Recurring headaches or migraines affecting your work, sleep or everyday life?

Headaches have many possible causes, which means the right first step is understanding what type of headache you are experiencing rather than assuming every headache can be treated in the same way.

At Westway Clinic, our osteopaths can assess appropriate musculoskeletal factors associated with headaches arising from the neck and may provide osteopathic care aimed at migraine prevention where appropriate.

Our clinic is based in Redhill, conveniently located for Reigate and the surrounding Surrey area.

Not All Headaches Are the Same

“Headache” describes a symptom rather than one single condition.

Different types of headache can feel different, have different causes and require different forms of management.

That distinction matters.

Headaches Associated With the Neck

Some headaches can arise from structures in the neck. These are often referred to as cervicogenic headaches.

Where an assessment suggests that neck and musculoskeletal factors are relevant, osteopathic treatment may be appropriate.

Tension-Type Headaches

Tension headaches commonly cause pressure or tightening around the head, face or neck and may be associated with tenderness. Stress, sleep problems and caffeine can all be relevant factors.

Not every tension headache has a musculoskeletal cause, so assessment remains important.

Migraine

Migraine is a neurological condition rather than simply a particularly severe headache.

An attack may involve throbbing head pain, nausea or vomiting and increased sensitivity to light or sound. Some people also experience aura symptoms such as visual changes, tingling or difficulty speaking.

Could Your Headache Be Related to Your Neck?

A headache associated with the neck may occur alongside symptoms such as:

• Neck pain or stiffness
• Restricted neck movement
• Discomfort around the upper neck or base of the skull
• Head pain associated with particular neck movements or positions
• Shoulder or upper-back tension

However, symptoms alone do not provide a diagnosis.

Your osteopath will take a history and assess whether musculoskeletal factors appear relevant before recommending treatment.

Migraine Is Different

It is important not to describe migraine as simply another form of muscular tension.

Migraine can cause:

• Throbbing headache, often affecting one side
• Nausea or vomiting
• Sensitivity to light
• Sensitivity to sound
• Visual symptoms
• Pins and needles or numbness as part of an aura
• Dizziness
• Difficulty speaking during an aura

Migraine attacks commonly last from several hours to several days, although people’s experiences vary considerably.

If you have migraine, medical management through your GP may include medication, lifestyle advice and other preventive approaches.

How Westway Clinic Can Help

The first objective is to understand what you are experiencing and whether osteopathic care is appropriate.

Your appointment may include:

A Detailed History

Your osteopath will ask:

• Where your headaches occur
• How they feel
• How often they happen
• How long they last
• Whether you experience other symptoms
• Whether neck movement or particular positions seem relevant
• What medical assessment or treatment you have already received

Musculoskeletal Assessment

Where appropriate, your practitioner may assess the movement and function of your neck, shoulders and associated areas.

Hands-On Treatment

If your headache appears to have an appropriate musculoskeletal component, osteopathic care may include manual techniques aimed at relevant joints and soft tissues.

Exercise & Movement Advice

Your practitioner may recommend appropriate exercises or movement strategies where these form part of managing the musculoskeletal problem.

Self-Management Advice

Sleep, stress, regular meals, hydration, caffeine and other factors may be relevant to migraine for some people. Keeping a migraine diary can also help identify individual patterns or triggers.

Referral When Appropriate

If the headache needs medical investigation or falls outside the appropriate scope of osteopathic treatment, your practitioner should advise you accordingly.

Osteopathy for Headaches Arising From the Neck

Where your assessment indicates that neck-related musculoskeletal factors are involved, your treatment may include an appropriate combination of:

• Manual therapy
• Joint and soft-tissue techniques
• Movement advice
• Exercise
• Self-management guidance

The exact approach will depend on what your osteopath finds rather than applying the same treatment to everybody with a headache.

Osteopathy & Migraine Prevention

Migraine requires a more careful distinction.

