Finding the Solution for your
Headache, Neck Pain, & TMJ Dysfunction
We are accepting new patients. If we think we can help you, we will accept you as a patient and develop a personalized treatment plan that we will review with you. We welcome your call to set up a consultation and examination to find the cause of your headaches (or other symptom). Call 559-635-8266. Anna will be happy to help you find an available time.
For structural or neurological causes of your headache, it will require a thorough structural and neurological exam. The exam that you receive at by Dr. Hobbs will likely be the most thorough one that you have ever had.
If your problem is nutritional, this questionnaire (the Metabolic Assessment Form) can help begin identifying the root cause. From there, were can determine if specific functional lab testing would be helpful. We have a Nutrition web page to give you some more details. Drop it by our office, and we will analyze it for you. Often this form makes it clear to us both that your problem is more than simply a pain in your head and that addressing ONLY the pain, is really covering up the real cause. We often perform functional lab testing to identify your exact causes.
Are you a candidate for Synergy’s Migraine treatment?
For a little encouragement, listen to the experience of one of our patients.
There’s lots of great information below that helps people and their doctors track down the problems and find the cause. You are welcome to browse through it all.
Are you a DIY kind-of-person, or you just want to see what MIGHT be going on? This video will walk you through the most common causes…and several solutions you can try on your own.
- Here’s the link to the FlowChart that I use in the video.
1) Find the Triggers: Structural (movement), Chemical, Mental
See the Trigger and Treatment Flow Chart below.
2) Define the Problem (Symptoms): O, P, Q, R, S, T
See the Define the Problem table below.
3) If needed, Reassess the Triggers with more focus and address them.
– After you define the problem, you will be better able to assess the problem.
4) Professional Treatment
See the Trigger and Treatment Flow Chart below.
Trigger and Treatment Flow Chart – If you know what to look for and how to get started, why not do it? – (Research references are provided lower on the page.)
| Structural | Trigger or Cause | Simple Answers | Professional Diagnosis |
| Posture | Awareness | Observation | |
| Misalignment (Spinal, Bite) | Mirror Posturing, Bracing | X-Ray, (Carbon paper for bite) | |
| Subluxaton Complex | Chiropractic Adjustments | Palpation, etc. | |
| Physical Trauma | Motion w/o much pain | Palpation, Ortho exam, x-ray | |
| Myofascial Adhesions | Myofascial Release | Palpation, History | |
| Lack of Exercise/Movement | Exercise | History | |
| Muscle Tension (d/t stress) | Relax, Massage, Adjustments | Palpation | |
| Deafferentation |
| Chemical (uncommon for Neck pain & TMJD) | Hormonal (Def. or Excess) | Qlty Food, Supplements, Detox | Female Hormones |
| Deficiency | Inflammation Questionnaire | ||
| Dehydration | Drink Water (~1/2 wt(lbs) in oz H2O) | History (Sweat+DiureticDrink+H20) | |
| Low Blood Sugar | Eat freq. & Low Glycemic (CD) | Chemistry, HA1C, Gluc.Challenge | |
| Micro-Nutrients | esp. Mg++ and EFA’s Quality Food (CD),(site) Supplements | Funct. Intracell. Analy Triad Profile | |
| Toxicity | Standard Detox Prof. | ||
| Irritants (i.e. Fumes) | Avoid and Detoxification | Tests for Toxins in body | |
| Allergies(Airborne and Food) | Avoid, Neti Pot(air), & Build Immunity | Food IgE, IgG, Air Allergy Test | |
| Infection (Cold, Flu, Sinus) | Build Immunity, Herbs, Rx | CBC (Complete Blood Ct) |
| Mental | Work | Purpose, Communication | |
| Relationships | Communication, Forgiveness (5LoveLang, 10 Lessons, How2Win, 7Habits, Mind) | Counselor, Psychologist | |
| Finances | more Work/Education, less Spending | Credit Counselor | |
| Purpose | Purpose | Pastor | |
| Worry / Perspective | Purpose, How to Stop Worry | Stress & Wellbeing Surv |
| ‘Scaries’ (uncommon for TMJD) | Infection(Brain / Spinal cord) | Prayer | MRI |
| Bleeding (Brain) | |||
| Tumor | CT scan |
Define the Problem table – Once you know the character of the problem you or
your doctor can more easily and accurately find the cause.
