
The Doctors and therapists at the Headache and Pain Relief Centre have
pioneered a 3 step Lifetime Pain Relief Program that runs from four to six weeks
on average. At our pain relief clinic, this program relieves your pain, promotes healing and helps you get
back to doing those things your love.
We have 28 services & treatments to choose from to stop your pain. Our treatments vary from traditional medicine to alternative, holistic care like acupuncture and herbal therapy. With your guidance, we will find the right pain relief combination for you. We listen to you and adjust the therapy to suit your body.
Usually there is more than one cause or trigger for your pain. Once we find
the causes and triggers for your pain, these must be treated, otherwise your
pain returns.
Your pain is under control. Your body is healing. Now it is time to start getting back to the things your love. We’ll help you ease back gently so your pain does not flare.
Treatment
of chronic headache begins with the identification of all the triggers,
both obvious and hidden, that are acting on the brain.
First is to identify the medications and dietary items that could be causing
rebound headaches. For example you may want to stop automatically reach for the
pill bottle or the coffee cup.
The next step is to find the main areas in the head and neck that are sending
abnormal messages. The jaw and the small joints on each side of the neck (facet
joints) are the likeliest problem areas. It takes a sensitive touch to discern
one neck facet join from another and gauge if it moves as it should. An
experienced physiotherapist, chiropractor, massage therapist, osteopathic
practitioner, or headache doctor can usually locate the problem.
The tricky part is getting the right combination of treatments. Because of
the multifactor nature of headaches, as many triggers as possible must be
attacked and corrected simultaneously for treatment to work.
First, the sensitivity of the headache centres can be reduced with a course
of prescription medication called ‘prophylaxis.’ Prophylactic medications may
take 3 to 6 weeks before their full effect is realized. Two different
medications with different actions can be combined in lower doses for greater
effect. Some examples of the medications used are certain blood-pressure pills,
antidepressants, or antiseizure medications. Herbal medicines like feverfew may
be used instead of, or in addition to prescription medications. Certain
essential oils and homeopathic remedies may also be used.
Physical therapy should be initiated next. This implements gradual
corrections in body posture, body movement (biomechanics), and in the ergonomics
of the work and home environment.
Lifestyle and rebound-causing agents are next. Sleep, diet, and exercise must
be as regular as possible. Caffeine, codeine, acetaminophen, and aspirin must be
tapered off rapidly or quit abruptly. The patient must expect to be quite
uncomfortable at this stage for 2 to 4 weeks while the body ‘detoxifies’ itself.
Plenty of fluids, fresh fruit, hot baths, and naturopathic cleansing treatments
may help. Do not plan any major events during this time.
A treatment called ‘nerve block’ is rapidly becoming the definitive method of
treating chronic headache. This technique uses local anesthetic to “freeze” the
nerves responsible for conducting trigger signals to the brain. This is a safe,
effective, simple treatment that allows the body’s own healing ability a window
of opportunity. While these trigger signals are stopped, the brain’s filters can
be repaired and start up again. If offending triggers are eliminated as well,
headaches may never recur.
Once the daily pain cycle is broken, some treatment for the occasional
headache is needed. The group of medications referred to earlier, the triptans,
stops the chain of events leading to neurogenic inflammations, eliminating the
headache, not just covering it up. Pain relievers used sparingly can help. If
practiced frequently, self-healing techniques such as Yoga, Tai Chi, Qi Gong and
mindful meditation, may stop headaches or prevent the release of stress hormones
that spur them on.
Chronic daily headaches do not have to be a fact of life. Careful inventory of triggers, changing of some daily habits and a well thought out treatment plan may get rid of this life-robbing scourge.
Find out how we can help you contact us today.