MIGRAINE Q & A

What is a migraine?

A migraine is a headache that manifests as intense, pulsing pain on one side of your head. You have migraines if you’ve had at least five such headaches that have lasted from four to 72 hours without treatment and are accompanied by one or more of the following symptoms:

  • Nausea

  • Vomiting

  • Sensitivity to light or sound

  • Seeing flashing light before an attack (aura)

  • Loss of vision before an attack

Women are more likely than men to develop migraines. Many migraine sufferers had their first attacks as children. If you or your child has migraines, Dr. Johnson and his team can help.

What causes migraines?

Medical researchers can’t say for sure what causes migraines, but genetics may influence these headaches.

Chiropractors believe that migraines, like other headaches, are at least partially caused by subluxations (misalignments in your spinal cord). When the vertebrae and discs in your spine are misaligned, they can irritate the spinal nerves, which causes pain that can radiate to your head.

Subluxations can also alter your brain chemistry and throw your hormones out of balance. Hormonal fluctuations also correlate with increased risk of migraines.

What are my treatment options for migraines?

Medical treatments for migraines

Medical treatments for migraines include various pain reduction methods. DyAnsys® P-stim neural stimulation alleviates pain by stimulating specific points in your ears that connect to nerve endings throughout your body. Your doctor may also give you a trigger point injection that contains an anesthetic alone or an anesthetic with a corticosteroid.

Injections of the neuromodulator Botox® can decrease the severity of an acute attack and prevent future attacks. Short-term medications that can offer relief include sumatriptan and ergotamine.

Your doctor can also use massage to increase the circulation to your spine and other organs that may become stressed during a migraine attack. If your posture or muscle tensions contribute to your migraines, you may be referred for rehab therapy.

Chiropractic treatments for migraines

Chiropractic treatments for migraines include spinal adjustments, in which your doctor manipulates your spine into proper and healthy alignment. A correctly aligned spine lets your whole body function more efficiently and healthily, leading to an improvement in migraine pain.

External factors often trigger migraines. Your Leading Edge team member suggests you keep a diary of your attacks so you can identify your triggers.

When you’re ready to reduce migraine pain and build a stronger and healthier body, contact the professionals at Leading Edge Medical. You can phone their friendly team or use the online booking form.