| Onset | When did this problem begin? |
| Position / Palliative / Provocative | Where exactly is it, and What makes it better or worse? |
| Quality | How would you describe the sensation? – burning, sharp, tingly, numb, weak… |
| Radiation | Does the sensation go somewhere beyond the main area? |
| Site / Severity | How bad is it (0=none to 10=worst imaginable) |
| Timing | Is it better (or worse) at a given time of the day, week, month, year? |
| Associated Signs | What other new or persistent problems or changes have you noticed? |
| Intervention | What have you tried, and what were the results. |
References:
Medication Rebound –http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/guide/rebound-headaches
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8666530
Neck pain can be related to head and face pain – http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19945351
Whiplash can be related to pain throughout the entire body. – http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15722811
Migraine show increased risk of stroke. – http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17690308
Long-term drug use only AFTER excluding other triggers – http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12657413
Headache mgmt. should incl. exercise, rest, nutrition, and avoid triggers – – http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11089519
Unnecessary medication – http://www.bmj.com/content/330/7482/63
Caffeine in medications can cause headaches: http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/guide/rebound-headaches
Avoiding food allergies/sensitivities has helped as many as 85% of individuals studied: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=pubmed&cmd=search&term=87628
Toxicity: Probable migraine with visual aura and risk of ischemic stroke – http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17690308
Minerals: Expert Rev Neurother. 2009 Mar;9(3):369-79. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=19271946
Vitamins: Headache. 2004 Oct;44(9):885-90. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=15447697
**AND Vit d deficiency — Headache. 2009 Sep;49(8):1214-22. Epub 2009 Jul 8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19619241
Supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the management of recurrent migraines in adolescents. EFAs: J Adolesc Health. 2002 Aug;31(2):154-61.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=12127385 – (Fish or Olive oil)
Blood sugar affects headache – Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2010 Aug;14(4):284-91.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=20490742
Minerals(Magnesium): Expert Rev Neurother. 2009 Mar;9(3):369-79. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=19271946
Vitamins & Herbs: Headache. 2004 Oct;44(9):885-90. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=15447697
**AND Vit d deficiency — Headache. 2009 Sep;49(8):1214-22. Epub 2009 Jul 8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19619241
EFAs: J Adolesc Health. 2002 Aug;31(2):154-61. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=12127385 – (Fish or Olive oil)
Blood sugar affects headache – Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2010 Aug;14(4):284-91.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=20490742
Neck Pain and Neck Weakness: Exercise: Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2010 Dec;91(12):1878-83. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=21112429
AND — Man Ther. 2004 Aug;9(3):125-33. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=15245706
Posture/Ergo: J Headache Pain. 2010 Oct;11(5):409-15. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=20563879
Stress: Pain. 1992 Jun;49(3):321-4. PMID: 1408297 (% taken from this citation) – http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1408297
Effectiveness of high dose riboflavin in migraine prophylaxis. Neurology 1998;50:466-470. – http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9484373
NEW!! The Effects of Magnesium, L-: Carnitine, and Concurrent Magnesium-L-: Carnitine Supplementation in Migraine Prophylaxis. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2012 Aug 17. [Epub ahead of print]
– http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22895810
J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1995 Mar-Apr;18(3):148-54 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7790794
Diet restriction in migraine, based on IgG against foods: a clinical double-blind, randomised, cross-over trial. Cephalalgia. 2010 Jul;30(7):829-37. Epub 2010 Mar 10..
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20647174