headaches.
- Chronic headaches (as the term indicates) suggests that a problem has been brewing for a long time.
- A gentle osteopathic approach can be useful in unwinding long-standing musculoskeletal stresses and strains.
Osteopathic treatment can also relieve migraine pain - find out more here.
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