Migraine Prevention
If you have ever had a migraine headache you know the desperation that comes along with it – the willingness to do absolutely anything to make that unbearable pain go away. You are well aware of the basic requirement for a completely dark, cool, quiet room so you can lie down and bury your face in a pillow.
Migraine pain is unimaginable to anyone who has never experienced it. Doctors have been trying to pinpoint the causes of migraine for years but haven’t really determined a whole lot in the grand scheme of things, which makes this kind of chronic pain very difficult to treat. So when we sense one coming on, we grab the usual aspirin and caffeine combination and hope beyond hope we caught it early enough.
When you do find yourself with your next migraine and the tried and true methods aren’t working, here are some new things to try.
- Hydrate – Even if you are a strict 8-glasses-of-water-a-day kind of person, you may still need more. Dehydration commonly results in headache, and for those of us prone to migraine it can be a huge problem. So when you’re downing your aspirin and caffeine cocktail, include a big glass of water along with it.
- Elevate Your Electrolytes – Low levels of electrolytes can also cause migraine. Ideally you want to get a boost of a sodium, potassium and magnesium combination but that’s not always possible. If you don’t have said supplements on hand, go for an electrolyte-enhanced bottled water or sports drink. Failing that, eat a banana and put a pinch of salt under your tongue.
- Break The Cycle – During a migraine a vicious cycle of pain is created. You hurt, so you tense up; and as you tense up more, you hurt more. Find a way to interrupt the cycle and give your muscles and nerves a chance to relax. A neck or back massage is a great option if you have someone willing to help you out. Self-massage can help as well, although doing it yourself can make it more difficult to relax. If you have migraines often, you might want to seek out a physical therapist that can work with you on a program to help reduce the frequency. Chances are your brain has learned your migraine pain and has accepted it as “normal”, which means your body’s natural painkillers won’t be released.
- Hot and Cold – With migraine comes that wretch feeling of having a fever – body chills, cold sweats and a burning up, throbbing head. Heat and cold therapy isn’t always the most convenient option but it can help. Warming up the body in a hot bath or warm bed while at the same time using ice or a cold compress on the back of the neck or forehead can often do the trick. Sometimes even something as simple as an ice cold bottle of water to the head can help immensely.
- MigraGone – Comprised of riboflavin, magnesium, purple butterbur root extract, and feverfew, MigraGone is a great natural therapy used to prevent migraine headaches. It is not intended to be used as a treatment to be used during an attack but if taken on a regular basis twice daily it can really help cut back on the number of migraines. This supplement is all natural, vegetarian, and gluten-free.
Dr David M. Spitz is the founder and clinic director of the Chiropractic Health Center of Bristol, located in Bristol, CT. Since 1982, he has treated thousands of patients for various conditions ranging from neck and back pain, to migraine headaches. He specializes in treating patients who have suffered whiplash injuries and/or back injuries in a motor vehicle accident.
Dr Spitz was a volunteer EMT-I and a lieutenant for several years at the Burlington Volunteer Fire Department. He has lectured throughout CT on various topics including, chiropractic, stress management, headaches and preventing back injury in the workplace.
