Migraines and Chiropractic For Relief

Migraines affect more than 15 million Americans today, prompting sufferers to spend millions of dollars each year for temporary remedies full of chemicals. The tension headache and the migraine headache are the two major types of chronic headaches, with the migraine being the most common. For the past 65 years, migraine victims have gotten significant help from chiropractors.

Considering that the nerves and blood vessels pass through small openings and canals in between the neck bones (vertebrae), misalignment naturally will cause a pressure that creates pain in the nerves and decreases blood circulation to the vessels leading to the head. It is a simple matter for the chiropractor to release the impinged nerves and decrease the pressure to restore proper blood circulation with a chiropractic adjustment. The migraine headaches will then disappear. Here are the typical types of migraines and their triggers:

Common Migraine

This is the most common type of migraine accounting for 80-85% of attacks. Research indicates that a change in cerebral blood flow could be responsible for the symptoms of this headache.

It normally involves:

• a unilateral pulsing headache
• more commonly in females
• is usually found to have started in young adulthood
• headaches are usually severe although sufferers can sometimes carry on with their daily activities
• there is often associated nausea and vomiting.

Classic Migraine

This type of migraine accounts for about 10-15% of attacks with the typical throbbing unilateral headache as in a common migraine but is preceded by what is known as ‘aura’ or ‘prodrome’. This describes symptoms experienced prior to the onset of the throbbing headache such as:

• visual symptoms such as flashing lights (scintillation)
• the presence of a blind spot (scotoma).
• This usually lasts up to 30 minutes after which it is replaced by a disabling headache that can last for a few hours to 3 days.
• Nausea and vomiting may occur.
• Photophobia (sensitivity to bright lights) is common and bright lights can also provoke the pain.

Resting in a cool dark and quiet room is often the only relieving factor.

Triggers

Some of the more common triggers are listed below:

• After periods of stress (commonly occurs on over the week end or holidays)
• Foods (commonly; chocolate, caffeine, nitrates, cheese, nuts, wine and many more)
• Some medications (including vasodilators)
• Changes in sleeping habits
• Hormonal changes (associations with the menstrual cycle)
• Tension in the neck (especially the upper part of the neck)

For migraines, plenty of research shows that chiropractic adjustment can really help. One study (A Randomized Controlled Trial of Chiropractic Spinal Manipulative Therapy for Migraines) found that some of those undergoing at least two months of spinal adjustments from a Chiropractor experienced 90% relief of their migraines. That’s pretty awesome!

If you find yourself suffering from migraines and haven’t been able to find real relief, please reach out and book a consultation with us.