TWO Port Macquarie physiotherapists are considering all options to relieve the pain of headache sufferers.
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Dean Lawler and Mark Matheson have a combined experience of more than 20 years in physiotherapy.
The dynamic duo work alongside other physiotherapists at Sports and Spinal Physiotherapy Clinic (SSPC) in Port Macquarie and Laurieton.
Last October they decided to focus their energy on a sophisticated method of assessing and treating the small movements of the upper cervical spine. This method has been developed over two decades by Sydney clinician Dean Watson.
Changes in the upper cervical spine can lead to headaches and migraines.
Lawler and Matheson use very precise movements as well as clinical reasoning to alleviate pain and suffering.
Matheson's interest in helping those who have suffered acute and chronic headaches stems from observing his father's suffering over many years.
Since opening The Headache Clinic - located within SSPC they have treated people of all ages.
"We have had people come in who have been suffering headaches for 20 or 30 years," Lawler said.
"We had a nine-year-old boy recently who had such severe pain he couldn't do his homework," Matheson. "After just a few treatments these people are feeling much better."
Those in severe pain have benefited from the evidence-based research from which Lawler's and Matheson's treatment methods have developed .
"Other clinics will look at parts of the neck to try to figure out what's wrong, and refer to different kinds of headaches," Matheson said. "What we do is try to reproduce the headache in the top three levels of the vertebrae, and if we can do that we can fix the problem."
The intensive treatments the clinic provides are reducing and eliminating pain for people from far and wide.
The demand for the clinic's services has spread. They are now fielding inquiries to assist people in Queensland and beyond.
At the moment the enlivening clinicians are focused on serving the Port Macquarie and Camden Haven areas.
"We're actually holding a free information night at Rydges Hotel on May 28," Lawler said. "We encourage people to come along and consider a different way of thinking.
"We want people to be able to get relief without drugs, and we want them to become engaged in the process by consulting with their GP about options."
Building lasting relationships with medical professionals in the area is an ongoing priority for the clinic.
"We've had a really great response from the GPs we've talked to," Matheson said. "Many of them are getting on board, and it's great to have that level of communication."