Suboccipital Headaches After A Car Accident – Can Chiropractic Help?
Suboccipital headaches after whiplash is a very common injury. The upper part of the neck (suboccipital region) is particularly vulnerable to whiplash injuries. The whiplash commonly results in injury to the upper 3 joints (vertebrae) in the neck. The upper cervical joint dysfunction leads to suboccipital muscle spasm. The suboccipital muscles, the muscles connecting the back of the skull and the upper neck become tight and taut. When the muscles become tight they will form trigger points. The trigger points in the suboccipital muscles can then refer pain throughout the head, causing headaches. You can think of a trigger point as a tight spot or knot within the muscle. The trigger point increases the tension of the muscle which can cause pain itself. But, since the muscles have increased tension they will start to pull on the joints (vertebrae). This can irritate the joints and cause pain. If the trigger points are chronic the long term increased stress on the joints can also start to affect the discs. If the discs become affected this only causes the muscles to become tighter. As you can see it is an ongoing cycle that needs to be broke by proper treatment. The headache pain location can be variable:
- Pain at the base of the skull
- Temple Pain
- Pain on one or both sides of the head
- Pain behind the eye
- Pain in the forehead
- Neck pain & neck tightness
Chiropractic adjustments to the suboccipital region can greatly improve suboccipital headaches. The adjustments address the upper cervical joint dysfunction, reducing muscle spasm and trigger points. We specialize in providing short term care for neck pain and headaches. Our goal is to improve your pain and get you the relief you want in the fewest visits possible. Please contact my office today to experience suboccipital headache relief. We serve patients in Roseville, MN, Arden Hills, MN, Shoreview, MN, Falcon Heights, MN, and Saint Paul, MN.