HEADACHES
DESCRIPTION
Headache
categories include migraine with an aura, migraine
without an aura, cluster headaches, tension headaches,
and chronic daily headaches. Individuals also
may suffer from headaches due to
chronic
sinus congestion.
HOW
IUCCA UPPER CERVICAL CARE RELATES TO HEADACHES
While
medical science has not determined the exact cause
of headaches, recent research is pointing towards
a trauma-induced origin for many types of headaches.1-20
Evidence supports that trauma
(in particular mild concussive injury to the head,
neck or upper back) increases the risk of headache
onset.1-20
Researchers have labeled some headaches
as being "cervicogenic" in origin (they are triggered
by neck dysfunction).21-32
Following the trauma, headaches can be triggered
immediately or they can take months or years to
develop.
The
purpose of IUCCA upper cervical care is to reverse
the trauma-induced upper neck injury; thereby
reducing irritation to the nerves and blood vessels
that trigger headaches. While many headache sufferers
recall specific traumas such as head injuries,
auto accidents or falls, some do not. In certainipediatric
cases, the injury can occur from the normal
birthing process. An upper cervical
examination utilizing Laser-aligned
Radiography and Digital
Infrared Imaging is
necessary in each individual's case to assess
whether an upper cervical injury is present and
whether benefit from IUCCA upper cervical care
can be achieved.
RESEARCH
SUMMARY
By
2006, Dr. Elster has cared for approximately 200
patients with chronic headaches including migraines,
cluster, tension, sinus, etc. All patients showed
evidence of trauma-induced upper cervical injuries
during examination (upper cervical radiographs
and digital infrared imaging). Many patients recalled
specific incidences of trauma (auto accidents,
falls, concussions, whiplashes, sports injuries)
that could have caused their upper cervical injuries
while some did not.
CASE
STUDIES
Headache
Case Studies
ARTICLES
AND PUBLICATIONS
'Upper
Cervical Chiropractic Care for a Patient with
Chronic Migraine Headaches with an Appendix Summarizing
an Additional 100 Headache Cases"
by Erin Elster, DC. Journal of Vertebral Subluxation
Research. August, 2003.
"Treatment
of Bipolar, Seizure, and Sleep Disorders and Migraine
Headaches Utilizing a Chiropractic Technique"
by Erin L. Elster, DC. Journal of Manipulative
and Physiological Therapeutics. March 2004.
"Upper
Cervical Chiropractic Care for a Nine-Year-Old
Male with Tourette Syndrome, Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder, Depression, Asthma, Insomnia,
and Headaches: A Case Report"
by
Erin Elster, DC. Journal of Vertebral Subluxation
Research. July 2003.
"New
Treatment Provides Freedom From Migraine Headaches"
by Erin Elster, DC. Women's Magazine. October
1998.
"Drug-Free
Alternative For Pediatric Headaches"
by Erin Elster, DC. Boulder County Family Connection.
July 2000.
REFERENCES
1.
Solomon S. Posttraumatic migraine. Headache 1998
Nov-Dec; 38(10): 772-8.
2. Margulies S. The postconcussion syndrome after
mild head trauma part II: migraine underdiagnosed?
J Clin Neurosci 2000 Nov; 7(6): 495-9.
3. Lane JC. Migraine in the athlete. Semin Neurol
2000; 20(2): 195-200.
4. Bettucci D, Aguggia M, Bolamperti L. Chronic
post-traumatic headache associated with minor
cranial trauma: a description of cephalalgic patterns.
Ital J Neurol Sci 1998 Feb; 19(1):20-4.
5. Lemka M. Headache as the consequence of brain
concussion and contusion with closed head injuries
in children. Neurol Neurochir Pol 1999; 33 Suppl
5:37-48.
6. De Souza JA, Moriera Filho PF, Jevoux CD. Chronic
post-traumatic headache after mild head injuries.
Arq Neuropsiquiatr 1999 Jun; 57(2A): 243-8.
7. Packard RC. Epidemiology and pathogenensis
of posttraumatic headache. J Head Trauma Rehabil
Feb; 14(1): 9-21.
