Migraines can have a devastating effect on a person’s quality of life and mental health, and because of the numerous triggers, there seems to be no one treatment than can alleviate every patient’s symptoms.
As many as 36 million people in the US experience migraines each year, and around three million have five or more a month. Most people experience a severe and throbbing pain on one side of the head (occasionally both sides), sometimes nausea and vomiting, and sensitivity to light, sound, and touch.
Migraines are caused by irregularities in several areas including blood flow, the brain, the central nervous system, and our muscles. This can make treatment difficult and thus many options fail to relieve all symptoms. In fact, many patients only rely on over-the-counter and stronger prescription pain relief.
To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and migraine headaches, download our complimentary e-book NATURAL AND DRUG-FREE WAYS TO END YOUR MIGRAINES by clicking the image below.
There is even a new prescription cream going through clinical trials that aims to use an NSAID to numb the trigeminal nerve). This nerve has been linked to migraines because it’s a cranial nerve that comes from the brainstem, which is responsible for most of a person’s bodily functions.
However, many people are looking for less intrusive, non-medicinal treatments to relieve their symptoms. As a migraine specialist in Washington, I offer patients upper cervical chiropractic. At Sherwood Spinal Care we have found that using the NUCCA technique can help people who suffer from debilitating headaches.
This method concentrates on the C1 vertebra (also known as the atlas bone) which houses the brainstem as it exists an individual’s skull. If this bone moves out of its normal position, it can affect the functioning of the nervous system, which it may in turn cause headaches.
Clinical research has shown that some migraine patients who have a misaligned atlas bone see an improvement with as few as one or two treatments.
References:
- Anderson P. Topical Gel Promising in Migraine. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/843685 (accessed 12 June 2015).
- Elster EL. Upper cervical chiropractic care for a patient with chronic migraine headaches with an appendix summarizing an additional 100 headache cases. J Vert Sublux Res 2003;AUG(3):1-10
To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Sherwood, call 425-243-1607 or just click the button below.
If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.