Give yourself the gift of a headache or migraine-free Christmas

With the festive season upon us, Rebecca Nelson, Spinal & Headache Physiotherapy Specialist and clinic owner of Apex Clinic and Apex Headache Clinic, shares her top tips on enjoying a headache and migraine-free Christmas.

December is always a busy month for our physio specialists at Apex Headache Clinic. For many, the festive season is a time spent rushing around, shopping for last minute gifts and delivering them on time. While many people will attribute the stress of the silly season as the cause of their headaches or migraines, the source of the problem is often entirely different.

Treating headaches & migraines at their source

It is not commonly known that the majority of headaches and migraines are actually triggered from the upper neck region of the spine, even when the person may have no neck pain at all. At your initial consultation, our specialist team of physios will thoroughly assess whether there is a neck component to your headaches or migraines. A course of treatment using our unique regime of manual physiotherapy, called The Nelson Approach™, will follow. This specialised regime isn’t available at any other clinic in Northern Ireland, and we treat patients travelling from all over the UK and Ireland to avail of it due to our high success rate in clearing headaches.

Top tips for enjoying Christmas headache or migraine free

Your pillow matters: Soft or flat pillows can actually trigger headaches and migraines, as well as neck pain and stiffness, due to their inability to support the neck. Apex Headache Clinic is winning the war against poor pillows, thanks to our own, custom-made orthopaedic pillow collection. The Apex Sleepwell Pillow collection is clinically proven to reduce neck pain, headaches and/or migraines in the majority of cases. These pillows can be purchased from our clinic’s reception in Belfast, on our website or from Amazon.

Don’t sit in front of the TV all day: While the festive season sees many of us chilling in front of the TV, avoid prolonged periods in the same position, as this often leads to neck stiffness, leading to the onset of a headache or migraine. As little as a brisk 5 to 10-minute walk is all it takes to help avoid your neck becoming stiff.

Avoid lifting heavy objects: Carrying heavy items such as shopping bags can excessively load the upper neck region of the spine, triggering a headache or migraine in the process. Remember to use a trolley rather than a basket, and rather than lifting a heavy load, go for more frequent, lighter loads.

Beware of wine consumption: Even in small quantities, wine is known to severely trigger headaches or migraines. Spirits and cocktails are much less likely to trigger one and ensure you drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

Avoid overusing medication: When a headache strikes, many people reach for painkillers in the hope of a little relief. However, too frequent medication can actually make them worse. The advice here is to limit taking tablets to the worst two or three days of any week. A heat pack will offer some relief, while ice is not recommended.

Tis the season to be headache-free

If you suffer persistent headaches or migraines, help is at hand. Book an initial assessment and treatment today with Apex Headache Clinic, Belfast and let our specialist physios take the headache or migraine out of Christmas for you. Treatment can truly be life changing for many, many folk.

Gift vouchers are available at Apex Headache Clinic, both in the Clinic and by calling: 028 9048 4153. Merry Christmas and a happy headache-free New Year from all the team at Apex Headache Clinic!