In this episode of the Headache Doctor podcast, Dr. Casey Guthmiller shares his personal journey with headaches and migraines and how seeking treatment at Novera: Headache Center changed his life. He discusses how addressing his neck, jaw, and airway issues reduced his migraines and opened his eyes to holistic treatment methods. Dr. Guthmiller, a running coach and physical therapist himself, provides practical tips for running, explaining how those with headaches and migraines can safely start and maintain a running routine.

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In this episode of the Headache Doctor podcast, Dr. Taves explores how neck problems often manifest in surprising ways, such as headaches, migraines, jaw pain, and even shoulder tension. Many people don’t realize their symptoms stem from underlying neck issues, but recognizing these signs can lead to effective treatment. At Novera Headache Center, we focus on resolving neck dysfunction to relieve these symptoms and reduce dependence on medication, empowering patients to get back to the life they love.

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This episode dives into understanding and managing triggers for headaches and migraines. Dr. Taves discusses common misconceptions about identifying a single trigger as the main problem that sets off headaches and migraines. He introduces a three-spoke framework focusing on the source of pain, developmental factors, and systemic health. Through patient stories and practical advice, a holistic approach is presented to achieving long-term relief and reducing dependency on medication. Tune in to learn how to create a healthier environment for managing your symptoms.

Listen to Elisabeth tell her story in Episode 151: Neck Pain and Migraines - Featuring Elisabeth Post.

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As we continue to work our way through explanations and exploration of different headache presentations, we are always seeking to better understand the symptoms that the people who come to us are experiencing. One presentation that we are often asked about is an 'ice pick headache' - a headache that is described as a sudden, sharp stabbing sensation that some equate to being stabbed in the eye or head with an ice pick. This feeling can be scary and extremely unpleasant for those who experience it, so Dr. Taves breaks down the mechanics of this presentation in order to take away some of that scary unknown.

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Dr. Taves brings things back to the musculoskeletal root cause in today's episode focused on the definitions and anatomical processes that we look at clinically when treating headaches and migraines. He describes what is happening in the neck and the face during a migraine attack and gives examples of how the pain might present in different individuals, from eye pain to jaw pain, or even feelings of numbness and tingling. As a clinic, we have been collecting data on the results of our manual therapy treatment approach and Dr. Taves shares some of the encouraging results we've seen - there is hope!

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As a compliment to last week's episode on having empowered conversations with your healthcare provider, Dr. Taves focuses this podcast on what to look for when seeking out care similar to what Novera: Headache Center offers. We want people around the world to be able to advocate for themselves and seek out safe and effective manual therapy that is tailored to treating headaches and migraines. Similarly, we are on a mission to empower physical therapists and other manual providers so that they feel confident in helping a demographic of patients that we feel has been underserved for far too long. 

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"How can I get my provider to take me seriously?" "Why don't other doctors seem to 'get' it?"

These are questions that we often hear from people around the world when they first begin exploring the possibility of treating their headaches and migraines through the neck, and it's questions like these that light a fire in our providers and motivate us on our mission to change the way our healthcare system looks at headaches. The Headache Doctor Podcast wants everyone to feel empowered to take charge of their health and advocate for themselves - today's episode is designed to tackle those questions above, and more!

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One of our goals when working with patients is getting them moving, active, and back to doing the things that give their life meaning and joy. Today's episode features our provider Kelsey Mathias for a conversation on how to incorporate yoga and other more intense exercises in a way that does not add additional stress or injury to the neck and shoulders. The episode talks about mindful movement, body control, and strategies for safely increasing intensity.

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Cervical instability occurs when the ligaments in between your spinal cord and skull are weakened or loose. Dr. Taves dives into the two types of cervical instability that we see here at Novera and explains the causes and symptoms commonly associated with them. Cervical instability can be a frustrating diagnosis for some, but we want you to know that there is hope! The episode finishes with some practical advice on what can be done to improve cervical instability and the headaches that may accompany it.  

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The Headache Doctor Podcast celebrates its 100th episode with a practical episode addressing common habits that our listeners may not realize are contributing to their headache and migraine pain. Dr. Taves offers perspective on body mechanics, posture, movement, and more. Remember: movement is medicine and the next posture is the best posture! 

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One of the core missions of The Headache Doctor Podcast is to help those who struggle with headaches and migraines to break free from fear or anxiety regarding their pain. A big factor in that is the perception that we have about the migraine diagnosis and the way we look at treatment for headaches and migraines. Dr. Taves seeks to do away with some of the bleak outlooks perpetrated by the traditional medication-based approaches in order to offer hope.  

