Do Chiropractic Treatments Lessen the Effects of Migraine?

Migraine episodes can be brutal. The symptoms will make you want to crawl into a cave to escape them. Millions of Americans deal with this condition every day. Most people attempt to find relief using various concoctions of pills. Unfortunately, prescription and OTC drugs have downsides.

Do you suffer from migraine headaches? Did your previous treatment attempts fail to provide the much-needed relief? Are you looking for a natural pain relief option? If your answer to these questions is yes, you can take comfort in knowing that pills are not the only solution. So, it might be time to learn more about chiropractic therapy for migraines.

What Are Migraines?

A migraine is more than a nasty headache. It is a neurological or nerve disorder that can cause debilitating stabbing or throbbing pain. Your symptoms can make it difficult to function normally for hours or days. Triggers like sound, light, and movement can cause symptoms such as:

• Throbbing pain on one side of the head

• Temporary loss of vision and other visual disturbances

• Difficulty speaking

• Irritability

• Tingling and nausea

• Tiredness

Chiropractic Treatment for Migraines

Spinal misalignments can irritate the nerves controlling blood flow to the brain. They can also cause muscle tension. During a migraine episode, the cranial blood vessels expand. They do not narrow, as is the case during a regular headache. So, surrounding brain tissues swell, causing you to experience pain.

Chiropractic therapy aims to reduce migraines' frequency, duration, and severity. Chiropractors incorporate different approaches to address the source of the problem.

How It Works

Chiropractic therapy lessens the effects of migraines by doing the following:

• Restoring proper blood flow

• Restoring good nervous system communication by realigning your muscles

• Strengthening the muscles that support your spine

• Reducing muscle tension

• Decreasing irritation in your nerves

• Identifying and addressing your migraine triggers

Treatment for migraine headaches usually requires a combination of approaches. Your chiropractor will work to treat various conditions contributing to your migraines. Treatment may include spinal manipulation, massage, physical therapy, laser therapy, and nutritional consultation. The idea is to address the causes of your problem and develop a long-term treatment plan.

What Research Says About Chiropractic Care and Migraines

Research suggests chiropractic therapy can help decrease nerve irritation and boost optimal blood flow. It can also reduce muscle tension and strengthen the muscles that support your spine.

A study conducted in 2019 suggests that chiropractic treatments can lead to decreased medication usage. It can also lead to improved pain scores and more pain-free days. A systematic review found that spinal manipulation can reduce pain, intensity, and migraine days.

Conclusion

Chiropractic therapy works if performed by a trained and experienced chiropractor. Regular treatments may help reduce your symptoms and help you enjoy more pain-free days. Your chiropractor will use various adjustments to affect how nerves send signals throughout your brain. The treatment will improve blood flow through your nervous system, helping prevent and treat migraines.

For more on chiropractic care for migraines, visit Ofek Family Chiropractic at our office in Smyrna, Georgia. Call (678) 647-6600 to schedule an appointment today.