If you’ve ever experienced a migraine attack, you know what the classical symptoms are. You are probably familiar with the throbbing pains on one or both sides of the head, sensitivity to light and sound, dizziness, visual disturbances, and nausea. Well, you’re not alone. Migraines are the third leading cause of disability in the United States. During migraine attacks, sufferers typically isolate themselves in dark and quiet rooms until the pains subside. In most cases, sufferers are unable to work, study or function normally in the world.
What is a migraine?
Migraine can be defined as a disorder of the central nervous system that induces persistent headaches. The nervous system is made up of the nerves, the brain, and the spinal cord. And when there is a problem within one or more of these components, recurring headaches can occur. Migraines can last from 20 minutes to 3 days.
The pains often occur on just one side of the head. But localized head pains aren’t the only symptom of migraine. In most cases, the throbbing, intense head pains are accompanied by visual disturbances, the delicateness of the scalp, hypersensitivity to light and sound, vomiting and nausea. Pains can migrate from one side of the head to the other. Sometimes, these pains can also descend to the neck and shoulder region.
At the end of each migraine attack, the suffer feels exhausted, irritable and distracted.
What Really Causes Migraine?
Medical researchers have revealed that upper cervical injuries are chiefly responsible for most migraine attacks. When changes in the brain chemistry result in inflammation around the brain stem and the nerves, migraines can occur. Whiplashes, sports injuries, blows to the head and automobile accidents are some of the leading causes of head and neck trauma. But that’s not all. Repetitive bad sitting or standing postures can cause neck and head injury. These injuries change the alignment of the upper neck bones and the skull. And when the neck bones and the skull are misaligned, blood doesn’t flow properly to the brain. This results in a disorder that affects the nerves in the brainstem and eventually, causes migraine headaches.
Extraneous factors such as stress, bright lights, caffeine, hormonal fluctuations, and fatigue are migraine triggers. They can affect the frequency and duration of migraine attacks, but they don’t constitute the underlying causes of migraines. While it is important to avoid trigger factors, it is even more important to seek treatment options that will address the underlying problems.
How Chiropractic Care Can Help You Get Rid Of Migraines.
Upper cervical chiropractic care has proven to be an effective way to address nervous system irritation and to stop future episodes of migraine headaches. Robbyn, an American lady in her twenties, tried every medication and scan in the best ER and neurologists’ hospitals, but nothing changed. Medications provided short-term relief. The migraines became more frequent. She got them pretty much every month, even on the week of her birthdays and on Christmas Days. Until her aunt invited her to see Dr. Addison Bulosan, an experienced upper cervical chiropractor. “The experience was different from what I’d experienced at the traditional chiropractor’s office,” Robbyn said. “In the specific chiropractor’s office, they carried out nerve testing and digital x-rays, before the care began.” After a few sessions of Upper Cervical Chiropractic care, the symptoms began to reduce, until they completely disappeared. She no longer takes migraine medications because she has been migraine-free for eight months.
You can watch her testimony in this video.
To ensure that you will benefit from care, the Upper Cervical Chiropractor will conduct some initial spinal tests. A digital x-ray will be used to examine the upper neck and to assess the nervous system irritation. There will be some nerve testing as well. If a nervous system disorder is diagnosed, the specific chiropractor will implement care techniques that will address the nervous system irritation responsible for migraine headaches. Through specific adjustments, the upper cervical chiropractor will reposition the misaligned vertebrae in the upper neck area. This will eliminate nerve irritation in the brain and spinal cord area; it will also completely prevent migraines from reoccurring.