Chiropractic Care for Migraine Headaches at our Chicago Office

Studies and our experience show that chiropractic care can benefit patients suffering from migraine headaches.

“results of this study support previous results showing that some people report significant improvement in migraines after chiropractic Spinal Manipulative Therapy.” (A randomized controlled trial of chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy for migraine. Journal of Manipulative Physiological and Therapeutics. 2000; 23 (2): 91)

Furthermore, as the quote below expresses, chiropractic care has been found as effective as preventative prescription headache medicine (for tension headaches and migraines).

“Spinal Manipulative Therapy has an effect comparable to commonly used first-line prophylactic prescription medications for tension-type headache and migraine headache.” (G Bronfort, W Assendelft, R Evans, M Haas, L Bouter. Efficacy of spinal manipulation for chronic headache: A systematic review. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2001; 24 (7): 457-466)

Symptoms of Migraine

A migraine manifests as a throbbing pain ranging from moderate to severe located above the eye or around the temples, usually on either one side of the head or the other (although some people experience migraines on both sides at once). Migraines are a recurrent phenomenon for those who experience them, with a frequency that varies widely for each person, and typically last from 4 hours to 3 days.

Other symptoms of a migraine:

• an increase in pain while undergoing physical activity
• sensitivity to sound, light, and smell
• dizziness
• blurred vision
• loss of appetite
• nausea and vomiting
• diarrhea
• feeling too warm or too cold
• facial pallor (paleness)
• aura (bright flashes of light or spots, jagged or wavy lines, or blind spots)
• (very rarely) fever

What triggers a migraine?

A number of triggers could cause migraines:

• emotional stress
• exhaustion
• bright lights
• changes in the weather
• caffeine
• chemical sensitivity to fertilizers, pesticides, and preservatives used in manufacturing food
• menstruation
• missing meals
• changes in one's sleeping patterns

Sometimes the migraine response to these triggers is heredity, though changes going on in the brain are another possible cause. Migraines can also be associated with certain conditions - like hypertension, chronic fatigue syndrome, stroke, asthma, sleeping disorders. In the past, doctors believed that the activity of blood vessels constricting and expanding were what caused migraines, but today's scientists disagree.

Other possible causes of any of these types of headaches include:

• inflammation of blood vessels involving the brain
• infections
• excessive or insufficient pressure inside the skull
• pinched nerves in and around the neck
• traumatic brain injury

Ravenswood Chiropractic & Wellness Center located in Andersonville, Chicago, provides chiropractic treatment for migraines and headaches. To schedule an appointment, call 773-878-7330 today and get chiropractic relief from headaches.