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Chiropractic Care for Migraines: How Chiropractors Provide Relief

A young man pressing his fingers to his temples as he undergoes a migraine

If you suffer from migraines, then you know just how debilitating and disorienting they can be. Often, migraines impede active and productive lifestyles. Those who suffer from migraines might spend a whole day unable to go to work or do much of anything, and this can take a toll on their lives. 

Migraine sufferers might often feel defeated and unsure of where to turn for relief. The good news is that there are treatments out there. Chiropractic care is one approach that has provided considerable relief for many suffering from migraines. 

Migraines — What Are They and What Causes Them?

If you’ve had a migraine before, you likely have your own horror stories of the debilitating pain, photophobia, and dizziness that comes with it. Americans that suffer from this affliction might feel alone, but the truth is that millions of Americans experience migraines every year. According to the Migraine Institute, 35 million Americans suffer from migraine headaches. The Migraine Research Foundation also found that migraines represent the third most prevalent illness in the world, and they are the sixth most-disabling illness. 

Experts are still working to understand where the pain comes from during a migraine. According to John Hopkins, current thinking has gravitated towards the understanding that hormones—such as serotonin and estrogen—play a role in the pain sensitivity of people with migraines. The data suggest that women are more likely to experience migraines than men and part of this is likely due to fluctuating estrogen levels. 

Another aspect of the theory is that pain occurs because of waves of activity by groups of excitable brain cells that trigger chemicals such as serotonin. As these levels change, this causes the migraine. Other migraines can be caused by muscle contractions and tension in the neck and head region. 

People with migraines often begin to recognize triggers that kickstart an episode. These triggers are different for everyone but can be something like:

  • Stress and other strong emotions
  • Environmental conditions
  • Hormonal shifts
  • Tiredness or lack of sleep
  • Bright, glaring, or flickering lights

How Can Chiropractic Care Alleviate Migraine Symptoms? 

Migraine sufferers might be surprised to know that there is a drug-free treatment out there for those who suffer from these debilitating headaches. Chiropractors are licensed to provide non-surgical and nonpharmacological therapies to restore balance and enhance overall health. 

In many instances, people often turn to medication. While this method can provide temporary relief, taking medication over long periods can have consequences or side effects. Chiropractors offer a non-invasive and drug-free solution that can help many people reduce or alleviate their pain.

Here’s are two ways a chiropractor can help:

Spinal alignment

Some evidence suggests that headaches are often caused by spinal or cervical misalignments. Chiropractic care is effective in treating misalignments by employing manual therapies, spinal realignments, and stretches. Having proper alignment goes beyond a good posture, but a chiropractor can work on releasing the tension that accumulates when the spine is misaligned. 

Manual therapy

While spine manipulation is a type of manual therapy, chiropractors can also employ other forms of manual therapy to assist and complement spinal adjustments. Hands-on therapy can include a type of massage, assisted stretches, and more. 

A Look at the Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Migraine Sufferers

Chiropractic care is a non-addictive medication-free therapy that focuses on adjusting the spine, joint restrictions, or other misalignments. The focus is to reduce inflammation and release tension that accumulates from overuse, bad posture, incorrect form, or simply getting older and losing mobility. A chiropractor will work to:

  • Reduce inflammation
  • Release of stress and tension
  • Improve mobility and physical function
  • Reduce pain and discomfort
  • Correct postural strain

By focusing on the release of tension through manual therapies and realignment, a chiropractor can help a migraine sufferer from reducing the symptoms or decreasing the severity of the migraines. Routine chiropractic care gives patients a consistent opportunity to wade off migraine episodes by improving function and releasing tension over a period of time. 

While there are no active cures for migraines, the symptoms can be mitigated and managed. Recent studies are working on discovering more on how chiropractic care can work in conjunction with neurological care to create the most effective treatment plan.

Struggling With Migraines? Try a Drug-Free Solution & Get Your Life Back on Track 

People that suffer frequent migraines or headaches report frequent interruptions to their daily lives. Whether it’s missing work, foregoing school activities, or simply missing out on events because of pain, the migraines become a real barrier to an active lifestyle. At the same time, pain management with medication has become much more scrutinized and people have become more aware of the potential risks. 

Chiropractic care is a drug-free, non-invasive therapy that works with a patient to find relief from their symptoms. If you have questions or want to learn more about how a chiropractor can help your headache or migraine symptoms, give Southwest Chiropractic a call today!

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