Around 36 million Americans suffer from migraine type headaches.  New research shows that chiropractic care can help.

So what is a migraine?

There are several factors that make a migraine different from a headache.

  • Time – a headache must last from 4-72 hours.
  • Signs- a headache must include nausea and/or vomiting, sensitivity to light (photophobia), or sensitivity to sound (phonophobia)
  • Symptoms – a headache must have 2 of these 4 – located on one side of the head, aggravated physical activity, throbbing in nature, moderate or worse in severity.

Medical treatment options for migraines

There are different medical options for the treatment of migraines.  The treatment on the rise is the use of opioid drugs.  The problem with these drugs is that new research shows that they can actually cause chronic migraines.  In California, in one year alone, 20,000 patients developed chronic migraines due to opioid use.  Of those, 3,000 became addicted to those drugs.

Many of the other current medications for migraines must be taken immediately as you feel a migraine coming on.  While they can sometimes be effective, you may not catch it in time and then the effects of the medications may not work.

For more information about migraines, as well as the anatomy and physiology behind migraines CLICK HERE!

Chiropractic treatment for migraines

Many people are looking for an alternative for the treatment of their migraine headaches.  Chiropractic care has become a major player in helping those suffering from migraines.

Chiropractors look for dysfunction in the spine, specifically the cervical spine when dealing with headaches of any kind.  When the spine gets out of alignment (vertebral subluxation), even a little bit, pressure can be put the surrounding areas.  This includes the nerves, joints, muscles, discs, and bones.

These spinal misalignments can lead to all different types of symptoms including pain, headaches, sleep disturbances, postural issues and many other problems.

When adjustments are applied to the spine and properly aligned, this can release that pressure on the spinal subluxation complex and reduce symptoms.

The spine can get out of alignment in numerous ways and is usually due to years of abuse including:

  • years of abuse from micro-traumas
  • major accidents that were never addressed
  • poor posture
  • lack of exercise
  • increased weight
  • and many other factors.

It often takes some time to unwind what is wound up so tight in the spine and get relief from symptoms.

If you or someone you know suffers from migraine headaches have them check us out at Express Chiropractic of Frisco to see if we can help!