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Dr. Taves is joined today by Jess Ernst, our marketing director, who first came across Novera: Headache Center during her family's journey to find answers for their eight year old daughter's sudden onset of debilitating headaches and stomach pain. Jess explains the frustration she experienced while searching for effective, non-medication treatment for Addi and the impact that it had on her daughter and their entire family. Dr. Taves urges parents not to wait if their children are experiencing symptoms of headaches and migraines - as Benjamin Franklin once said, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

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The vestibular system is one of the sensory systems that provides our brain with information about balance, motion, and the location of our head and body in relation to our surroundings. Vestibular migraine, which directly impacts this system, is one of the less common presentations that we see in our clinic, but the symptoms can be very frustrating and distressing for those who experience it. Dr. Taves breaks down the mechanics behind this condition and offers hope to those who might be experiencing symptoms of dizziness, ear fullness, and nausea associated with vestibular migraine.

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Hormonal migraines, specifically those associated with menstrual cycles and hormonal fluctuations, can be debilitating for women. Dr. Taves discusses how estrogen levels impact pain thresholds, leading to migraines. He emphasizes the importance of addressing both hormonal imbalances and physical stressors (like neck and shoulder tension) to effectively manage migraines. 

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This week's episode is for all the moms out there! Dr. Taves is joined by Kelsey Mathias, the newest provider at Novera Headache Center, for a conversation on how pregnancy, childbirth, and motherhood can impact headaches and migraines. Kelsey teaches about the pelvic floor and its surprising connection to the areas we treat here in the clinic. Whether you are a mom or you know and love one, we hope this podcast provides helpful insight into feeling your best. 

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Today's episode features a special conversation with a patient whose story may resonate with many of our listeners. Reyna came to us in January of 2022 after spending several months in bed, blindsided by a migraine attack that came on suddenly and never went away. She shares her journey of trying to find an answer for what was happening in her body and the progress that she has made since beginning her treatment at Novera. Stories like Reyna's are exactly why we are on this mission to educate and empower - you are not alone! 

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Allergy-related sinus headaches and migraines share many similar symptoms, which can lead to confusion between the two disorders and oftentimes a misdiagnosis. Today's episode talks about the impact that allergens have on migraines and the role that cortisol plays in combating the inflammation that comes along with allergies and migraine pain. Whatever your individual triggers might be, Novera wants you to know there is hope that you can effectively manage and control your symptoms!

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In today's episode, Dr. Taves recaps his past interviews with providers in different areas of focus - all on a similar mission of providing a more holistic view of healthcare that addresses symptoms at the source. Through these discussions we have learned how all of the body's systems are interconnected and how they can all have an impact on headache and migraine pain. Because of this, Dr. Taves wants to stress the importance of asking questions and looking at the bigger picture when it comes to health.

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At Novera: Headache Center we are on a mission to equip everyone with headaches and migraines with the tools needed to feel empowered about their own healing. Today's episode features a conversation with Dr. Nathan Morris, a functional medicine doctor who focuses his work on addressing illness at its source. Dr. Taves and Dr. Morris discuss ways to heal inflammation within the body, the importance of spending one-on-one time with patients, and why it can be harmful to focus solely on a diagnosis as a label within healthcare. 

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In the US alone there are over 6 million car accidents reported each year! Of those 6 million accidents, about 50% result in some type of whiplash injury to those involved. Today's episode dives into what a whiplash injury can look like and the mechanics of how whiplash relates to headaches, migraines, and neck tension. If you've often wondered if that car accident from years ago might have something to do with your chronic headaches, this episode is for you.

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Our second episode "The Most Overlooked Cause of Headaches and Migraines" has had the most downloads. This topic continues to gets the most attention. Many people go from provider to provider and medication to medication feeling hopeless and frustrated. What they need is to figure out the source of the pain - not just mask symptoms and avoid triggers forever. We seek to give you insight so you can understand the underlying problem. 

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 If you get headaches after eating, this is called a postprandial headache and it can be a major cause of frustration for people as they try to uncover possible triggers for their headaches and migraines. Dr. Taves and Dr. Stoerzbach focus this episode on common eating and food-related triggers that we see in our clinic. They also explain the difference between things that may be a trigger for symptoms, and the actual causes of pain. 

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Healthy living can look different from person to person, and it can be tricky to place a distinct definition on what optimal health should look like when discussing big picture goals with our patients. When we work with people (both virtually and in person) we take time to look at the full picture of a patient's life in order to set realistic and manageable goals related to health and recovery from headache and migraine pain. Today's podcast episode reviews some of the things we take into consideration when building healthy habits with our patients. 

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With so many options for alternative headache and migraine treatments on the market, it can be difficult to know what will actually be helpful and what might do more harm than good. Dr. Taves and Dr. Stoerzbach evaluate some of the more common approaches that we hear about from our patients and give some pointers on potential benefits and downsides. They also discuss what the placebo effect truly means in the scope of healthcare, and how it can be used in a positive way. 

