• Migraine Medication
• Migraine Remedies
• Migraine Complications
• Migraines and Botox
• Antidepressants
• Nontraditional Therapies
• Lethal Side Effects
• Abortive Treatment
• Preventive Therapy
• Alternative Therapy
  • Chiropractic for Migraines
• Child Treatments
• Yoga and Migraines
• Exercise and Migraines
• Controlling Migraines
• Teen Biofeedback
• Tic Douloureux
• TN Surgical Treatment
• Prepared For Migraine
• Migraine Depression
• Migraine Help
• Exercise And Migraines
• Herbs & More
• Migraine Home Remedies
• Hit And Miss?
• Electrical Stimulation
• Botox
• Acupuncture
• Exercise for Migraines
• Stretches for Pain Relief
• Botox and Migraines
• Surgery for Migraines
• Biofeedback
• Hormonlly Caused Migraines
• Nausea Treatments
• Migraine Diet

Can a Chiropractor Help Your Migraines?

Migraine sufferers generally look for relief wherever they can find it the fastest. Some migraine sufferers even find themselves in the emergency room at 2:00 a.m. because the pain just won't go away. "Rescue" drugs such as Imitrex and Maxalt are usually prescribed for serious migraines, however there are usually underlying conditions which contribute to your migraine pain. Those who have a prior history with a chiropractor may be much more open to seeing a chiropractor for their migraine headaches, while someone who has no experience with chiropractic medicine may not believe this type of treatment could actually help the pain they experience on a regular basis.

Common Migraine vs. Classic Migraine

The most common migraine is known, not surprisingly, as a "common" migraine, accounting for over ¾ of migraine attacks. Doctors feel that changes in the blood flow to the brain account for the symptoms of a common migraine which typically involve a pulsing headache, is more common in females, generally begins in young adulthood, can have accompanying nausea and vomiting, and although sufferers of common migraines report their headache is severe, they are generally able to continue with their daily activities.

The classic migraine accounts for 15-20% of all migraines but is usually preceded by an "aura" which consists of visual symptoms such as flashing or shimmering lights around the objects you are looking at, or at the edge of your field of vision. You may also see wavy images, zigzag lines or hallucinations. The aura of a classic migraine will last for half an hour, then is replaced by a disabling headache which can endure for a few hours, or up to three days. Like the common migraine, nausea and vomiting may accompany the headache as well as extreme sensitivity to bright lights.

How Migraines Relate to the Neck and Cervical Spine

The upper part of our neck and spine is full of nerves which send pain signals out throughout the body. Many migraine sufferers experience pain which begins at the base of the brain, which is also the upper part of the neck. This pain will then progress up the neck and the back of the head, coming to rest on the front or side of the head, and a migraine is born. Chiropractors believe that many migraines actually start in the spine due to misalignment of the vertebrae or subluxation. Subluxation is when the bones in your spine move out of position, creating pressure on the spinal nerves. The pressure on those nerves in turn causes a malfunction in the nerves with interferes with the signals which travel throughout your back and neck.

A Doctor of Chiropractic can locate the subluxations, reducing them through a series of adjustments. Chiropractors also believe that misalignment in the spine can make people much more prone to chemical imbalances in the brain, and that by realigning the vertebrae the pressure on the inflamed nerves can relieve the pain of migraines. Subluxation migraines are alleviated through the gentle stretching of the neck by a trained chiropractor who will probably also tell you to pay close attention to your posture, especially if you sit for long periods of time in front of a computer. Move around as frequently as possible, and sleep on your side or back, using a firm pillow which supports your neck.

A recent study in New Zealand found that the majority of people who suffered from severe migraines, and sought the help of a chiropractor who re-aligned the spine during treatments, found their migraines either totally relieved or at least significantly improved through this type of treatment. In follow-up studies of the patients, the majority were migraine free some two years later with only monthly chiropractic adjustments as treatment. If you have been a migraine sufferer for a long time and have found no relief, visiting your local chiropractor may be exactly what you have been looking for.