For many of us, gone are the days where we can clean the house, go for a walk, play with the kids, play with our pets, or, if we’re being honest, simply go to sleep without putting ourselves at risk for neck or low back pain. 

Sound familiar? 

Surprise sleep injuries aside, if you’re all too familiar with back pain, you’ve come to the right place!

As the leading low back pain specialist in Austin, Texas, we know a thing or two about the common causes of low back pain. 

Keep reading to learn more about what might be behind yours and, more importantly, what you can do to say goodbye to low back pain. 

Bottom Line:

Low back pain is the number one reason people worldwide visit their doctor and miss work. 

If you’ve dealt with it in the past (or maybe even right now), you know back pain can change your life in an instant. 

Not being able to enjoy hobbies, difficulty in your ability to work, and a sneaking suspicion that you may never get “back to normal” are all normal when you’re experiencing a bout of back pain. 

So why do so many people here in Austin, Texas and around the world struggle with back pain?

In many cases, your daily habits are a big contributor to your back pain. 

Why it Matters:

If you’ve been living with aches and pain, it’s often connected to distorted movement patterns that affect your neuromusculoskeletal system – your brain, nerves, muscles, bones, joints, cartilage, tendons, etc. 

And those abnormal movement patterns can happen for a variety of reasons that range from long hours at a computer and repetitive stress to sudden injuries.

That repetitive stress combined with nagging injuries, a diet filled with inflammatory foods, or a lack of daily exercise and movement can all contribute to an increased likelihood of back pain.

Common Causes of Low Back Pain

Here are the three most common causes of low back pain…

1. Sprain/Strain Injuries: Repetitive stress can create inflammation and lead to sprains or strains.
   
2. Spinal Disc Issues: Disc bulges and herniations can press on your spinal nerves, leading to back pain that travels to other parts of the body.
   
3. Arthritis: As you get older, your body will naturally go through some degenerative changes, and if your spinal joints become inflamed, you may notice some pain.

A whopping 80% of us will experience low back pain at some point in our lives, and none of us want to rely on pills to feel better.

The good news is that, in most cases, sprains and strains and joint issues can heal pretty quickly with the right care. 

That’s where we come in.

An overwhelming majority of people recover from back pain naturally or with a little additional help from a chiropractor. 

So, if you’ve been searching for a low back pain specialist in Austin, Texas, you’ve come to the right place! 

Research supports the use of chiropractic care for the treatment of all causes of and all types of low back pain.

Get this. 

In a recent study, researchers found that low back pain patients with disc issues who received chiropractic care experienced the same if not more relief than patients who underwent invasive back surgeries.

Next Steps: 

While it may feel like you’ll never get back to your old self, the odds are in your favor that you will!

And even if you typically seem to recover by taking it easy for a few days, it’s still a smart decision to visit a chiropractor. 

Chiropractic care has been part of the wellness conversation worldwide for well over 125 years, and our chiropractic practice is proud to serve the Austin, Texas community now and for years to come. 

Our low back pain specialists will work with you to determine both what’s at the root of your low back pain and the non-invasive treatment options that make sense for you. 

Research also strongly suggests that periodic chiropractic care – just like dynamic stretching and regular exercise – can help prevent future episodes of low back pain. 

So, if you haven’t, be sure to have your next – or first – visit scheduled!

Science Sources: 

Back Pain Symptoms and Causes. Mayo Clinic. 2023.

The Bottom Line

Are you feeling rushed? Are you dreading a big meeting at work?

Take it from the leading provider of natural tension headache treatment inAustin, Texas – these events can all add up to stress and headaches.

Often it’s not the event itself that results in a headache but your body’s reaction to stress.

If you deal with stress by clenching your jaw or tensing your muscles, you may be more likely to experience headaches due to these coping behaviors. 

So, why does this happen and what can be done about the stress and headaches cycle? Read on.

Why it Matters

Way back when, our bodies evolved our fight or flight response for the purpose of making sure we would be adequately prepared to deal with any of the physical dangers we very realistically could have encountered on a daily basis.

As a result, our heart and breathing rate, blood pressure, and blood flow to our extremities all increase during such an event. It’s this fight or flight response that allowed us to effectively prepare for battle or to flee from predators in the wild.

Of course, we’re still hardwired with this very useful and necessary instinct, but times certainly have changed! Today, our bodies find it more difficult to differentiate between physical danger and psychological stress. We may react to that dreaded big meeting at work with the same internal reactions as if we were being chased by someone or something!

So, how does all this relate to headaches?

If there’s one thing you should understand about stress, it’s that it can and often will worsen your symptoms when you’re not feeling well.

There is a very real link between all kinds of stress and headaches.

Episodic headaches, or those that occur sporadically, are often triggered by isolated, stressful incidents.

A few of the most common everyday stress triggers include anxiety, poor sleep habits, or significant life changes.

Chronic headaches are often triggered by daily, constant stress and a lack of regular exercise. 

To help you combat this cycle of stress and headaches, we’ve compiled a list of some of our top tips for reducing stress so you can reduce your headaches.

Tips for Reducing Stress and Headaches 

Exercise More 

Regular exercise boosts endorphins, which help put you in a better mood. 

Making time to get up, get out, and get moving regularly also helps boost your overall energy levels so you can shift your focus away from whatever event or string of events is stressing you out.

Get Some Sleep

We repeat: get some sleep to turn the dial down on stress and headaches.

When you can, aim to get at least 8 hours of sleep each night and do your best to keep your sleep schedule consistent. 

Falling asleep at the same time every night and getting up at the same time each morning will help you fall into a healthy sleep pattern.  

Recent studies indicate that our sleeping habits can contribute to our risk of experiencing headaches, particularly migraines.

In fact, the majority of people living with chronic migraines and other chronic types of headaches often also experience some level of insomnia. 

