Can A Chiropractor Help With Migraines?

When you feel the signs of a migraine coming on, it can feel like a ticking time bomb. Chronic migraines can come like clockwork and make you feel powerless, but chiropractic care may be able to provide some relief and prevention from migraine attacks.

From manual adjustments to tool-assisted techniques, chiropractic has methods to help you combat migraines before they manifest. Dive in to learn about migraines, how they happen, and why chiropractors are so effective at treating them!

What Are Migraines?

A migraine is a brain and nervous system disorder with symptoms that almost always include intense headaches. These headaches can be an intense pulsing pain that can last hours or days. The pain is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light and sound.

Migraines can be acute or chronic based on how often they occur. Acute migraines (also known as episodic migraines) can manifest symptoms 14 days out of the month. Symptoms that persist for 15 days a month for 3 or more months are diagnosed as chronic.

Unlike headaches, migraines have stages and may develop through all of them, each with symptoms and severity levels.

What Causes Migraines?

Migraines can come from a number of different places. Some of the most common causes of migraines are:

• Stress: Stress can affect the body in a number of ways and can come from work or home life. From affecting your gut health to causing physical pain, stress can cause migraines in those affected.

• Subluxations: Subluxations are irregularities and dislocations in the spinal column. In addition to pain and discomfort, they can potentially cause migraines.

• Sensory Stimuli: Those who are susceptible to migraines can find they are affected by bright and flashing lights, loud sounds, and strong smells. These are all sensory triggers that can bring on a migraine.

• Sleep Irregularity: Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule is crucial, as sleeping for too long, not getting enough sleep, or making a large change to your sleep can bring on a migraine.

• Drinks: There is potential for too much of a good thing. Alcoholic beverages (particularly red wine) can cause migraines as a side effect. On the other end of the beverage spectrum, caffeinated drinks like coffee or energy drinks can cause migraines in large doses.

• Foods: Certain foods are high in salt content, and can contribute to developing migraines. Foods like aged cheeses and highly processed foods can lower your hydration levels and create more headaches and migraines.

Can A Chiropractor Help With Migraines?

Yes, chiropractors can help with migraines. Their techniques are adept at managing and minimizing symptoms as they occur and preventing them from manifesting. Your chiropractor may use cervical or neck adjustments to relieve subluxations and pain.

In conjunction, your chiropractor may use soft tissue therapy and massages to release tension and stress from the neck, shoulders, and back. By massaging the muscles and soft tissues, blood flow will increase, and stress and tension will decrease. The combination effectively reduces the symptoms you may be experiencing while helping prevent and manage future migraines. 

Chiropractic care extends beyond your appointment, as your practitioner will develop a plan to increase your overall health. This may include an exercise plan to keep you moving and receive the full benefits of exercise. The chiropractor may also implement a lifestyle or diet plan to ensure they aren’t a factor in your migraine. 

What Can I Do To Prevent Migraines?

Preventing migraines is more art than science, as there is no cure for migraines. As well, there is no guarantee you’ll be able to prevent them. However, there are a few options to assist in helping prevent any headaches (or worse) in the future.

Manage Stress

Stress can manifest in every aspect of life, from work to home and anywhere in between. You can find ways to minimize stress through physical activity, the arts, or anything that you enjoy.

Maintain A Schedule

Humans are creatures of habit, and we operate at our best when adhering to a schedule. This schedule should be all-encompassing, from eating to sleeping to exercising. Creating a consistent itinerary for your day-to-day will assist your health almost immediately.

Exercise

Once you’ve set a schedule for your day, try to incorporate exercise as soon as possible. It can be something as light as walking or as intense as strength training. Whatever your level of comfort when working out, you’ll be actively decreasing the chances of an attack.

Hydrate

Migraines and headaches don’t always follow the same rules, but there is one universal truth when it comes to pain in your cranium: you probably need to drink more water. It’s recommended to drink 8 glasses of water a day, but even drinking one glass of water per sugary beverage can help improve your hydration levels.

Contact Family Life Chiropractic For Migraine Relief Today!

Waiting for a migraine to dissipate could take days. If you need professional, prescription-free relief, call 727-447-4647 or contact Dr. Jere at Family Life Chiropractic. With decades of experience in pain relief, he’s sure to have a solution to relieve your pain.

About the Author: With over three decades of experience, Dr. Jere Jarrett is a highly educated and experienced chiropractor who serves Clearwater, FL, and the surrounding areas. He takes a “whole-body” approach to chiropractic care. Instead of treating symptoms, Dr. Jarrett looks for the underlying cause of pain and discomfort. Call 727-447-4647 to schedule an appointment!