Consult an osteopath for headaches

Headaches, or céphalées in medical terms, are a very common symptom. Between half and three-quarters of adults aged 18 to 65 worldwide have had a headache in the past year, with women predominating. They can vary considerably in terms of severity, duration and triggers. From occasional pain to debilitating migraines, each type of headache has its own distinct characteristics and associated signs. Understanding these differences is essential to determining underlying causes and choosing the best management strategies.

Osteopaths have an important role to play in the management of headaches, as a complement to medical care and after ruling out potentially serious illnesses (your osteopath may refer you for tests in certain cases).

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. They refer to muscular tension, and in some cases psychological tension. So they're often triggered by stress, fatigue or various everyday factors. They can also result from dehydration, eyestrain or poor diet.

Tension headaches are generally described as a dull, constant pain that surrounds the head like a vice. The patient describes a bilateral helmet-like tightening sensation. Headaches last from a few hours to several days, and are not aggravated by physical activity, nor accompanied by nausea or vomiting. These headaches are therefore defined as mild, yet they can have a significant impact on patients' quality of life.

To manage tension headaches, we advise patients to exercise regularly, stay well hydrated, eat a healthy diet and manage stress through meditation, yoga or sophrology.

Migraine is a common neurological condition (30% of adults suffer from headaches) and is the result of complex reactions in the brain and vascular system. They are thought to be linked in part to the dilation of blood vessels in the brain and the activation of pain-sensitive nerves.

Severe, pulsating, throbbing headaches are the characteristic symptom of migraines, occurring on only one side of the head. They are often accompanied by symptoms such as sensitivity to light (photophobia), sound (phonophobia) and smells, nausea and sometimes vomiting. For many people, migraines can weaken and disrupt daily life, as they last between 4 and 72 hours.

20% of patients have auras, which are often visual signs and more rarely signs of sensitivity or speech. The aura is defined by neurological symptoms that occur before the headache, are totally reversible and develop progressively over about five minutes. Auras are a good indicator that a migraine is on its way, which is why it's so important to analyze them.

Visual auras may be spots, lines, luminous dots, white flashes or blurred vision, or even amputation of the visual field. Sensory auras correspond to tingling or tingling-like sensory phenomena, especially in the arm, around the mouth or inside the mouth. Aphasic auras are manifested by language disorders such as a lack of words, i.e. the patient understands what is being said, but is unable to express it in the right words.

Medication treatments such as analgesics (paracetamol, ibubrophen, aspirin), triptans, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, etc. are commonly used to relieve migraines. At the same time, more and more patients are turning to alternative medical approaches such as osteopathy, acupuncture and naturopathy to manage and prevent these painful episodes.

Sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinuses, which are small air-filled cavities in the skull bones, located around the nose and eyes. This inflammation can be caused by bacterial, viral or fungal infection, or by factors such as allergies or environmental irritants.

Swollen and inflamed sinuses can cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms. The main symptoms are :

• nasal congestion or discharge,
• loss of sense of smell (anosmia)
• fatigue,
• fever,
• tooth pain
• a headache, particularly in the forehead area,
• pressure or facial pain,

Treatment of sinusitis depends on the cause. Treatment options may include antibiotics, antiviral drugs, nasal decongestants, antihistamines, nasal lavage with saline solution, ...

Arnold's neuralgia refers to compression of the Arnold's nerve, also known as the superior occipital nerve. This is the sensory nerve running from the upper cervical spine to the skull. This pathology results from compression or irritation of the nerve due to various causes: injury, compression, ...

This condition causes pain and headaches localized in the occipital region (at the back of the head, at the top of the neck) and generally on one side only. It is described as a stabbing, burning pain, and can be very incapacitating. In addition, the area can become extremely sensitive to touch, pressure or even hair brushing against the skin. Pain often radiates to the top of the skull, the forehead or the eye, leading to headaches.

The patient often shows pain with a distinct path from the base of the skull to the eye, on one side only.

Treatment for Arnold's neuralgia is aimed at relieving pain, and may include drugs such as analgesics, anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants, ... Or physical therapy such as physiotherapy, osteopathy or rehabilitation, which can be useful for improving posture, cervical mobility and relieving nerve compression. As a last resort, surgery may be considered to decompress the nerve.

Trigeminal neuralgia involves the V nerve, which is responsible for facial sensitivity and the motor function of certain masticatory muscles. Neuralgia results from compression or irritation of the nerve.

The pain is sudden, radiating and affects only one side of the face. It is often described as a sensation of electric shock, burning or stabbing. At the same time, we find symptoms affecting the eye, nose and mouth.

Seizures are brief, lasting from 3 to 20 seconds, but very repetitive, occurring from 5 to 100 times a day.

Treatment of trigeminal neuralgia is generally aimed at relieving pain and improving the patient's quality of life. Treatments, often involving medication, are determined according to the etiology of the pathology: injections, muscle relaxants, analgesics, etc.

In the case of headaches, the osteopath's role is, on the one hand, to determine what is causing the headache and, on the other, to redirect the patient in the best possible way. If necessary, he can ask for additional treatment. On the other hand, his treatment will offer several benefits to patients, by :

• work on cervical and shoulder joint mobility,
• release of muscular tension in the neck, shoulders, cervical and facial region, or cranial tension,
• stress and anxiety management,
• improved postural alignment,
• health and diet advice to help you live as well as possible.

This manual treatment can have a real positive impact in reducing seizures and pain.

In short, it's important to note that osteopathy is not considered a replacement for conventional medical treatment. But headaches are complex and varied, and their treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach, including osteopathy.

As every patient is unique, it's essential to work closely with healthcare professionals to develop a personalized treatment plan. With a holistic approach such as osteopathy, many patients find effective and lasting relief from their headaches.