Migraines
Migraines are an extreme type of headache that are well known for the suffering they cause. Many patients have told us that when they get a migraine, their day is finished. When you have a migraine, it is common to feel an intense pain in the head, usually behind one eye. There can also be visual disturbances called an aura.
Many people will go into a dark and quiet room and rest until the worst of the migraine passes. This is not always practical, so some people take medications to mask the symptoms, but they do not address the root cause. Our patients want a natural approach that will address the root cause of their migraines, and many didn’t know there were alternatives to medications.
The Migraine research foundation states that 25% of households have at least one person suffering from migraines. Migraines are a common reason for missing work. They also have a huge impact on families and interpersonal relationships, as people with a migraine can be irritable while they are suffering through an episode.
Typical migraine symptoms:
A common migraine episode involves pain on one or both sides of the head, a throbbing/ pulsating sensation, visual disturbances (aura), sensitivity to light (photophobia), sensitivity to sound (phonophobia), nausea and vomiting, lightheadedness and fatigue.
Migraines are serious due to the suffering that they inflict on individuals, their families and relationships, and the workplace. They often do not get better on their own or without any help.
Common causes of migraines:
- Poor posture (anterior head carriage)
- Biomechanical dysfunction in the cervical spine
- Stress
- Caffeine
- Alcohol
- Hormones
- Sleep issues
- Food triggers
- Smoking or smoke exposure
- Strong odors or perfumes
- Underlying disease or pathology (rare)
What is the most common cause of migraines?
In the absence of an underlying disease or problem, which we rule out during the intake process, the most common cause of migraines are related to mechanical issues in the neck. This means that we find that a joint, or many joints in the spine and neck are not moving normally, and this creates dysfunction and pressure in the structures of the head and neck. This creates local pain, can contribute to spinal degeneration, muscle spasms, disc bulges, and irritation of the nerves exiting the neck.
Posture changes associated with the dysfunction can decrease bloodflow to the brain and irritate the sensitive neurological structures of the upper spine and head. The alterations to nerve conduction and bloodflow can trigger migraines and many other types of headaches.
What is the most common cause of headaches?
There are many kinds of headaches described in the medical literature. In the absence of a serious issue, which is rare, we will discuss your history and perform a thorough exam to find the cause. We have found that the most common cause of migraines are mechanical issues in the neck. This means that we find that a joint, or many joints in the spine and neck are not moving normally, and this creates dysfunction and pressure in the structures of the head and neck.
How we can help:
At Alternative Space Chiropractic, we take a holistic approach with migraines. We always treat the whole body and not just the parts that hurt. For migraines, we first look in the neck, but we also work with the rest of the body. This is because the body compensates to take pressure off of joints and tissues that are feeling pain, so most issues will have compensations throughout the rest of the body.
We usually find that the cause of a migraine is a neck issue, but there are often contributing factors elsewhere. Our approach involves local and specific soft tissue work and adjustments to your spine and other areas as needed.
Our goals are to help you relieve your pain and improve the health and functioning of your body. When we work on the whole body, your main issue resolves faster and often other issues will get better too. There are many possible causes of your migraines, and we have seen many different sources.
Our Process
Our process involves a complimentary consultation which allows us to determine if we are the best fit to help you. If we are not, we will refer you to the right people. If we think that we can help you, we will proceed with a paid examination.
During the examination process, we will perform a range of orthopedic, neurological, and musculoskeletal tests in order to find the problem. Once we have the necessary information, we will tell you what we found.
After that, we will create a custom treatment plan designed to help you heal naturally. Our treatments include spinal adjustments, extremity adjustments, muscle and fascia work, posture drills, exercises, stretches, and anything else we can think of that will help you heal faster. We also consider your lifestyle and help you make modifications to prevent future issues. If X-rays are necessary, we will refer you to a radiology center nearby.
We look forward to seeing if we can help you find the cause and solution to your migraines.
