AboutJ.R. Strecker, B.S., D.C. Expertise I can answer questions related to the signs, symptoms, causes, types, management, treatment, and prevention of headaches and migraines. It is critical to accurately identify the type and cause of the headache to maximally reduce the frequency, duration, and intensity of the headache.
Experience I have extensive experience as a chiropractor in an integrated system. My background is mostly experienced with routine patient management of musculoskeletal disorders and pain management. I work closely with highly-trained anesthesiologists for pain management protocols, and I am also the chief chiropractor of an integrated clinic incorporating chiropractic, massage therapy, allopathic medicine, acupuncture, herbology, homeopathy, and naturopathic medicine. I typically integrate a combination of these aspects for both the wellness and pain management of my patients. I have treated patients at Venice Family Clinic, the nation’s largest free clinic and a teaching clinic for the UCLA medical system, in a heavily researched pilot program incorporating chiropractic and acupuncture with allopathic medicine. In my private practice, I also work alongside the chief medical director for student health at California State University – Los Angeles. Next to back and neck pain, headaches and migraines are the most common conditions I treat in my practice.
Organizations American Chiropractic Association.
California Chiropractic Association.
Publications Dr. J.R. Strecker’s Practice -- featured story (Front Page of Business Section), The Palisadian Post. Oct. 25th, 2007. (Dr. Strecker not the original author).
Education/Credentials Bachelor’s of Science, Human Biology (Cleveland Chiropractic College).
Doctor of Chiropractic, Cum Laude Honors (Cleveland Chiropractic College).
Awards and Honors Youngest chiropractor in professional history to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree
Past/Present Clients Consulting Chiropractor for Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy – Pacific Palisades, CA
I'm a 22 yr old healthy male. About 4 months ago I had this new onset of a headache that made me naseus and hurt really bad, it lasted about a month and a half, I had a Ct scan of my head done without contrast and it came back normal. Well the headaches eventually went away and now a month in a half later the head pain is back. It's on the right side of my head about 2 inches above my right ear and an inch or two towards the back of the head. It comes and goes throughout the day, its been back for 3 days now. It sometimes makes me feel a little off balanced and out of it. It seems like when I move my neck around and pop it, i get somewhat of a relief from it but it comes back. The main thing that I'm scared of is an anuerism. The pain is not bad enough to where it affects my sleep but its an intermittent pain there when i go to bed and when i wake up in the morning, and throughout the day. What could cause these symptoms? Thank you so much. Also sometimes I feel like a strong pulse sensation in my head for a few seconds and then it disappears. The pain has begun to radiate to other areas of my head, and its still intermittent.
It has been pretty much gone since then and then all of a sudden yesterday, May 7th, 2008, I started to experience that same head pain in the same area. Since then it has only gotten worse, it is a hard bounding pain in that same exact spot that it started in months ago. It really scared me bad, I fear an anuerism for some reason, i dunno why. I keep getting hot flashes with it also. It comes and goes, intermittent, and the longest that its gone for is like 15 mins. What could be causing it do be like this? I've been to the doctor many of times when it first started and they don't want to take me seriously. Please someone shed some light on this for me. Thanks. P.S I also want to sleep all the time.
Answer Disclaimer: please do not take any of my advice without at least consulting with your doctor(s) first. If necessary, print this email in its entirety for your doctor(s) to read. In addition, please do not attempt to use this website or my advice as a substitute for your healthcare needs or as a substitute for the advice of your doctor. There is no way a thorough health evaluation or assessment of any medical condition can be properly made via email. Please only use the contents discussed as a guide or tool to address your health matters with your doctor(s). If any of the information I provide conflicts in anyway with the information your doctor(s) provide, it is always best to default to the information provided by your consulting doctor(s) or to seek additional opinions from qualified, licensed healthcare providers as needed.
Hello M.,
I understand your concern for your headache. Because of the nature of this website, I won't be able to diagnose you or know exactly what your problem is, but hopefully I can provide you with some guidance.
For one, an aneurysm is extremely unlikely. 22 year olds do not get aneurysms. They occur in older people. Of course anything is possible, but it's not likely. The only reason why you could have an aneurysm out of nowhere at your age is if you have some sort of connective tissue disorder or a congenital malformation. In any case, it's unlikely. Secondly, if you did have an aneurysm, your CT would have caught it, so rest assured it doesn't seem to be life-threatening headache despite the intensity of the pain. You also did not mention any associated signs caused by aneurysms or strokes, such as difficulty walking, slurred speech, coordination problems, etc...
So the good news is that it seems like a "regular" headache. In other words, there is hope. The fact that it went away suddenly and came back suddenly makes me wonder if there is something in your diet triggering your headaches. Try to pay attention to the things going on with your life right now. A lot of times when a new, non-emergency headache develops suddenly and disappears suddenly, something in the patient's life has change, such as diet (food allergies), sleep habits, drinking habits, smoking, stress, etc... Take a look at your life and see if you can find a common factor for the periods you experience the headache. When it goes away for 15 minutes, notice if you did something (or stopped doing something) anytime during that day. Try to find a pattern.
The fact that it's a pulsatile quality suggests that it's a vascular headache. There are certain supplements that can help with vascular headaches. Caffeine can help and also provoke vascular headaches in some people. So if you drink some sort of energy drink or coffee drink on the days you get the headaches, this could be your trigger. Vitamin B6 (50-100 mg/day) and Magnesium (600 mg/day) has been show to help with these types of headaches. However, as always check with your doctor before taking any supplements, preferably a naturopathic doctor.
If you find popping your neck helps, than it might be a cervicogenic headache, meaning it comes from the neck. I would strongly advise you to stop cracking your own neck and go see a chiropractor who knows what he/she is doing. You could sprain your neck if you crack it yourself and can create unstable joints and ligaments, temporarily helping the pain, but long-term, making the problem even worse.
I hope this helps sort things out for you. Bottom line, if your doctor(s) aren't taking you seriously, go to a different doctor. And if your pain is 24 hours per day, you should really keep investigating this matter with a licensed doctor.
