If you’ve been plagued with repeated headaches, you may be starting to feel frustrated that they keep happening no matter what you do to avoid them or treat them. Many people experience headaches for specific reasons that can be remedied by reducing eye strain, staying hydrated, or taking over-the-counter medication, but when these simple fixes stop working, you’re left in pain with no idea how to feel better.
One medical term for what you may be experiencing is chronic daily headaches—even if you don’t literally get them every day. Chronic headaches can come and go, meaning you have some days without a headache, or they can last for more than 24 hours at a time.
Several types of medical professionals can help you diagnose the condition and discover the right treatment plan to find lasting relief, including physical therapy.
What causes chronic daily headaches?
Daily headaches—defined as occurring more than 15 days per month over a 3-month period—can be caused by a number of factors. Some causes of headache symptoms can even resist the treatments that worked for you last week, which is why finally understanding the underlying cause is key to getting lasting relief.
We’ll go through a few common causes of chronic headaches, while acknowledging that everyone has a different experience and will benefit from their own personalized treatment plan.
Migraine
Migraine is more than just a bad headache. It’s a standalone condition that results in distinct but varying symptoms often marked by intense throbbing pain, typically on one side of the head. As migraine sufferers know, no two episodes are alike, and may come with additional symptoms such as:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sensitivity to light and sound
- Visual disturbances, often called “aura”
- Fatigue or difficulty sleeping
- Mood changes
Migraine can be triggered by stress, hormonal changes, bright lights, or even certain foods. If migraine is the cause of your repeated headaches, physical therapy may help identify certain musculoskeletal triggers.
Rebound headaches
One of the trickiest parts of dealing with headaches repeatedly is that not all headache treatments continue working in the long term. For instance, overusing over-the-counter pain relievers for headaches can backfire, causing rebound headaches. These are headaches that recur or come back stronger when medication wears off, prompting you to take more, creating a vicious cycle.
Signs of rebound headaches include:
- Headaches that worsen after medication
- Symptoms that strike early in the morning
- Relief only with more medication
Breaking this cycle may require specialist intervention.
Cervicogenic headaches
One simple cause that may go unnoticed as you try to self-diagnose is your body mechanics. Cervicogenic headaches originate from problems in the neck. Poor posture, muscle tension, or injuries in the cervical spine often trigger this type of headache. These headaches are commonly characterized by:
- Pain starting at the back of the head and radiating to the front
- Stiff neck or limited neck movement
- Pain that worsens after holding certain neck positions
Holding a posture like hunching or craning your neck and shoulders at a desk is a common cause of cervicogenic headaches. And it’s not just your desk ergonomics—looking down for hours while working in the kitchen, weeding the garden, or other tedious tasks can also be a cause of tension and overworked cervical vertebrae.
Physical therapy is often highly effective at relieving chronic pain, including headaches, from these types of causes.
Head injury
If you’ve experienced even a mild head injury, constant headaches could be a lingering symptom of the trauma. These post-traumatic headaches might feel similar to migraine or tension headaches and can persist long after the injury has healed.
Recognizing your headaches may be due to a former injury is critical, as traumatic brain injuries, even mild ones, can require tailored treatment to manage symptoms effectively.
Treating headaches through physical therapy techniques
For those experiencing chronic or recurring headaches, physical therapy can be a powerful and often overlooked treatment option that doesn’t rely on medication. When treating something like headache or neck pain, our Physical Therapists at Excel don’t just address the symptoms; they target the root cause to ease pain now and prevent future occurrences.
A few physical therapy techniques may be used to help with chronic headache treatment:
- Postural changes
- Stress-release stretches and/or exercises
- Biofeedback therapy
Your headaches may be the only symptom we treat, or we may find an underlying condition that is causing or worsening your headaches after an evaluation. This is why we can’t say for certain what types of techniques we will use to treat headaches, since everyone’s health and experiences are different.
Make an appointment to feel better at Excel Sports and PT
Chronic headaches don’t have to rule your life. At Excel Sports and Physical Therapy, we’re ready to help you find effective solutions and reclaim your days headache-free.
Schedule your appointment today by calling a clinic near you or by requesting one online and start your journey toward lasting relief. Together, we can get to the root of your headaches and make sure they’re a thing of the past.
