Headaches affect around 12% of Americans today, making them one of the most common neurological conditions in the world. While many people today suffer monthly, weekly, or even daily, I am here to tell you that having regular headaches might feel normal to you, but they are not normal. We see people dealing with headaches affecting their jobs, hobbies, and time with family. Our goal here at Northern Lakes Chiropractic is to show you that true normal is not having to deal with headaches on a regular basis and increase your ability to spend more time focusing on your job, hobbies, and most importantly—family. Chiropractic care has stood as one of the most effective treatments for headaches. Unlike conventional medicine, we are not looking to put a band-aid or cover-up on the problem, but rather get to the root cause. The problem with taking medication like Advil or Tylenol is it will mask the sensation but is ineffective at actually correcting the problem. What makes us different is we get to the root cause of your headaches. There are many different types of headaches and they are not all the same. Headaches affect people in all sorts of different ways, but interestingly enough, most headaches (around 80%) actually come from the neck. This is where chiropractic comes to light with a strong solution. Most of the headaches in the world come from nerve irritation stemming from the neck, more specifically when the vertebra (bones of the neck) get out of place and irritate the nerves and give you the sensation of a headache.
Why are chiropractors so effective at getting real solutions to headaches?
It’s because we don’t mask the symptoms by dulling the sensation from the nerve with medication that can have strong side effects, but rather get to the root of where the nerve is irritated in the first place, thus giving you a long-term solution.
$97 New Patient Special
Includes Consultation, Digital AI Range of Motion Analysis, Digital Posture Analysis, Digital X-rays & Report of Findings
How Our Care Plan Works
1. Discover The True Root Cause
We look beyond where you feel symptoms to understand what is actually causing them. Instead of offering a short-term answer, we focus on correcting the problem at its source to create long-term solutions and lasting results.
2. Finally Get Real Solutions
We are not here to simply manage symptoms or provide quick fixes. Our focus is on understanding the true reason behind your condition and correcting it, helping you move beyond the Band-Aid approach and toward lasting, meaningful results for your health.
3. Have The Freedom To Fulfill Your Dreams
Your goals become our goals. We are a goal focused practice helping you achieve the health so many people struggle with today. With better health comes the freedom to go after the dreams you’ve set out to achieve.
How We Treat Headaches In Duluth, MN
Comprehensive Consultation and Exam
When you get to the office, we will start by sitting down and performing a comprehensive consultation to best understand you. There are so many different factors that can contribute to your headaches and we need to know specifically what causes yours. Once we can understand the problem, we can test it. We use 3D posture analysis, AI range-of-motion testing, and X-rays to confirm our findings. We focus on the root cause of the problem because using medication to mask the problem only makes it worse. You might just start with a small dose of medication, but if the root cause of the problem continues, then the headaches only get worse and the dosage of medication continues to increase, only increasing side effects. We strive to find root cause issues and correct the problem rather than covering it up.
Digital X-rays in Duluth, MN
Most patients will receive X-rays of their spine during their initial visit. This helps the doctor determine the state of the spine by looking at the state of alignment, structure, and spacing. X-rays are important during the first visit because if the spinal alignment is off, there is loss of space between the vertebrae, or the structure is abnormal, these are all reasons for headaches to continue. To see is to know, and to not see is to guess, and we never want to guess with your health. Once the images are obtained, the doctor can do an analysis on your spine and show you exactly how the spine is contributing to your current headaches. This equips the doctor with the best tool because now we can see how the spine is off and we can then deliver a specific and precise adjustment to the spine, allowing pressure off the nerve. This makes chiropractic superior to conventional treatments because chiropractors are the only doctors that know how to align spinal joints well enough to decrease headaches by getting to the source of the problem rather than masking the symptom with more medication.
Specific Chiropractic Care in Duluth, MN
At Northern Lakes Chiropractic we are the leading experts when it comes to headaches. We love seeing patients that have been dealing with headaches because we know we can provide the vast majority of patients with real solutions. If you are a rare case we can’t help, we will at the very least point you in the right direction to get some relief. The reason we have a higher success rate than most chiropractors is because of the specific technique we use in the office. Most headaches we see come from something called a subluxation. A subluxation is a misalignment of one or more vertebrae that places stress on the nervous system. This interference can disrupt communication between the brain and body, causing the nervous system to not function optimally. When the system is not operating optimally, our mind will give us headaches to signal that there is something wrong. Our technique in our office is Torque Release Technique, and we are the only chiropractic clinic in the Northland that provides this technique. What makes this technique different is that it is more specific and precise, which plays a huge role in aligning the spine. The way we adjust the spine is with a tool called the integrator. This tool allows for pinpoint precision without the need to twist or crack the spine. Torque Release Technique is a leading technique for headaches in the chiropractic profession because of its specificity.
Custom Therapeutic Exercise Plan
We want to provide each one of our patients with a custom therapeutic exercise plan to help keep headaches from coming back in the future. We want to give you the best tools to help keep the best results possible. Our muscles are an important part of headaches because an imbalance of the musculature surrounding the spine can cause abnormal tension on the body. When subluxation occurs, this causes a dysregulation of the nervous system, which also contributes to a muscle imbalance. These imbalances cause abnormal tension in the spine. When subluxation occurs long enough, it can cause issues like spasms, tightness, or even weakness.
