Finding Relief from Migraines: Causation, Symptoms and Treatment for Migraines, including NUCCA Chiropractic Care
In this blog article, I will briefly describe the cause of migraines, symptoms of migraines, how to differentiate between a migraine and tension headaches, and migraine treatment strategies including research that shows the benefits of NUCCA for migraine treatments.
What Causes Migraines?
When you have a migraine headache, specific nerves in your blood vessels send pain signals to your brain. This process can be triggered by often several different things for migraine sufferers. This pain signal releases inflammatory substances into your head’s nerves and blood vessels. It’s unclear why your nerves do that from the medical perspective, even though their recent research points to the upper neck and cervical spine as a potential causation. Chiropractors have known for over 125 years that people with migraines respond well to Chiropractic care.
What is a Migraine?
A migraine is a neurological condition characterized by intense, throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation, usually on one side of the head. It’s often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine attacks can last from hours to days, and the pain can be so severe that it interferes with daily activities (Mayo Clinic) (NINDS). In this article, I will describe the symptomatology and treatments for migraines, including NUCCA Chiropractic Care which is an effective approach for migraine sufferers. Book a consultation today!
What Does a Migraine Feel Like?
A migraine typically feels like severe, pulsating pain on one side of the head, though it can occur on both sides. This pain is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and heightened sensitivity to light, sound, and sometimes smell. Some people experience visual disturbances known as aura before the onset of pain. Aura symptoms can include flashes of light, blind spots, or tingling sensations in the face or extremities (Mayo Clinic) (Cleveland Clinic).
Migraines are different from the most common type of headache that we see in the practice which is a tension or cervicogenic headache, which is most often felt at the base of the skull or wrapping across the forehead (bilateral pain), compared to the hemispherical aka one-sided pain pattern often accompanied by pain behind the eye on the same side. Both can feel as if they are first triggered by pain in the neck. I wrote a short blog that further describes the differences and commonalities between the two different types of headaches.
What Could Be the Cause of Daily Headaches?
Daily headaches, also known as chronic daily headaches, can be caused by various factors:
- Tension headaches: Often due to stress, anxiety, muscle tension, and cervical spine dysfunction (I wrote a blog here that shows some exercises you can try to relieve tension in the neck)
- Chronic migraines: Frequent migraine episodes can evolve into a chronic daily pattern.
- Medication overuse: Regular use of headache medications can lead to rebound headaches.
- Sleep disorders: Conditions like sleep apnea can contribute to daily headaches.
- Hormonal changes: Particularly in women, hormonal fluctuations can cause headaches.
- Underlying medical conditions: Conditions such as high blood pressure, sinus issues, or craniocervical junction (CCJ aka Upper Cervical Spine) temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders (Cleveland Clinic) (NINDS).
How Long Do Migraines Last?
Migraines can last from a few hours to several days. Typically, a migraine attack lasts between 4 to 72 hours if untreated. The frequency and duration can vary greatly among individuals (Mayo Clinic) (NINDS). Many of my patients report that they don’t find relief unless they go into a dark room and usually sleep for several hours.
Migraine Treatments That Stop The Pain:
Stopping a migraine involves a combination of lifestyle changes, medications, and other treatments:
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Medications:
- Pain relievers: Over-the-counter (OTC) medications like ibuprofen or aspirin.
- Triptans: Prescription drugs like sumatriptan can relieve symptoms.
- Anti-nausea drugs: To help with associated nausea.
- Preventive medications: Such as beta-blockers, antidepressants, or anticonvulsants, prescribed by a doctor (Mayo Clinic) (Cleveland Clinic) (NINDS).
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Lifestyle and Home Remedies:
- Rest in a dark, quiet room: Reducing light and noise can help ease symptoms.
- Apply a cold or warm compress: To the head or neck.
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids.
- Practice relaxation techniques: Such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga (Mayo Clinic) (Cleveland Clinic).
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Avoid Triggers:
- Identify and avoid food triggers: Common triggers include caffeine, alcohol, and certain foods.
- Maintain a regular sleep schedule: Avoid sleep deprivation (Cleveland Clinic) (NINDS).
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Alternative Therapies:
- Acupuncture: This may help reduce the frequency and severity of migraines.
- Biofeedback: Helps control physical responses to stress.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): Can help manage the psychological impact of migraines (NINDS).
- Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care: If your migraines are being triggered by an upper cervical misalignment or Atlas Subluxation Complex, you could benefit from reduced frequency, severity, and even overall occurrence with specific and gentle upper cervical care(PubMed). I specialize in NUCCA Chiropractic for this very reason. I wanted to help the toughest of tough cases and neurological cases. Because I practice with this advanced technique compared to traditional chiropractic I find I have a tremendously high success rate with migraines with virtually every patient seeing a major improvement in their migraines symptom severity. Around 85% of my migraine patients are going months and even years in some cases while they hold their upper cervical alignment. I wrote a blog that describes the pathophysiological connections to the upper neck and neurological disorders like migraines, vertigo, and other forms of dizziness like Meniere’e Disease, and there are several!
If migraines or daily headaches are severe or persistent, it’s important to consult with a healthcare professional for a tailored treatment plan. We often see results with our patients in a short amount of time after their 1st upper cervical correction. I’d love to consult with you if you are local to Louisville, Colorado, and suffering from migraines. If you are not close by, I’d like to point you to our NUCCA Directory to do a zip code search and find a Certified NUCCA Upper Cervical Chiropractic Specialist near you.