Most of us can bear having a headache every once in a while. We simply take some over-the-counter pain meds, get some rest and go about our lives. However, things aren’t so simple when you’re dealing with chronic headaches. 

People with chronic headaches have them at least 15 days per month, and this has been happening to them for at least three months. In many cases, chronic, or recurring, headaches are caused by some underlying condition. Often, the headaches don’t stop until the underlying condition is successfully addressed. 

Physical therapists can help you learn some of the underlying issues that cause chronic headaches. These medical specialists can also help you find effective treatment for recurring headaches. 

Three common chronic headache causes: 

1. Neck problems — The neck is closely connected to the head. There are muscles that run from the neck into your head. Certain nerves also connect these two body parts. These connections mean that a painful neck issue can often trigger headaches and head pain. Some of the neck issues that can do so include: 

• Neck muscle strains
• Herniated cervical discs
• Pinched neck nerves
• Cervical osteoarthritis

2. Jaw conditions — The jaw is another body part that’s closely connected to the rest of your head. This close connection is borne out by the fact that many jaw issues can lead to headaches. One example is a jaw joint condition called temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction. Overly tight jaw muscles are also a common cause of chronic headaches. 

3. Medication overuse — There’s a specific type of headache called a rebound headache. It’s also known as a medication overuse headache. People are more likely to develop rebound headaches if they take over-the-counter or prescription pain meds more than two days per week. The true irony is that many of the people who fall prey to rebound headaches are using the pain meds to treat chronic headaches. 

Find help for many chronic headache causes at Continuum Wellness

Are you ready to fight back against the cause of your chronic headaches? Our physical therapists at Continuum Wellness are ready and willing to assist you with this fight. We offer free screenings that can pinpoint the underlying cause of your recurring headaches. Additionally, our specialists excel at constructing customized therapy plans designed to reduce headache symptoms and frequency. You can even sign up for at-home care and virtual therapy sessions with us that allow you to treat your headaches from home. 

Contact our team today for more information about all our headache treatment options or to schedule your initial appointment.