Common Types of Headaches in Duluth, MN
Tension Headache
Tension headaches are one of the most common types of headaches today. We live in a world where we are constantly looking down at phones and computers. This causes an abnormal amount of pressure to the back of the head, down the shoulders, and across the shoulders. Most people that deal with these types of headaches usually will say they carry their stress in their shoulders. The reasoning for this is that for every inch the head sits forward past the shoulders, it adds an additional 10-12 pounds onto the neck, shoulders, and upper back. When we have that much additional weight, it pulls on the connective tissue and nerve that surround the spine, causing the sensation of a tension headache.
The most effective way of getting rid of tension headaches happens in three ways. Correct Subluxation: When the joints have constant stress from the head sitting too far forward, the joints shift out of place and get stuck. We need to address this first and get proper alignment to get the frame of your body right before we can do anything else. Correct Curve: Over time we start to lose the natural shape of the curve of the neck from our head consistently looking down. A healthy curve in the neck will look like a banana (a gradual curve); if we lose that curve it starts to straighten and causes not only tension in the neck but also an increased rate of degeneration and arthritis.
We correct this curve by using a traction device you will use at home to help correct your curve now and continue to keep your spine curved as we continue to use technology. Break Bad Habits: As the saying goes, if you keep doing the same things, you’ll end up getting the same results. That is why when you are under care at our office we will be giving you direction on how to create good habits so we do not continue down the same path. Technology is not going anywhere, so we need to find the best way to use it without breaking down our bodies.
Migraine
Patients dealing with migraine headaches are some of my favorite people to see in this office. We excel at taking care of patients dealing with migraines. So many Americans today suffer from migraines when they don’t have to. Migraine headaches can feel like the world is closing in around you. They can be so debilitating it can make the simplest of tasks feel impossible. You will know a migraine is coming on when you feel throbbing pain around the eyes, see small black dots, or experience nausea and dizziness in a headache that lasts more than 24 hours. Migraines are commonly cervicogenic in nature, meaning the migraines you feel actually are stemming from the neck.
Chiropractic does a great job at correcting these problems at their root cause by using specific adjustments to the neck, allowing for a real solution to migraines. Migraines have such an effect on quality of life, making them one of the most focused-on types of headaches we see at this office.
Whiplash Headache
Whiplash headaches can be severe in nature and should not be taken lightly. There is a significant amount of stress that is put on the neck that can cause enough damage to result in the need for immediate surgery. The feeling of a whiplash headache will be sharp in nature and will result in a limited range of motion. When severe enough, it can cause dizziness, blurred vision, and swelling. There are a wide variety of things that can cause whiplash injury, but the most common are car accidents. If you have a whiplash injury you should get checked out immediately because there can be underlying issues, especially after a car accident. Chiropractic is still one of the best ways to identify and correct whiplash headaches and find true results.
Concussion Headache
Concussion headaches come after an impact to the head or jolting of the head, causing damage to the neural tissue that makes up the brain. Headache symptoms after a concussion can range from nausea, confusion, dizziness, sensitivity to light, and fatigue. It is best to consult your primary doctor right away to determine if immediate imaging should be done. After getting cleared by your primary doctor, chiropractic can be an effective treatment.
Allergy or Sinus Headaches
In Duluth, sinus headaches are common to see because of all the different allergens in the area. The sinuses are air-filled cavities in the front of the skull. The sinuses play a major role in producing mucus that lines the nose, helping get rid of harmful bacteria and other foreign bodies. The sinuses can get inflamed from an infection or allergies, which does not allow them to drain properly. Sinus headaches will give you the sensation of pressure behind the cheeks, forehead, and behind the eyes. The pain will get worse when bending forward, causing increased pressure in the sinus cavities. Chiropractic can be effective by helping release that pressure and allowing the sinuses to properly drain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a chiropractor in Duluth, MN good for headaches?
Yes! With our specialized technique, we are one of the best options overall for headache relief. We get to the root cause and correct it at its source, giving you not just short-term relief but effective long-term solutions.
When should you see a chiropractor for headaches?
As soon as possible. Headaches are common to continue to get worse over time. The longer you wait to get checked out, the longer of a process it can be to get relief.
Do medical doctors recommend chiropractors for headaches?
Absolutely! Most medical doctors do not want to give you medication for your headaches if they do not have to. With chiropractic, it is a safe and effective treatment option.
Can getting your neck adjusted help with headaches?
Around 80% of headaches seen today actually come from the neck. Adjusting the neck allows the nerve from the neck to work properly and allows symptoms from headaches to improve.
Is chiropractic effective for migraines?
Chiropractic is highly effective for migraines. In our office it is one of the most common conditions we deal with, because we have such a high reputation as one of the best solutions to migraines.
What is a natural way to relieve tension headaches?
At Northern Lakes Chiropractic we have a comprehensive program to help with tension headaches. Tension headaches are becoming more common today because of technology, so we have created a plan to stop tension headaches in their tracks.
Who is the best chiropractor in Duluth, MN for headaches?
We are one of the best solutions for headaches because of the results we have had with so many amazing patients. We love getting people back to living life to their fullest.
$97 New Patient Special
Includes Consultation, Digital AI Range of Motion Analysis, Digital Posture Analysis, Digital X-rays & Report of Findings
