Monthly Archives: August 2015

Millions of Americans suffer from chronic migraines. If you do not, chances are you have a family member or friends that do. And it can really be a serious disease that costs the country billions of dollars in lost productivity every year. People who suffer from the condition know that it is often a very fickle disease with no cure and one that can be very hard to manage even with prescription medications and other traditional techniques.

While a number of drugs exist to help curtail the effect of migraines, there are not any solutions that are perfectly effective and there are even fewer that offer much prophylactic reward. One area in the treatment of migraines that is often overlooked is chiropractic. The alternative form of health can often help sufferers tackle some of the potential root causes of migraines which may not only limit the severity of the headaches, but may prevent them altogether.

The way a chiropractor can help with a migraine is by helping correct musculoskeletal abnormalities that may be causing pressure on certain nerves which can lead to pain. This is especially true in the neck and shoulder region- areas where migraine sufferers often have tenseness and sometimes even pain. Spinal manipulation done by a trained chiropractor has been looked at in a large number of case studies with reports of success ranging. Whether it is effective for you will really depend on your body and you particular disease modality.

Aside from physical manipulation, a chiropractor may be able to counsel patients on how to avoid migraines. There are a number of triggering factors which can lead to or worsen migraines that sufferers should be aware of and avoid as possible. Common triggers include things like excess light, things that strain the eyes, certain sounds, loud sounds, alcohol, caffeine, and certain foods. Using a holistic approach of physical procedures, counseling, and assessment of other risk factors and potential solutions, a chiropractor can be a solid staple in an effective healthcare team consisting of other providers such as primary care doctors in order to help patients attain the greatest chances of relief from their migraines and reduction in the chance of developing further ones. Look up your local chiropractor to see what solutions he may be able to offer and what experience he has in the disease state- you may be surprised with just how much he can do!

Image credit:  Kurhan