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In this episode of the Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves discusses the impact of sleep position on headaches and migraines. He explores the best and worst sleeping positions, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a neutral neck alignment. Practical tips on choosing the right pillows and achieving optimal sleep posture are provided, aiming to help listeners reduce pain and improve sleep quality.

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The Headache Doctor Podcast welcomes Dr. Lindsay Hollister of The Organic Cure for a discussion on naturopathic medicine and children's health. Many parents find themselves searching for more holistic options when it comes to their family's healthcare, and Dr. Hollister explains how the naturopathic medicine approach can be used to help kids get to their optimal state - whether they are suffering from headaches, gut issues, or behavioral challenges. 

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 Do you find yourself squinting or closing one eye while you read? Do your eyes feel tired, sore and uncomfortable at the end of the day? These can be symptoms of vision disorders that are sometimes missed during a traditional eye exam - and they are also closely related to headaches and migraines. The Headache Doctor Podcast welcomes Dr. Joshua Watt, a vision therapist who specializes in vision rehabilitation and convergence insufficiency treatments to help improve symptoms of eye strain, double vision, and tension.  

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We often hear from our patients that one of the more frustrating aspects of migraine pain is the lack of answers as to why it happens. Often patients will see multiple providers in their search for relief and while they are provided with symptom management solutions, there never seems to be a clear answer as to the root cause. Today's episode walks through some of the explanations that Western medicine has provided thus far, and the doctor's take on them. 

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The Headache Doctor podcast is thrilled to kick off a special side series of extended guest speaker podcasts with an episode on breathing and airway featuring Dr. Kevin Goles. Dr. Goles has been immersed in dental sleep medicine since the beginning of his career. He focused his research during his dental residency on Obstructive Sleep Apnea and the substantial negative effects it can have on one’s health and quality of life. This episode dives into how breathing and airway relates to the jaw, headaches, migraines, and much more. 

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Dr. Taves focuses today's episode on treatment outcomes and expectations, and explains what the effects of hands-on manual physical therapy look like long-term. We are often asked whether or not our form of treatment will 'stick' - and with just an ounce of prevention, the answer is usually yes! We strive to create a solid foundation for our patients based in education and empowerment so that they can achieve lasting results with minimal intervention required. 

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Ergonomics is defined as the study of efficiency in the working environment, and it's an important component to keeping headaches and migraines at bay. For many of us, prolonged sitting or computer work is an unavoidable part of life that can affect us in many ways. Today's episode explains how to create an environment at work or school that will reduce fatigue, pain, and strain on the body. Proper sitting form is important for everyone, everywhere - have you checked in with your posture today?

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Botox injections are a relatively new treatment option that many headache and migraine sufferers look to as a last resort for relief. Dr. Taves and Dr. Stoerzbach talk in depth about what Botox as a treatment entails, and what the intended effects mean in the scope of headache and migraine treatment as it relates to the neck and shoulders. 

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If you're a regular listener of The Headache Doctor Podcast, you've probably heard us talk about our mission to educate and empower. Today's episode dives deeper into what the mission behind our podcast and our clinic, Novera: Headache Center, truly means to us. Novera means 'new era' - a new era for healthcare, a new era for understanding headaches and migraines, and a new era of hope for the hundreds of people we connect with on a daily basis. Thank you for being a part of our mission! 

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Approximately 60 million US adults have a sleep disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea is one of the most prevalent. Today's episode focuses on sleep apnea and the effects that it can have on headaches and migraines. The doctors also explain the relationship between dysfunction in the jaw and neck and the quality of sleep that we get. The episode finishes with some helpful suggestions for those who feel they may be affected by this condition. 

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This episode focuses on chronic pain, explaining the science behind pain and how to understand chronic headaches and migraines. Dr. Taves tells how pain signals are processed by the nervous system and brain and gives practical advice on managing chronic pain through education, aerobic exercise, and treating underlying issues. He emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to reduce pain and improve quality of life.

For more information on chronic pain, check out the book Why Do I Hurt? by Dr. Adriaan Louw

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The doctors return to the basics in this week's episode with a conversation on how they evaluate headaches and migraines in our clinic. Our body's systems are so closely interconnected, and they all feed into the way pain is experienced. Dr. Taves and Dr. Stoerzbach strive to look at every factor of their patient's pain in order to best address it at the source. 

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Tinnitus is described as a ringing or buzzing sound that can occur in one or both ears. Frequently, people who suffer from chronic headaches or migraines also experience symptoms of tinnitus - although often patients do not make the association between the two conditions. Today's episode explains the correlation between tinnitus, headaches, and migraines and offers helpful advice on how to address symptoms of buzzing or ringing in the ear.

