Headache & Migraine Relief
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Headaches and Migraines
You are not alone if you found Life Source Chiropractic on the internet by searching for “headache and migraine treatment near me.” As many as half of Americans will experience a minimum of one headache each year, while four percent of people around the world endure the grip of headache pain for 15 days or more every month.
A migraine is a category of headache that can last for several days. They are often accompanied by stabbing and throbbing pain on one side of the head as well as eye pain on the same side. Migraine symptoms may also include the following:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dizziness
- Numbness
- Increased sensitivity to light or sound
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Almost 25% of migraine sufferers will experience an aura shortly before developing a migraine headache. An aura is a visual disturbance that involves seeing stars, blind spots, flashing lights, or zig zag patterns. Because migraines can last up to 72 hours, they are responsible for $36 billion in healthcare costs and lost income for the one out of four American families they impact.
Common Causes of Headaches and Migraines
Infections, high blood pressure, and other health problems can trigger headaches. In addition, environmental elements such as inhalation of pollutants or changes in air pressure can also cause headaches. In some people, migraines can be caused by loud music, bright lights, and fasting. Headaches and migraines can both occur or be worsened by stress, depression, or anxiety.
Though many Life Source Chiropractic patients are aware that all of these factors contribute to headaches, these are not the primary causes we encounter. Injuries, spinal abnormalities, and muscular issues are the causes of a majority of the headaches we see. However, stress, tension, whiplash, and sinus problems can also lead to headaches. Thankfully, we are able to address these underlying causes through personalized lifestyle programs and direct headache chiropractic treatment.
Whiplash Headaches
Whiplash is often disregarded as the cause of headache or migraine pain. Whiplash headache pain is frequently located at the base of the skull and is worsened with movement of the neck. These headaches can be unbearably painful given that both the head and neck are affected. This type of headache is commonly caused by the violent back and forth motion that occurs during a car accident.
Tension Headaches
Increased muscular tension at the back of the head and neck can cause what is known as a tension headache. Patients with this type of headache often complain of what feels like a tight band around the head. A misaligned spine or muscular imbalance regularly coincides with these headaches. Tension headache pain can be caused and intensified by these underlying conditions.
Stress Headaches
Stress is responsible for migraines in 70% of people who suffer from them. Although migraines can be caused by stress, migraine pain can worsen it which creates a vicious cycle that results in more recurrent and severe migraines. Over time the immune system can also be affected by the increase of emotional distress.
Sinus Headaches
Sinus headaches are a result of the extreme pressure of sinuses that are not sufficiently draining due to infections or allergies. Sinus cavities are located behind the forehead and cheeks and also around the eyes which is why patients feel sinus pressure and pain in these areas.
How Chiropractic Works to Alleviate Headaches and Migraines
Chiropractic for headaches and migraines works to relieve pain without having to take over-the-counter medicine or habit-forming prescription drugs. Our patients benefit from soothing, non-invasive therapies that make them feel their best.
Life Source Chiropractic also strongly encourages our patients to incorporate healthy lifestyle choices into their daily lives. When constructing their care plans, we always take into account the preferences and everyday routines of our patients, because we understand that our headache treatment is only effective when it is routinely practiced.
How Our Chiropractor Can Help
Headache and migraine chiropractic treatment has a number of advantages for our patients. Some of these include:
- Relief from stress
- Reduced inflammation
- Optimized physical performance
- Less discomfort
When a patient comes to Life Source Chiropractic for the first time, we complete a detailed consultation and physical examination before we start headache chiropractic treatment. We may also refer patients out for additional scans that we cannot perform in our office, such as x-rays or MRIs, if we feel further testing is required. We are happy to partner with other healthcare professionals in our community if it means helping our patients achieve optimal health.
Chiropractic Adjustment
Chiropractic adjustment, or spinal manipulation, is a fundamental technique in chiropractic care and focuses on restoring proper alignment of the spine. Since the spine protects the nerves in the spinal cord, correct alignment is necessary for good health. The nerves can carry signals back and forth from the brain in an efficient manner when they are free of compression.
We are often asked how addressing something in the back can make headache pain better. The short answer is that the nerves are all connected. When nerve communication is affected by spinal misalignment, more pain can result because the brain cannot properly process pain signals. Spinal misalignment, also known as a subluxation, can affect other important processes in the body including breathing, digestion, and circulation. Because headaches have a wide range of causes, many of them can be addressed by correcting spinal misalignments.
Our migraine treatment concentrates on the first three vertebrae of the spinal column. Since they are nearest to the skull, they are commonly behind migraine pain when they are not in proper alignment. We want our patients to achieve the best possible health, so we take a holistic approach to care by working to find any underlying causes of migraine headaches. This may include hormone testing, elimination diets, or assessing other areas that may contribute to these headaches.
Cervical Repetitive Traction
Inflammation that extends to the head can be a result of disc injuries or vertebral alignment issues in the cervical spine or neck area. In this instance, most of the pain is caused by irritation of the nerves. Cervical repetitive traction can be used to diminish this pain.
The patient governs the slight stretching of their neck during cervical repetitive traction. This technique uses repeated loading and unloading cycles on the cervical spine area. Cervical repetitive traction works to improve the cervical curvature of the spine and increase range of motion which can also help to relieve headache pain caused by neck problems.
Preventive and Restorative Exercise
Both prevention and healing are priorities at Life Source Chiropractic. Consequently, we customize exercise programs that help our patients get relief from pain and also put a stop to recurrences. We see several patients with forward posture issues due to our society’s obsession with computers, smartphones, and other screens.
The head is intended to be in direct alignment with the shoulders. The neck becomes stiff and strained when we look down at screens for a substantial amount of time. Headache pain can be compounded or even caused by this increase in muscular strain.
Each patient’s movement patterns and posture is examined in detail by our chiropractor. As a result, we are able to personalize an exercise plan that works to correct and prevent current and future problems. Our mission is to provide our patients with the best possible health and well-being.
Gentle, Trusted Relief For Headache Pain
Headaches and migraines can be extremely painful and incapacitating. They can also be a sign of significant underlying concerns even when they appear to be minor. Give Life Source Chiropractic a call today so we can help relieve your pain and move you toward a healthier, happier tomorrow.