Colette Murphy DC

Cervicogenic is a term derived from the Latin cervix, meaning neck, and the Greek genes, meaning produced by or originating from. In essence, cervicogenic means originating from the neck, and a cervicogenic headache is a headache that originates from the neck. Because this type of headache is a symptom resulting from the irritation of spinal nerves originating from the neck, many [..]

Postprandial headaches are headaches that occur after eating a meal. While this type of headache is fairly common, there are myriad potential causes. For individuals who suffer from postprandial headaches, it’s recommended they keep a food diary and track food intake and when headaches occur to help isolate potential triggers. Some of the most common [..]

Cervicogenic headaches are a form of secondary headache resulting from dysfunction in the cervical spine—typically, the upper most part of the cervical spine (atlanto-occipital joint) and upper three cervical segments (C1-3). Dominant symptoms and signs include unilateral head and upper neck pain, limited neck motion, and increased symptoms with certain neck and head positions. It’s [..]

Migraine headaches are classified as a primary headache disorder. Migraines are three times more common among women, especially in their premenopausal years. While migraines are still not fully understood (meaning they are likely underdiagnosed and undertreated), the available data show they are the most debilitating type of headache and rank seventh among health conditions with [..]

Migraine is a neurovascular brain disorder that affects about 15% of the population and is the number one cause of disability in adults under the age of 50.  Neck pain has been estimated to be twelve times more likely to occur in migraine patients than in healthy subjects.  Similarly, migraineurs with neck pain report more [..]

It’s estimated that about 38 million American adults suffer from migraines and nine-in-ten report that to some degree, migraines affect their ability to carry out their normal social, leisure, work, and everyday activities. Unfortunately, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all treatment for migraines as the condition is not well understood and management tends to focus on lifestyle [..]

The 2022 Global Burden of Disease study listed headaches as one of the most prevalent and disabling conditions worldwide, noting that more than half of adults actively suffer from headaches and nearly 5% of adults report headaches on more than 15 days per month. Because headaches come in many forms (at least 300 distinct types [..]

According to a 2015 study, 85.7% of headache patients also experience neck pain, a percentage about 50% greater than the non-headache population. Additionally, several studies have shown that treatment to address musculoskeletal issues in the neck can reduce the frequency, intensity, and duration of several types of headaches, including migraines. One of the most important [..]

Patients with tension-type headaches (TTH) often experience neck pain and stiffness, which may be a contributing factor in their present headaches. Thus, it’s not uncommon for a doctor of chiropractic to use manual therapies and provide home exercise instruction focused on improving neck function in the effort to reduce headache frequency and intensity. It may [..]

The sinuses are cavities in the skull that rest just behind the face, which help humidify the air we breathe and may even enhance the human voice. It’s common for patients with a headache in this area to refer to it as a sinus headache; however, the lay term “sinus headache” is somewhat controversial because [..]