Headache Relief

“I have a headache.” This phrase is heard over and over and can mean many different things. Headache refers to pain in the head and often involves pain extending into the neck region. This can be anything from an intense, short pain from eating or drinking very cold food to more severe forms of migraines.

Migraines are a neurological issue and can range in pain from moderate to severe. Interestingly, the typical migraine pain only affects one side of the head. This pulsating or throbbing type pain can last up to 72 hours and cause nausea and vomiting. Many people when suffering from migraines are sensitive to light, sound, and/or smell. Some sufferers will experience an aura prior to the onset of the migraine. Once the pain is over you could experience a feeling of fatigue or even fluctuations in mood and there could also be difficulty concentrating.

Although the actual causes of migraines could be a combination of things, it is believed to be both environmental and genetic. Many migraine issues will run in families. Most migraine patients use some form of medication to relieve the pain associated with the headaches, there could be other options. Before beginning a regimen based on medication, chiropractic care may offer a drug-free option to pain relief.

The chiropractic treatment will be focused on the spinal column. Vertebrae can become misaligned or the range of motion could decrease and both of these issues could be adjusted by a chiropractor. This misalignment, which can cause nerve pressure affecting the brain, may be one of the triggers for a migraine. Correction can be accomplished by gentle manipulation of the spine.

In conjunction with this type of treatment to ease your migraines, there are things you can do between chiropractic visits. One of the main items within your control is to make sure you have proper posture. Doing this will keep your back straight and shoulders back giving muscles plenty of room. If you work at a desk or sit for long periods, move. In other words, while sitting move your body as much as possible, and take breaks to walk around. Remember, you are trying to relieve pressure on the spine before this pressure moves to your head and possibly cause migraines. You may also be given a home exercise routine that will help with body alignment as well as posture.

A chiropractic approach to migraines will be a holistic program. This could include spine and neck manipulations and adjustments as well as therapy for your trigger points. Then there will be a home program including diet and nutrition, exercises to improve posture as well as spine alignment, and stretching and relaxation skills.

All of these can work together to give you better migraine management leading to a better quality of life. Start living yours today, schedule an appointment now, we are waiting to help you.

A closer look at our care for Migraines:

When you visit our office, the first thing our chiropractor will do is perform an exam, including learning your history as it relates to migraines and any other family information that may be relative. Also, our doctor needs to be informed of any medication that you are currently taking for any condition, not just the migraines. A complete medical/health history is necessary.

The physical exam will focus on the head and neck area as well as your posture. You will be checked for any tension or spasm as well as range of motion in the area. Particularly, we will check your spine for spinal subluxations that could be contributing to your migraines. Subluxations are misalignments of the vertebrae of the spine, which can affect nerves which supply blood flow to the head.

If our chiropractor finds any abnormal results on the spinal examination, this could be the area of emphasis for treatment of your migraines. Treatment will probably include chiropractic adjustments, which are a gentle form of spinal manipulation.

Hands-on treatment is only one aspect of a chiropractic program. Environmental factors as well as lifestyle can cause migraines or at least contribute to them. You may be asked to keep a journal or log of what you eat and drink as well as your activities to see how these affect your migraines. Caffeine may cause migraines for someone whereas just the smell of garlic could cause them in someone else. In order to know what your trigger is, a detailed daily history is necessary. This would include when a migraine occurs and how long it lasts.

Lifestyle changes may also be necessary including a regular exercise program and keeping hydrated. Sufficient sleep could be an important factor in treatment as well as proper diet.

Take charge of your health today and schedule a consultation at (410) 321-7210. Don’t forget to take advantage of our New Patient Special!