Headache and Migraine Treatment and the "Watson Headache Approach"

By: Dean Watson
Submitted: 2009-06-29 13:34:57
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Further to the article in ‘Frontline’ and in reference to the approach I have developed it is important to clarify that whilst my approach does include a series of techniques which restore movement and maintain natural posture of the upper cervical spine, and whilst they are powerful, they are a small part of what I have developed.

My clinical experience of over 13000 hours with headache and migraine sufferers has demonstrated that neck disorders, as the cause of sensitisation, are significantly underestimated in migraine, tension and cluster headache, menstrual migraine …. sufferers.

There are many ways to treating headache and migraine.  My approach is a powerful treatment tool if chosen by Practitioners. What I am primarily passionate about is that many of you are suffering unnecessarily because your necks have not been examined comprehensively and this is the main thrust of my approach.

It is about identifying whether your neck is the source of your headache or migraine before you commence treatment.

How much longer are we to accept the explanation that … “whilst we don’t know where migraine comes from it can’t come from neck disorders” … it is irresponsible, after other investigations have ruled out other causes, for the neck not to be examined. Information from the neck is one of four systems that has the potential to potential to sensitise the brainstem – the feature (sensitisation) that is evident in the common forms of headache and migraine.

YourHeadacheSoultions.co.uk is one voice of the Watson Headache Institute.

The Watson Headache Institute was established to increase the awareness of cervicogenic (neck) disorders in headache and migraine by imparting my (and that of others) clinical experience and knowledge; to present and discuss past and present relevant research and to undertake and support rigorous clinical and scientific research in this specialty.

Appropriate and up-to-date knowledge is self-empowering; I believe that every headache sufferer has the right to know their headache diagnosis as precisely as possible (and what it means), to know the nature of their headache disorder, its outcome and possible types of treatment

What has yet to gain acceptance is my (and that of others) belief, supported by my unparalleled clinical experience and a significant body of international research, that it is incorrect to consider headache and migraine types as totally different entities and that cervicogenic (neck) disorders can be instrumental in the headache and migraine process.

Although Physiotherapy, Chiropractic and Osteopathy are different disciplines, we are supporters of the idea that headache and migraine sufferers, no matter what their diagnoses, can be helped to live their lives more effectively through appropriate neck treatment. However, because treatment of the neck does not fit the medical model of headache and migraine, the model has demonstrated little interest in exploring this as an option. It is essential that all factors, which have the potential to sensitise the brainstem, be investigated equally. Currently this is not the situation – the neck is largely disregarded.

So, whilst YourHeadacheSolutions.com is also about Education, it is also a directory for headache and migraine sufferers to source practitioners who have a particular interest in and are skilled in examination of the neck as a source of your headache or migraine – to create a more comprehensive approach and provide an alternative, medication-free treatment.

Dean Watson of YourHeadache Solutions, Consultant Headache and Migraine Physiotherapist; Adjunct Lecturer, Masters Program, School of Physiotherapy, University of South Australia; PhD Candidate, Murdoch University, Western Australia. On his site you can search all topics about headache migraine, headache treatment, migraine treatment, headache causes, migraine causes headache symptoms and more.

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