Headaches and migraines have become a major personal and socio-economic problem.
40% of the world’s population suffers from headaches.
As many as 4% have headaches more than half the month.
And among women under 50, migraines have the greatest impact on quality of life – ranking first among all diagnoses.
The reasons are very complex, but we can assume that it has to do with new challenges; increased stress, greater pressure, inactivity, poorer sleep, less access to a healthy and varied diet, and many other factors.
The brain is plastic.
It can change over time.
Unfortunate stimuli can change the pain centers in the brain, which can contribute to an increase in headaches.
Master’s degree in headache
When I took my master’s degree in headache in Copenhagen a few years ago, I looked at the development with great concern.
At the same time, I saw an opportunity for us to make a difference.
I was incredibly privileged to be part of an education with neurologists, physiotherapists, dentists and another chiropractor, from all over the world, led by the world’s foremost headache experts, at the Danish Headache Center.
There we learned how to diagnose, treat and prevent headache patients, both medically and non-medically.
We’re a small group and we need to use our opportunity to contribute where we can.
As a chiropractor, I can’t prescribe medication.
But the patients I see often have a long list of medications they have taken or are taking.
Before the master’s program, I didn’t know what the medications meant for their headaches or health in general.
That was also one of the reasons why I took the program.
I wanted to know which medicines were best for the patient’s headache, both for attacks and prevention.
On the exam, we were asked the same questions about medication as the neurologists.
Dialogue with your GP and neurologist
This has been very fruitful.
When I meet new patients, I take a thorough medical history, asking all questions related to their headaches, including medication.
Often the medication they have been given is in line with modern research, but not always.
Then, with the patient’s permission, I can contact their GP and ask if it’s possible to make any changes.
This could be changes to seizure medication, the introduction of new preventive medication, or suggestions to cut out medication altogether.
This is where I tread carefully, and so far I have had an exclusively positive dialog, for the good of the patient.
My master’s degree enables me to assess medication and have a far more useful dialog with the doctor than I had previously.
It may also be relevant to discuss the diagnosis with the GP, referral to a neurologist, or new examinations.
Among other things, blood tests will always be relevant if this has not been done for the headache, and in some cases an MRI of the head may be indicated.
Some of the patients I see have already seen a neurologist, had an MRI and have a long history of examinations and treatments.
Some of them are referred directly from the neurologist to me, but there are also patients who come directly.
The most common reason why I contact the neurologist in such cases is if new information emerges that is relevant to the neurologist’s further follow-up.
Which treatment is best for you?
As you can see, I am open to the fact that you as a patient may need medication to control your headaches, in which case I have a fruitful dialog with your GP.
But I want to be able to help with non-medical measures if that is sufficient.
And that’s also why many patients contact me.
They want help to relieve tension in the neck, shoulders and jaw, which can contribute to headaches.
I’m happy to help with that.
I perform many different techniques, tailored to you and your headache.
Although we chiropractors are best known for manipulating (“breaking joints”), it’s not always indicated for a headache.
Sometimes I don’t do it at all.
This may be because of the type of headache, previous medical history or because the patient does not want to be manipulated.
I respect that and have many other techniques we can use.
Trigger point therapy, stretching, mobilization and gentle instruments can also increase joint mobility, relieve tension and reduce headaches.
However, I must also emphasize that manipulation, when done under the right indication of course, is a safe and effective form of treatment.
It is not uncommon for patients who have “tried everything” to get much better headaches after manipulation treatment.
Preventive advice and exercises
Before treatment on the bench, it is essential to give you comprehensive information about your headache.
After a thorough review of the diagnosis and the causes of your symptoms, I explain what you can do yourself and how you can get better control of your symptoms.
I often use an explanatory model that focuses on increasing the threshold for headaches.
With the help of specific advice and exercises, you’ll be able to increase your tolerance threshold so that you can better tolerate everyday stresses without them easily leading to headaches.
Our team
In addition to me, a neurologist with a master’s degree in headache helps us once a month.
He also has a holistic approach to headache follow-up, and has the most up-to-date knowledge of what treatment is best, both medical and non-medical.
He can take consultations both digitally and physically at the clinic in Asker.
If you are suffering from concussion, we have a partnership with a chiropractor who is certified in concussion assessment and rehabilitation.
He is located at Storo, and can take consultations digitally and physically.
There is good reason to believe that we will increase the team over time.
What can you expect from Limiceph?
In other words, when you come to Limiceph, you can expect a comprehensive assessment, where we emphasize both medical and non-medical follow-up.
And our goal will be for you to gain more control over your headaches, regardless of your life situation.
Welcome to us!
Sincerely, Martin Herneblad-Due, founder of Limiceph and master’s degree in headache
