If you suffer from debilitating migraine headaches, you know how disruptive and painful they can be. From sensitivity to light and sound to nausea and vomiting, migraines can completely derail your day. And if you experience them frequently, they can seriously impact your quality of life.
While pain medications are often used to treat migraine symptoms, they come with side effects and don’t get to the underlying cause. That’s why more and more migraine sufferers are turning to chiropractic care as a drug-free way to find real, natural relief.
How Chiropractic Treatment Approaches Migraines
Chiropractors view migraines differently than traditional medical doctors. Instead of focusing solely on the symptoms, chiropractors aim to treat the root cause of your headaches.
From a chiropractic perspective, most migraines are caused by spinal dysfunction and misalignments in the upper neck. These vertebral subluxations put pressure on the surrounding nerves and affect neurological function. The resulting nerve irritation and inflammation then trigger migraine attacks.
By performing gentle adjustments to realign the vertebrae, chiropractors aim to reduce nerve system disruption. This allows the body to function correctly and often leads to a decrease in migraine frequency and intensity. The adjustments also enable the muscles surrounding the spine to relax, further relieving nerve irritation.
Some chiropractors may recommend additional therapies like massage, trigger point therapy, acupuncture, or instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization. These hands-on techniques complement the chiropractic adjustments to address muscle tightness and spasms related to migraines.
What The Research Shows
But does this approach actually work for migraines? According to numerous studies, yes!
One analysis published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics looked at randomized controlled trials using chiropractic care to treat migraines and cervicogenic headaches. The researchers found that spinal manipulation therapy significantly improved migraine intensity, frequency, and disability.
Additionally, a European Journal of Neurology study also evaluated chiropractic treatment plus medication versus medication alone. Over the 6-month study period, the patients who received both chiropractic and medical care experienced more than a 30% greater reduction in migraine days and intensity scores.
These findings demonstrate that chiropractic adjustments enhance the benefits of traditional migraine medications. And for some patients, chiropractic may even allow lower medication doses.
Another paper found similar results after following patients who underwent chiropractic adjustments for migraines over 4 weeks. The study participants reported a 35% improvement in headache intensity and significant reductions in migraine frequency and medication usage.
Who Is A Good Candidate for Chiropractic Migraine Treatment?
Research clearly shows chiropractic is effective at decreasing migraine attacks. But keep in mind that response can vary significantly by individual.
In general, you may achieve the best migraine relief from chiropractic care if:
- Your migraines started as a result of neck injury or whiplash
- You experience migraine warning signs like neck pain or stiffness before attacks
- Your headaches primarily affect one side of your head
- You have other nerve-related symptoms (i.e., vertigo, tinnitus, dizziness)
- Your migraines are triggered by neck movement or strain
- You want to reduce your reliance on medication
- You have a misaligned spine or poor neck posture
A qualified chiropractor at Marcum Chiropractic can evaluate if your migraine patterns may respond well to spinal adjustments and manipulations. We can also work cooperatively with medical doctors, allowing you to utilize pain medications and chiropractic therapy.
Give Chiropractic Care A Try
Debilitating migraines don’t have to control your life. Seeking chiropractic treatment is a proactive way to find relief from the root cause of your headaches. And research suggests it can complement other migraine therapies quite well.
Of course, migraines are still complex and misunderstood by the medical community. No treatment plan is guaranteed to take all your pain away.
However, chiropractic adjustments have proven very effective at decreasing migraine frequency and severity, giving you back quality of life. So, it’s certainly worth considering as a natural therapy option.
By realigning spinal function, relaxing tense muscles, and reducing nerve irritation, we aim to address the underlying factors driving your headaches. And that means you can finally look forward to fewer migraine attacks and more days enjoying activities pain-free.
If you’re experiencing migraines or any other type of pain, don’t wait another day; contact us and set up an appointment today!