Headache and Migraine Treatment in London
Treatment
Headache and migraine treatment at London Wellness
Headaches and migraines can make it hard to work, concentrate or enjoy your time off. Many are linked to tension in the neck and shoulders, posture and stress.
Our chiropractors look for the cause of your headaches rather than just treating the pain. For many patients, treatment can reduce how often headaches happen and how severe they are, and reduce reliance on painkillers.
How a chiropractor helps headaches and migraines
Your chiropractor will check the joints and muscles of your neck and upper back for stiffness or tension, a common cause of headaches. They will also carry out neurological checks and ask about your sleep, stress, eyesight, meals and activity, as these often play a part.
Treatment usually includes:
- Chiropractic adjustments and mobilisation of the neck and upper back
- Muscle techniques such as soft tissue work and dry needling
- Posture and workstation advice
- Lifestyle recommendations to reduce triggers
Not sure which type you have? Read the difference between migraines and headaches.
Types of headache we treat
- Tension-type headaches, felt as a tight band around the head
- Cervicogenic headaches, which start in the neck (neck pain treatment)
- Headaches linked to posture, desk work and stress
- Migraines, where treatment aims to reduce frequency and severity alongside your GP’s care
Stress is a common trigger. Read our advice on tackling stress.
Headaches and desk work
Many of the headaches we see in Canary Wharf and the City are linked to long hours at a computer. Sitting with the head forward and shoulders rounded puts extra load on the joints and muscles at the top of the neck, which can refer pain into the head.
Treatment works best alongside changes to how you work: screen height, chair set-up, regular movement breaks and managing stress. Our corporate health workshops teach teams these habits, and our article on tech neck explains the link between screens and neck pain.
If your headaches are linked to tight neck and shoulder muscles, massage therapy can also help, and our physiotherapists can give you exercises to strengthen the muscles that support good posture.
When to seek urgent help for a headache
Call 999 or go to A&E if you have a sudden, severe headache unlike any before, a headache after a head injury, or a headache with a stiff neck and high temperature, confusion, weakness, slurred speech or changes in vision.
Self-help for tension headaches
These simple steps can reduce how often tension headaches happen:
- Take regular breaks from screens and check your workstation set-up
- Drink enough water and avoid skipping meals
- Keep a regular sleep routine
- Release tight shoulders with gentle stretches through the day
- Keep a headache diary to spot your triggers
Your first headache appointment
Your chiropractor will take a detailed history of your headaches, including when they happen, how long they last and what triggers them, then examine your neck, shoulders and posture and carry out neurological checks. The assessment takes 60 minutes (£95) and follow-up treatments around 15 minutes (£65). See our price list.
Headache and migraine FAQs
Can a chiropractor help migraines?
Chiropractic care may help some people reduce how often migraines happen, particularly where neck tension is a trigger. Your chiropractor will assess you and tell you honestly whether treatment is likely to help.
What is dry needling for headaches?
Dry needling uses fine needles to release tight trigger points in the neck and shoulder muscles. Find out more in our article on dry needling benefits.
Do I need to see my GP first?
No, you can book directly. If your headaches are new, changing or come with other symptoms, we will advise you to see your GP as well.
What is a cervicogenic headache?
A headache caused by a problem in the neck, usually felt on one side at the back of the head and sometimes behind the eye. It often improves with treatment of the neck. See neck pain treatment.
How many treatments will I need for headaches?
Many people notice a change within a few treatments. Your chiropractor will review your progress regularly and only recommend further care if it is helping.
Where can I get headache treatment in London?
At our Canary Wharf clinic and our Monument clinic in the City of London.