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Movement and physical activity are two major components to keeping headache and migraine pain at bay. Unfortunately, many of our patients find themselves trapped in a vicious cycle of pain triggered by exercise or physical activity, which can then be exacerbated when regular movement is stopped altogether out of fear of another headache or migraine. Dr. Taves and Dr. Stoerzbach wants headache and migraine sufferers to feel empowered to pursue the physical activities they love, so today's podcast is filled with tips on exercising safely and consistently. Remember - movement is medicine!

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As a compliment to last week's episode on manual physical therapy, Dr. Taves and Dr. Stoerzbach spend today's episode reviewing manual tools and devices that can be utilized to relieve pain and tension at home. From a simple tennis ball all the way to Dr. Taves' own joint mobilization device, there are options for every type of patient to safely and effectively work into their muscles in order to mitigate headache and migraine pain. 

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Across our social media platforms, we are frequently asked what type of providers Dr. Taves and Dr. Stoerzbach are, and how patients can find a similar type of treatment in their area. As manual physical therapists our doctors use a hands-on approach to help restore proper motion to the body. Today's podcast episode goes deeper into what manual physical therapy is comprised of - the mechanisms, areas of focus, and the many potential benefits.

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A common topic we are asked about is proper sleeping positions. Do you toss and turn and wake up with a headache, or maybe neck tension?  What should you be doing to get better sleep?  In this episode we will dive into these sleep-related topics. We want to make sure you are sleeping well and doing everything possible to mitigate waking up with a headache.  Below is a link to the pillow discussed in the podcast. 

https://www.sleepright.com/product/standard/

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Dr. Taves explains the two things that he wants everyone with headaches and migraines to be aware of, and two things that he wants you to do every day in order to prevent pain and tension from compounding. Dentists get their two things, so why can't physical therapists have them too?

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Migraine aura is experienced by about 20-25% of migraine sufferers worldwide. An aura can present as blurred or spotty vision, numbness or tingling in the face or hands, or difficulty with speaking and swallowing. These symptoms can be very frightening, especially when there seems to be no explanation for them after neurological conditions have been ruled out. As part of their mission to educate and empower migraine sufferers everywhere, Dr. Taves and Dr. Stoerzbach look further into migraine aura and the systems within the body that could play a pivotal role in its occurrence. 

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Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome,  or POTS, is a condition affecting millions of individuals across the globe.  The primary symptoms of POTS are lightheadedness, fainting and an uncomfortable, rapid increase in heartbeat. Studies have shown a high correlation between those who suffer with migraine pain and POTS sufferers, and today's episode seeks to understand why that might be.  Dr. Taves and Dr. Stoerzbach discuss the effect that the neck can have on blood flow and revisit the roles that the vagus nerve plays in our body's functioning in order to connect the dots. Below is a link to the study discussed in the episode.

Decreased Vertebral Artery Hemodynamics in Patients with Loss of Cervical Lordosis

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We are often asked what exactly it is that we do, and how our treatment is different from other methods that migraine sufferers may have tried in the past. Today's episode breaks down our process and explains the many ways in which we differ from traditional approaches to headache and migraine treatment. Manual physical therapy is comprised of several techniques, and when combined with a robust home care program and thorough education it can make an enormous impact on the lives of our patients. 

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In this episode of The Headache Doctor, Dr. Omid Moshtaghi joins Dr. Taves, emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive approach in migraine treatment including diet, lifestyle changes, and medication. Dr. Omid highlights the challenges in diagnosing migraines and the need for integrated care between neurologists and ENTs. He encourages patients to stay informed, be patient, and remain hopeful for effective treatment.

Want to connect with Dr. Omid Moshtaghi? Find him on instagram @migraine.mentor or at ENT Associates of San Diego.

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Today's episode focuses on another natural approach to treating headaches and migraines: magnesium. Dr. Taves and Dr. Stoerzbach break down the potential benefits of magnesium and the science behind why it works. Magnesium can be taken in a pill form but there are also several foods that you can add into your diet to increase your magnesium naturally.  If you have ever been curious about incorporating this supplement into your daily routine, this episode is for you!

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Dr. Taves and Dr. Stoerzbach reflect on the past year of The Headache Doctor Podcast, recapping some of the best tips and tricks that headache and migraine sufferers should keep in their self care toolkit. Covering everything from supplements to eye health, this checklist will keep you on track and help you more effectively manage your pain at home.  Below are the links discussed in the article, and a link to claim your free copy of our migraine prevention checklist.

-  The Migraine Prevention Checklist  -

Vitamin D Recommendations

Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS)

Hospital Anxiety & Depression Scale (HADS)

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Have you ever noticed that you can sense the weather changing before it even happens? With temperatures around the globe moving from one extreme to another over the past few weeks, many headache and migraine sufferers have found themselves feeling the effects of such sudden pressure shifts. Today's episode explains exactly what is happening in our bodies when we feel these barometric pressure changes internally and why it happens.  

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