Treatments
Three Step Lifetime Pain Relief Program
The Doctors and therapists at the Headache & 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 you love.
Step One: Quick Pain Relief
We have 27 services and 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 needs.
Step Two: Healing - Finding the Causes and Triggers for your pain
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.
Step Three: Getting Your Life Back – Back to doing what you love
Your pain is under control. Your body is healing. Now it is time to start getting back to the things you love. We’ll help you ease back gently so your pain does not flare.
27 Services & Treatments offered by the Headache & Pain Relief Centre
- Assessment by medical doctors specially trained in Pain Medicine.
- Anaesthesiologists are part of the medical team.
- Referrals for other specialists like Neurology, ENT, Sleep Medicine, Surgery, etc. as needed.
- Psychology assessment and counseling for depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, etc.
- Pain relief nerve blocks for breaking the cycle of headaches and migraines.
- Trigger point injections for aching muscles.
- Hands-on treatment by Registered Physiotherapist specializing in treating pain.
- Registered Massage therapy for muscle spasms and stress relief.
- Osteopathic therapy for soothing release of fascial restrictions.
- Biomechanical assessment and correction.
- Custom designed personal exercise programs for regaining health or fitness.
- Personal nutritional assessment and eating plan.
- Nutritional testing to rule out food sensitivities.
- Easy to follow advice on which vitamins, supplements and amino acids you really need, which you don't, and why.
- Referral for TMJ splinting and therapy.
- Traditional Chinese acupuncture.
- Anatomical acupuncture for sports or work injuries.
- Custom orthotics for back, hip, knee or foot pain.
- Electro-acupuncture for deeper stimulation of pain relief points.
- Auricular (ear) acupuncture to help withdraw from habit-forming pain killers.
- Knee braces for arthritic knee joints.
- Craniosacral therapy for gentle release of blockages.
- Micro-manipulation for safe and gentle release of restricted joints.
- Nutritional training course for corporate groups.
- Meditation/relaxation program on CD.
- Physical therapy modalities such as laser, ultrasound and interferential current.
- Ergonomic assessment, on-site, of work or home office.
Treatment of Headaches.
Treatment of chronic headache begins with the identification of all the triggers, both obvious and hidden, that are acting on the brain.
The first step is to identify the medications and dietary items that could be causing rebound headaches. For example you may want to stop automatically reaching 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 joint 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 multifactorial nature of headaches, as many triggers as possible must be attacked and corrected simultaneously for treatment to work.
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 and/or amino acids may be used instead of, or in addition to prescription medications for those who prefer a more natural approach.
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, aspirin and triptans (if used daily) 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 blocks’ is rapidly becoming the definitive method of treating chronic headache. This technique uses local anaesthetic to temporarily 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 as 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.
The first step is to identify the medications and dietary items that could be causing rebound headaches. For example you may want to stop automatically reaching 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 joint 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 multifactorial nature of headaches, as many triggers as possible must be attacked and corrected simultaneously for treatment to work.
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 and/or amino acids may be used instead of, or in addition to prescription medications for those who prefer a more natural approach.
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, aspirin and triptans (if used daily) 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 blocks’ is rapidly becoming the definitive method of treating chronic headache. This technique uses local anaesthetic to temporarily 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 as 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.