Natural Relief for Migraines – Reduce Migraine Frequency
Looking for migraine headache treatment? We specialize in a holistic approach to treating migraines.
Migraine headaches can be the worst pain you’ll ever have to deal with. In fact, when you have a migraine, it can be so debilitating that you probably can’t go to work or enjoy family functions. Sadly 1 out of 8 Americans suffer with migraine headaches. I’m Dr. David Spitz, a Bristol chiropractor, and a migraine sufferer. I know migraines; let my staff and I help you.
Watch the video below as Jessica explains her 14 year experience with headaches, and how our migraine headache treatment has helped her with her chronic headaches.
What Are Symptoms of Migraine Headaches?
Migraine headaches are usually one-sided, but they don’t have to be; the excruciating pain can occur on both sides of the head as well. The pain when you are experiencing a migraine, may feel like it’s originating from your neck, and can radiate up to one or both sides of your head. Usually the migraine pain has an intense throbbing sensation that makes it feel as though your head is exploding with each heartbeat. Accompanying symptoms can include, blurry or altered vision, severe nausea or vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound (which is why migraine patients often seek the solace of a dark, quiet room). Associated symptoms can also include: odd visual sensations such as flickering of light, blind spots and tingling in the arms or legs. Usually, the odd visual sensations precede a migraine and are called an aura. ²
Phases of a Migraine
- Prodromal Phase – often occurs several hours or days before migraine begins. It can include unusual energy and excitability, thirst/hunger, cravings and increased sleep.
- Aura – begins hours or minutes before the migraine and can include the visual disturbances explained above including: flickering lights, visual hallucinations and even an area of lost vision. There can also be odd skin sensations, odd smells, confusion, language problems, and trouble concentrating. This is often very scary the first time it occurs. Some times you may get a premonition that you are going to get a migraine. There is usually no head pain in this phase.
- Migraine Attack Phase – the migraine attack can last a few hours to several days. The pain can be so severe that it brings on vomiting and crying. See above for other symptoms.The pain may be so intense that you may want to go to the emergency room for relief. During a severe attack, the only thing that can often stop the pain, is an abortive migraine medication. I will discuss my experience with chiropractic care and migraine attack phase below.
- Post-Migraine Phase – patients often feel confused, tired, sluggish and will get increased pain in their heads if they bend over.
Choose a Chiropractor That Specializes in Treating Migraine Headaches
Not all chiropractors know how to successfully manage migraine patients in their practice. Both Dr. Baldrich and I specialize in migraine headache treatment. Why? Because I myself am a migraine sufferer, I understand the pain and agony of missing a family event, of staying all day in a dark room, of feeling guilty because I couldn’t give 100% of myself or my family. I have spent many years searching for the combination of things that a patient must do to properly manage migraine headaches. I have taken what I have learned over the years, and passed that knowledge on to Dr. Astrid Baldrich, so that she is able to help the patients I cannot see.
No Cure for Migraines But We Can Reduce the Frequency and Severity
There is no cure for migraines, but with the correct migraine headache treatment approach, your headaches can be managed in such a way as to reduce their frequency and severity. We will work with your doctor to help you get the best care possible.
Many patients try to treat their headache symptoms at home. Some over-the-counter pain relievers work, but they are not targeted at fixing the cause of the problem. There are also numerous triggers that can bring on a migraine. We will help you determine all of your triggers. The more you learn about which triggers affect you, the better you’ll be at avoiding them and reducing the frequency of your headaches.
The nerves that exit at the top of your neck (cervical spine) travel up to the head. When a vertebra in your neck is subluxated (misaligned or fixated) it can put pressure on an exiting spinal nerve that can cause cervicogenic headache. This nerve root irritation can also cause trigeminal nucleus hypersensitivity leading to migraine headaches. ³ Chiropractors have always known, and researchers are now verifying, that chiropractic adjustments can have a significant impact on patients suffering with headaches, especially when the cause is cervicogenic; in other words coming from the neck. In many cases the problem can be completely eliminated with proper care and lifestyle advice.
What You Can Expect at Our Office – Expert Migraine Headache Treatment
At the Chiropractic Health Center of Bristol, we will strive to properly diagnose the cause of your headaches and treat them naturally. If one of the doctors in my office thinks you need a referral for an MRI, x-rays or other specialist, you will be referred at the appropriate time.
Importance of Lifestyle Changes to Help Reduce Migraine Attacks
In addition to treating you with spinal adjustments ¹, nutrition and lifestyle changes, I highly recommend that you speak with a life coach who can help address the emotional component of your headaches. Without handling lingering issues and stress, there is no way to maintain or even achieve optimal health. I have personally worked with Dr Romie, a former successful neurologist who gave up her neurology practice to follow her passion as a doctor specializing in integrative medicine. For many of my patients, I recommend they speak with Dr Romie, as a life-coach who can help guide you on the right path to less stress, tension and emotional upset. This will help greatly with our ability to help you with your migraines and headaches.
Final Words
In my experience with patients presenting to the office with an acute migraine attack, some patients get immediate relief following the chiropractic adjustment and other may get mild to no relief. However, over time, most patients do see a reduction in frequency and severity of their migraines.
If you are struggling with migraines or tension headaches please contact us at the Chiropractic Health Center of Bristol.
Call today at 860-583-4346. If you prefer, you can fill out the form below and someone will contact you within 24 hours (not including weekends). Our staff will work with you to develop a plan to help you get back to the life you should be living.
Migraines are not a normal part of life. Call today and take a step in the right direction.
David M. Spitz, DC
For more tips on reducing migraines, see m y Tips to Relieve Migraines here.
Sources:
³ ANESTHESIOLOGY AND PAIN MEDICINE – Understanding Cervicogenic Headache