The accepted osteopathic claim is migraine prevention — not that osteopathy cures migraine or provides treatment for every migraine attack.

If you experience migraine, your osteopath can take your history and consider whether osteopathic care has an appropriate role alongside the other ways you manage your condition.

Depending on the severity and frequency of your attacks, ongoing medical management through your GP may also be important. The NHS advises seeing a GP if migraine attacks are severe, worsening, difficult to control or occurring more than once a week.

What Happens at Your First Appointment?

1. We Understand Your Headaches

You will be asked about the nature, frequency and history of your headaches and any accompanying symptoms.

2. We Check Whether Osteopathy Is Appropriate

Headache has many possible causes.

Your practitioner will consider whether the presentation is appropriate for osteopathic assessment or whether medical advice should come first.

3. We Assess Relevant Musculoskeletal Factors

Where appropriate, this may include examining movement through the neck and associated areas.

4. We Explain What We Find

You should understand whether we believe musculoskeletal treatment is relevant and why.

5. We Agree the Next Step

This may include osteopathic treatment and self-management advice, or it may mean recommending that you speak to your GP or another healthcare professional.

When Does a Headache Need Medical Attention?

Most headaches are not a medical emergency, but some symptoms require urgent assessment.

Get urgent medical advice through your GP or NHS 111 if:

• Your migraine has lasted longer than 72 hours
• Migraine aura lasts longer than one hour
• You have migraine and are pregnant or have recently had a baby
• You have a severe headache with symptoms such as blurred or double vision, jaw pain when eating, or numbness/weakness

NHS guidance recommends urgent assessment in circumstances such as these.

Call 999 if:

• A headache comes on suddenly and is extremely painful
• You suddenly have difficulty speaking or remembering things
• You lose your vision or develop sudden blurred/double vision
• You become drowsy or confused
• You have a seizure
• You have very high temperature with symptoms of meningitis
• You develop significant weakness affecting one side of your face or body
• The headache follows a recent head injury and severe symptoms are present

These are among the headache warning signs identified in current NHS guidance.

Why Choose Westway Clinic?

When somebody has recurring headaches, the worst thing a clinic can do is assume every case has the same cause.

Our approach is to:

• Listen carefully to your history
• Understand the pattern of your headaches
• Assess relevant musculoskeletal factors
• Explain honestly whether osteopathy appears appropriate
• Treat within the recognised scope of osteopathic care
• Give practical self-management advice
• Recommend medical assessment when that is the more appropriate route

Frequently Asked Questions About Headaches & Migraine

Can neck problems cause headaches?

Some headaches can arise from structures associated with the neck and are referred to as cervicogenic headaches.

Is a migraine just a bad headache?

No.

Migraine is a neurological condition that can involve severe head pain alongside nausea, sensitivity to light and sound and, for some people, aura symptoms.

Should I keep a headache or migraine diary?

It can be useful.

Recording when attacks happen, their duration and possible triggers can help you recognise patterns and can also provide useful information when speaking to your GP or another healthcare professional. The NHS specifically recommends a migraine diary as one way to identify possible triggers.

When should I see my GP about migraines?

The NHS advises seeing a GP if attacks are severe or worsening, happen more than once a week, are difficult to control or regularly occur around your period.

What if I’ve never had this type of headache before?

A new, unusual, severe or rapidly changing headache should not automatically be assumed to be musculoskeletal.

Contact your GP, NHS 111 or emergency services as appropriate, particularly if any neurological or other warning symptoms are present.

Recurring Headaches Affecting Your Day?

If you experience recurring headaches alongside neck discomfort, or want to discuss whether osteopathy may have an appropriate role in your migraine prevention plan, contact Westway Clinic.

We will assess your symptoms, explain whether osteopathic care appears appropriate and recommend the next step clearly.

Westway Clinic
17 Hatchlands Road
Redhill, Surrey
RH1 6AA

Call: 01737 762990

Convenient for patients in Redhill, Reigate and surrounding areas.