Chiropractor for Migraine Headache Relief
Severe headaches can disrupt your entire day and make it difficult to concentrate on ordinary tasks; that pounding head pain you are feeling may actually be a migraine. According to the American Migraine Foundation, a migraine is a complex disorder that can include multiple symptoms beyond head pain. Nausea, increased sensitivity to light and sound, heightened irritability and confusion can all accompany the moderate to severe pain that is the hallmark of a migraine. Popping a pill may not be the answer if you are experiencing regular severe headaches or migraines; your chiropractor may have offer a better solution.
Causes of Headaches and Migraines
Migraines can be triggered by an outside influence, including the foods you eat or the activities you do, or can come on suddenly without warning, even while you are sleeping or doing a simple activity like climbing stairs or walking. Chiropractic care can help alleviate the pain and other symptoms felt by migraine sufferers in a natural, drug free way. Using more natural methods to ease your migraines can cut down on both your medication cost and prevent you from suffering from the sometimes nasty side effects that can accompany medication. There are several ways chiropractic care can help migraine and headache sufferers.
Cervical Spine Adjustment for Headaches and Migraines
Individuals respond differently to chiropractic care, but a study published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Medicine found that participants who received cervical spine adjustment reported a decrease in the level of migraine pain they experienced. Researchers at Duke University also found that chiropractic care resulted in pain relief for many headache sufferers. The researchers concluded that spine adjustment can help reduce the amount of pain patients experienced when a migraine occurred, but did not impact the frequency of migraines.
Chiropractors can use a combination of cervical spine adjustment to alleviate pain and other techniques to stop migraines from forming in the first place. Cutting down the number or frequency of migraines and reducing the pain when one does occur can improve the quality of life for migraine sufferers who visit the chiropractor.
Massage Therapy for Migraines
Both massage therapy and trigger point therapy are used by chiropractors to treat migraines. Massage therapy is considered to be an effective way to treat migraines without resorting to using medication, according to a study published in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine.
Some types of migraines may be identified by the use of trigger points – chiropractors can reproduce the pain felt by migraine sufferers by compressing key trigger points. Knowing where the pain is coming from can help your chiropractor come up with a personalized treatment plan for you.
Lifestyle and Dietary Changes to Reduce Occurrence of Migraines
Since chiropractors usually choose a holistic, whole body plan of treatment, most incorporate lifestyle and dietary counseling into chiropractic treatment plans for migraine sufferers, says the University of California- Berkley’s Health Services department. A chiropractor can help you alleviate your migraines by helping you identify what foods or habits are triggering your pain.
Something as simple as skipping a meal or not eating the right kinds of foods can trigger a migraine, and since ever sufferer is different, identifying your specific triggers is a great way to prevent migraines from happening. Common dietary triggers include:
- Caffeine (from sources like energy drinks, coffee and chocolate)
- Raisins
- Papayas
- Chickpeas
- Alcohol
- Cultured dairy items like yogurt or cheese
- Foods that contain the additive MSG
Removing these known culprits from your diet can help you combat migraines, and working with your chiropractor can help you identify your personal lifestyle and dietary triggers.
Chiropractic Exam for Headaches and Migraines in Troy, Michigan
Our husband-wife chiropractic team in our Troy, Michigan clinic will assess your posture and spine for underlying causes of headaches or migraines. The chiropractor will check for flexibility of the neck, palpate for muscle tightness or tenderness, perform neurological/ orthopedic tests, and take x-rays to diagnose the extent of the issue.
Once diagnosis has been confirmed, our chiropractic team will outline treatment options for your specific case. Treatment of migraines may include chiropractic adjustments, nutritional counseling, posture advice and more.
Free Spinal Evaluation and Consultation for Migraines and Headaches
If you are suffering from regular or severe headaches and want to learn more about your pain management options, our Troy Michigan chiropractor can help.
Contact Advanced Health Chiropractic today to talk about your concerns and to schedule a consultation; you can also follow our blog for the latest tips and trends in chiropractic care and headache relief.
