For some people, lying in a dark room and using ice packs can decrease the severity of their migraines.
Can Chiropractors Help with Migraines?
For others, the main condition associated with their chronic migraines is severe neck pain. Several of these individuals also report symptoms of muscle tension, stiffness of the neck, and issues with the functionality of their jaw.
Some doctors prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, muscle relaxers, or physical therapy to combat the symptoms of a migraine. Unfortunately, again, these are likely ‘band-aid’ fixes that are not treating the underlying symptom.
A good chiropractor will have the expertise to not only treat these symptoms, but they’ll also be able to locate the underlying causation for them in the first place.
A Good Chiropractor Can Help with Your Migraines
Head pain is no joke, and if you’re just starting to consider working with a chiropractor, there are a few things to start with. First is recognizing the difference between a headache and a migraine.
Here are a few symptoms associated with migraines:
- Sufferers from migraine headaches report a pounding or throbbing sensation in the head.
- They also may be able to localize the migraine to one specific side of the head.
- Migraine sufferers can often develop phonophobia and photophobia, which essentially means that they are very sensitive to loud noises and bright lights.
- Migraines can often lead to nausea and vomiting.
If these symptoms are common to you, then working with a chiropractor to alleviate your migraines may be the next best step.
How Exactly Does It Work?
When treating migraines, chiropractors will perform spinal adjustments. This is also known as manipulation to work on reducing stress and improving the spinal function of the individual. Your chiropractor may also include soft tissue therapies, which can include:
- Massage Therapy. This includes working on the joints and muscles.
- Myofascial Release Massage. This type of massage is aimed at the membranes which connect and support the muscles.
- Trigger Point Therapies. This continues to target those areas within the muscles.
Migraines are still a very active topic of research in the medical community. Several medical professionals have come to believe that chronic migraines are a symptom of issues related to nerve signals and blood flow. This is why a chiropractor can be so helpful for a sufferer of chronic migraines.
The types of spinal adjustments that a chiropractor can make will impact the way nerves send signals to the brain. These adjustments might also be able to impact the flow of blood through the central nervous system. Both of these combined impacts working together can help treat and prevent migraines.
Furthermore, unlike several prescription medications, the spinal adjustments that a chiropractor can make have significantly less risk of complications and unwarranted side effects.
Migraines are in no way fun, so therefore your chiropractor will want to help you avoid them as much as possible. While some people may view the chiropractor as an intimidating experience, the overall goal of your chiropractor should be to get you back to your normal lifestyle.
One of the many ways they may suggest getting you back to your normal lifestyle from chronic migraines may be to offer lifestyle management and modification suggestions. Here are some ways that your chiropractor might suggest managing your lifestyle:
- Making necessary dietary changes
- Incorporating B complex vitamins into your diet
- Avoiding heavy exercise
- Encouraging walking and low-impact exercises
- Correcting posture, especially sitting correctly at work
By implementing a few minor lifestyle changes, your chiropractor may be able to see large changes in the intensity, duration, and frequency of your migraine headaches.
Finding a Good Chiropractor
Finding a good chiropractor shouldn’t be a difficult task; however, it can feel intimidating to be up close and personal with a person you are not familiar with. At Monitto Chiropractic, we take special care to ensure that our patients are taken care of and satisfied with our work.
We have over 40 years of experience providing quality and professional care to patients of all ages. Monitto Chiropractic is the trusted source of chiropractic care in Asheville, NC, and surrounding communities.
Our range of treatment options and payment plans to make sure you are receiving the care you need, and we have same day appointments available every day of the week. We believe that you should receive not only affordable services but accessible services as well.
If you find yourself suffering from chronic migraines, let our staff accompany you on your journey to find relief. Contact us today to set up your first appointment and begin your first steps to a life of comfort.