8. Obelieniene D, Bovim G, Schrader H. Headache
after whiplash: a historical cohort study outside
the medico-legal context. Cephalgia 1998 Oct;
18(8): 559-64.
9. Keidel M, Diener HC. Post-traumatic headache.
Nervenarzt 1997 Oct; 68(10): 769-77.
10. Gilkey SJ, Ramadan NM, Aurora TK. Cerebral
blood flow in chronic posttraumatic headache.
Headache 1997 Oct; 37(9): 583-7.
11. Packard RC, Ham LP. Pathogenesis of posttraumatic
headache and migraine: a common headache pathway?
Headache 1997 Mar; 37(3): 142-52.
12. Haas DC. Chronic post-traumatic headaches
classified and compared with natural headaches.
Cephalalgia 1996 Nov; 16(7): 486-93.
13. Plager DA, Purvin V. Migraine precipitated
by head trauma in athletes. Am J Ophthalmol 1996
Aug; 122(2): 277-8.
14. Foletti G, Regli F. Characteristics of chronic
headaches after whiplash injury. Presse Med 1995
Jul 1-8; 24(24): 1121-3.
15. Friedrichs ES. Migraine and childhood head
trauma. Headache 1995 Mar; 35(3): 169.
16. Spierings EL, Foo DK, Young RR. Headaches
in patients with traumatic lesions of the cervical
spinal cord. Headache 1992 Jan; 32(1): 45-9.
17. Kennedy MP. Trauma-precipitated migrainous
hemiparesis. Ann Emerg Med 1991 Sep; 20(9): 1023-4.
18. Sallis RE, Jones K. Prevalence of headaches
in football players. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2000
Nov; 32(11): 1820-4.
19. McBeath JG, Nanda A. Roller coaster migraine:
an underreported injury? Headache 2000 Oct; 40(9):
745-7.
20. Ferrari R. Whiplash-associated headache. Cephalalgia
1998 Oct; 18(8): 585-6.
21. Biondi DM. Cervicogenic headache: mechanisms,
evaluation, and treatment strategies. J Am Osteopath
Assoc 2000 Sep; 100(9 Suppl): S7-14.
22. Martelletti P. Proinflammtory pathways in
cervicogenic headache. Clin Exp Theumatol 2000
Mar-Apr; 18(2 Suppl 19): S33-8.
23. Bono G, Antonaci F, Dario A. Unilateral headaches
and their relationship with cervicogenic headache.
Clin Exp Rheumatol 2000 Mar-Apr; 18 (2 Suppl 19):
S11-5.
24. Sjaastad O, Fredriksen TA. Cervicogenic headache:
criteria, classification and epidemiology. Clin
Exp Rheumatol 2000 Mar0Apr; 18 (2 Suppl 19): S3-6.
25. Vincent MB, Luna RA. Cervicogenic headache:
a comparison with migraine and tension type headaches.
Cephalalgia 1999 Dec; 19 Suppl 25: 11-6.
26. Zwart JA. Neck mobility in different headache
disorders. Headache 1997 Jan; 37(1): 6-11. 27.
Nilsson N. The prevalence of cervicogenic headache
in a random population sample of 20-59 year olds.
Spine 1995 Sep 1; 20(17): 1884-8.
28. Vernon H, Steiman I, Hagino C. Cervicogenic
dysfunction in muscle contraction headache and
migraine: a descriptive study. J Manipulative
Physiol Ther 1993 Jul-Aug; 16(6): 428-31.
29. Edmeads J. Headache of cervical origin. Rev
Prat 1990 Feb 11; 40(5): 399-402.
30. Fredriksen TA, Hovdal H, Sjaastad O. Cervicogenic
headache: clinical manifestation. Cephalalgia
1987 Jun; 7(2): 147-60.
31. Leone M, D'Amico D, Grazzi L. Cervicogenic
headache: a critical review of the current diagnostic
criteria. Pain 1998 Oct; 78(1): 1-5.
32. Dvorak J, Walchli B. Headache in cervical
syndrome. Ther Umsch 1997 Feb; 54(2): 94-7.
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