Chiropractic Care for Headaches and Migraines
Chiropractic care can be a practical solution to longer-term headache relief.
Understanding Headaches & Migraines
Headaches are a common condition that have many potential causes. You can experience pain in the head, neck and shoulders. There are many types of headaches, the most common being tension-type headaches, and migraines that come with or without an aura.
What Headaches Can Feel Like
Headaches can present in different ways depending on what’s contributing to it. You may experience:
- Pain in the sinuses, behind the eyes, at the base of your skull, or only on one side of your head
- Dull, aching, sharp, or tight band-like sensations in the head
- Sensitivity to light and/or sounds
- Pain that radiates into the face, jaw/teeth, neck and sometimes shoulders
Common Triggers
- Poor posture or workstation setup
- Stress - physical and emotional
- Poor diet and sleep
- Dehydration
- Low blood sugar
- Hormone changes
- Excessive screen time
Impact on Daily Life
- Concentration and difficulty focusing
- Decreased productivity at work or school
- Increased irritability and mood swings
- Avoidance of social events
Why Headache and Migraine Symptoms Can Continue
They are multifactorial and getting all the pieces of the complex puzzle to line up can take time. There’s the physical side of headache/migraine management like altering biomechanics and muscle tension that take time to correct. The nervous system needs its own adjustment time to come down from its heightened state, playing more into the rest and digest side (parasympathetic) instead of the fight or flight side (sympathetic). The chemical side of things includes managing blood sugar or hydration or a well balanced diet. Then there’s the lifestyle management of getting enough restful sleep and proper exercise while also remembering your body’s ergonomics during work or school days.
How Chiropractic Care May Help
Chiropractic care is a safe, holistic approach that can help relieve headaches and migraines, and may even reduce the risk of it becoming chronic. By restoring proper movement in the spine, chiropractic adjustments support how your brain senses and controls your body. This will help you heal more effectively and have less days with such intense symptoms.
We may use:
Gentle chiropractic adjustments – like Activator or cranial techniques
Posture and biomechanics support
Modalities like electric stimulation and moist heat
Lifestyle and nutritional considerations
Our Approach to Headache Care
Every patient case is different. We will create an individualized care plan that’s right for you in your healing journey. This could look like gentle chiropractic adjustments, cranial balancing, and/or lifestyle modifications. We will continue to monitor your progress through items like questionnaires to see how you’re progressing. If the treatment plan needs to be changed in some way, we will do so accordingly. If clinically indicated, we will co-manage your case with other providers to better assist you.
Who This Care May Be Right For
This approach may be a good fit if you:
- Are experiencing headaches or migraines
- Are looking for a thorough approach
- Want to minimize medications
- Have not gotten relief with medication
- Are open to the idea of lifestyle modifications
