Migraine Headaches Helped With Chiropractic

It's another sunny August afternoon and your kids are outside laughing, playing and enjoying the sunshine. (Make sure they’re wearing sunscreen!) You’d love to join them, but you’re trapped inside again, enduring the pain and frustration of another migraine headache. If you suffer from migraines, you’re certainly not alone. It is estimated that between 15-20% of the male population and 25-30% of the female population suffer from migraine headaches. Migraines, or vascular headaches, are divided into several types: common (without an aura); classic (with a preceding aura, usually visual); complicated (those that present with neurological symptoms); and cluster headaches (so named because they present in clusters, sometimes with long periods between episodes). Regardless of the type, the cause is the same.

There is a bundle of nerves just in front of the first and second cervical vertebrae. These nerves control blood vessel diameter in the head and control dilation of the pupils of the eye. If the first vertebrae is out of place, it can put pressure on these nerves, causing the nerves to fire. This leads to vasoconstriction of the blood vessels in the head and dilation of the pupils, which accounts for the photophobia many migraine sufferers experience. Vasoconstriction of the blood vessels in the head results in a lack of oxygen to the vascular system. The tissues become acidic and release two substances which cause vasodilation and increased capillary permeability. The vascular system in the head is then flooded with blood, causing the vascular headache.

Imitrex injections or pills are the most widely prescribed allopathic treatment for migraine headaches. However, Imitrex does not prevent or reduce the number of headaches; it is only palliative. Imitrex is also very expensive, costing approximately $75 per injection or about $8 per pill. The PDR Pocket Guide to Prescription Drugs lists many serious side effects from Imitrex, including fatal allergic reactions and heart failure. Eliminating vasoactive substances from the diet (chocolate, red wine, monosodium glutamate, etc.) has shown some success in reducing the number of headaches.

With conventional medications proving less than effective (and often accompanied by dangerous side effects), it’s time to fight the pain from another angle. According to a recent study, chiropractic care may hold the answer.

One hundred and twenty-seven migraine patients (at least one migraine per month) were divided into two groups for comparison. Group 1 received chiropractic adjustments at specific vertebral subluxations determined by the treating practitioner; group 2 served as controls and received inactive treatment (electrical stimulation with no current delivered). Subjects receiving chiropractic adjustments reported substantial improvement in migraine frequency, duration, disability, and medication use following two months of treatment. One in five participants reported a 90% reduction in migraines, and half reported significant improvement in migraine severity.

To find out more about the potential benefits of chiropractic care, schedule an appointment with your doctor of chiropractic.