Migraine Headache Treatment with Chiropractic Care
By Debra Rodzinak
Patients who suffer from migraine headaches know how debilitating this type of headache can be on a person’s daily routine. Taking handfuls of medicine to rid the body of pain is not reasonable for most sufferers. Work, family, and extracurricular activities are interrupted by migraine headaches. Chiropractic care for migraines has been found to alleviate the pain that keeps so many patients from living their lives to the fullest.
According to Dr. Teresa Hill, “… chronic headaches require treatment over a longer period of time … patients know how much pain, agony and lack of enjoyment of life activities they endure during these episodes … Headaches result in patients primarily feeling ‘bombed’ for a day or so and then the ‘hangover’ type feeling for another day or so."
Hill also says the headaches have a huge impact in the days following because production level decreases "considerably."
Adjustments
Restoring a proper range of motion has been found to successfully treat migraine headaches. Specific chiropractic adjustments performed on the patient will allow a greater range of motion to the affected area along with removing nerve interference. A complete evaluation by the chiropractor is needed to determine the area that is causing the limited motion.
Muscle Release
Relaxing the muscles and ligaments that surround the spine is also needed in order to relieve chronic migraines. With manual therapy to work out knots in muscle tissue as well as balancing tight muscles, chiropractors are able to release trigger points before an adjustment that may be leading to chronic headaches. Pain that presents in the head may actually be a tight muscle in the neck or back.
Other Therapies
In addition to muscle release and adjustments, other therapies may be used before an adjustment to maximize treatment. Hot and cold packs can be used to alleviate pain and discomfort prior to and after an adjustment.
"Chiropractic [care] should be utilized as mainstream treatment for the chronic headaches syndromes," Dr. Hill said. "It should be made available in primary care to treat pain and prevent costly referrals to hospitals and emergency rooms.”
If you suffer from chronic migraine headaches and don’t want the hassle of a doctors visit or lengthy and costly insurance claims, visit the professionals at The Joint today! No appointment is needed. Just drop by and let one of the professionals at The Joint evaluate you for quick and painless headache relief!