Relax 

This is more than just a mantra when it comes to reducing stress and headaches, ladies and gentlemen.

It’s important to set aside time to specifically practice relaxation techniques that can help you feel calm during periods of high stress.

Meditation and yoga are two techniques that can help you feel both physically and mentally relaxed so you can mitigate the onset of stress.

See a Chiropractor  

Keeping your spinal joints moving correctly can help reduce the strain on your spine and its supporting muscles.

Chiropractic care can help you relieve pent-up stress in your body and get you feeling better quickly. 

So, come see us for natural tension headache treatment in Austin, Texas.

Tension headaches are triggered when the neck and scalp muscles become tense or contract, and this often occurs when we hold our heads in one position for an extended period of time. Many people spend their days working at a desk, and doing so for hours on end usually results in an uptick in tension headaches. Sleeping with your neck in an awkward position may also trigger a tension headache.

Recent studies have shown that chiropractic care can help headache patients find lasting relief.

Chiropractic adjustments to specific joints in the neck, upper body, back, and other extremities can help correct the physical imbalances behind those tension headaches so you not only move better but feel better.

Next Steps

So, can stress cause headaches? Yes.

While there is a link between stress and headaches, now you know there are very simple, real ways you can combat this cycle.

Remember, when you feel your stress levels starting to rise, take a moment to practice your favorite relaxation techniques.

Make time for essential preventative self-care like daily exercise, balanced meals, and balanced sleep.

And be sure to periodically schedule visits with your favorite chiropractic team.

If you’re interested in natural tension headache treatment in Austin, Texas, we’d love to help you!

Our expert team will work together with you to keep your body relaxed and moving well to help you find lasting relief from stress and headaches. 

Science Sources: 

Sleep and Migraine. Headache. 2018.
Manual Therapy Effect on Tension Headache. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2016.
How Does Stress Impact the Body? Forbes. 2018.
Tension Headache. MedlinePlus. 2019.

The Bottom Line

Headaches are experienced a little bit differently by everyone. At our Austin, Texas chiropractic headache clinic, patients may complain of chronic neck stiffness, impaired vision, or feeling exhausted. Often, they find themselves unable to function for the day because of their headaches.

But, while the symptoms may vary, all types of headaches have one thing in common — they are not “normal” to deal with frequently.

If you’ve been doing your best to live with recurring headaches, it’s time to figure out the type or types of headaches you’re dealing with.

Why it Matters

As you probably know all too well, there are many different types of headaches.

Knowing which one you have is the first step toward finding relief and the best way to do that is to consult with a healthcare professional. 

And if you’ve been looking for a chiropractic headache clinic in Austin, Texas, you’ve come to the right place.

Our doors are open and we’re here to help.

Here’s an overview of the most common types of headaches that people from all walks of life experience.

Most Common Types of Headaches 

Migraine

Migraines come in all shapes and sizes. Typically you’ll feel a throbbing on one side of your head.

This type of headache can be excruciating and can last up to 3 days.

You will likely feel nauseous and may be sensitive to light, sound, or smell. 

Here are a few additional key facts about migraine types of headaches:

• These headaches are thought to be related to the release of inflammatory substances in the head.
  
• Migraine-type headaches are twice as common in women because of hormonal influences.
  
• Migraines often tend to pass quicker in children.

Tension Headache

Tension types of headaches are very common and affect up to 20% of the population.

They can also appear when you’re experiencing a migraine.

Tension headaches usually consist of constant dull pain on both sides of the head as a result of tense or contracted neck and scalp muscles, and these types of headaches can last anywhere from a few hours to several days.

Stress, anxiety, and depression are a few common triggers of tension headaches. You could experience these types of headaches as the result of dehydration, loud noises, a lack of sleep, or even not getting enough exercise as well.

While that may seem like a long list with some potentially unavoidable triggers, the good news is that a number of them can be addressed as part of a healthy overall lifestyle. 

Here are a few additional key facts about tension types of headaches:

• Tension-type headaches are the most commonly experienced headache.
  
• This headache is described as pressure or tightness, often like a band around the head.
  
• The pain associated with tension headaches can sometimes spread into or come from the neck. 

Cluster Headache

Unlike migraine headaches, cluster types of headaches are usually experienced more by men than by women.

Those experiencing this type of headache generally feel an intense burning or even a piercing feeling behind or around one of their eyes.

Cluster types of headaches usually come when you least expect them and can last anywhere from approximately 15 minutes to 3 hours. 

Here are a few additional key facts about cluster types of headaches:

• Cluster-type headaches affect fewer than 1 in 1000 adults and affect six men for every woman.
  
• Cluster headaches, while often brief, can occur up to several times a day.
  
• Those experiencing these types of headaches may have tearing and redness in the eye or a blocked nasal passage affected side. 

Next Steps

We all deal with headaches every now and then, so we often don’t perceive them as serious enough to warrant a clinic visit.

In fact, it’s estimated that half of the people who deal with headaches are self-treating.

That may be why many people are not aware that there are effective headache treatment options that are natural, non-invasive, and that don’t involve prescription or over-the-counter pain medications.

That may be why many of the patients we see at our chiropractic headache clinic in Austin, Texas are surprised to learn that overuse of medications intended to relieve their headaches can actually lead to more headaches!

So, if you’re having trouble with migraine, tension, or cluster headaches, give us a call today.

Recent studies have shown that chiropractic care can play a big part in reducing the intensity, severity, and frequency of many common headaches without those risky medications.

Our compassionate team will work with you to identify the root cause of your headaches and we’ll provide the gentle, movement-based care chiropractors are known for to help you break free from your headache pain.

Science Sources:

Tension Headache. MedlinePlus. 2019.

Headache Disorders. WHO. 2016.