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Interestingly, JAMA (The Journal of the American Medical Association) stated years ago that headaches and migraines actually come from a problem with the neck, not from in the head where the pain is located. If you have ever had a migraine, the last thing on your mind when you are going through it is where the pain is coming from. You just want it to stop as soon as possible.
As many as 39 million people in the USA suffer from migraines. Worldwide, this number jumps to 1 billion. Migraines are the third most prevalent illness in the world. Out of every four households, one includes someone suffering from migraines. Women get migraines three times more often than men. Migraines tend to run in families, with as many as 90 percent of sufferers having a family history of this condition. Let’s take a closer look at what migraines are and how to alleviate the pain associated with them.
Migraines — What Are They?
Migraines are neurological in origin, and they come along with a variety of symptoms. Rather than being a really bad headache, a headache is actually one of the many symptoms of migraines.
Other migraine symptoms include the following:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Numbness and tingling in the face, arms, or legs
- Sensitivity to light and sound
- Vertigo or dizziness
Migraines are diagnosed according to the patient’s clinical history, symptoms reported, and by ruling out any underlying causes. Migraines are commonly put in the categories of a migraine without aura (previously called common migraines) and migraines with aura (previously called classic migraines). Migraines may begin in childhood or may not start until early adulthood.
Breaking Down Additional Symptoms of Migraines
Migraines often begin showing symptoms a day or two before the attack. This is called the prodrome stage. At this point, you may experience the following:
- Depression
- Hyperactivity
- Irritability
- Depression
- Neck stiffness
- Fatigue
- Low energy
- Frequent yawning
- Food cravings
If you are having a migraine with aura, you will experience the aura after the prodrome stage. The aura stage causes you to have problems with vision, speech, movement, and sensation:
- Problems speaking clearly
- Feeling prickling or tingling in your arms, legs, or face
- Temporary blindness
- Seeing flashing light, sparkles, bright spots, or shapes
The next stage you experience is the attack stage. This is the most severe of all the phases, and the head pain hits at this point. It may overlap the aura stage and can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Symptoms of migraines are as unique as the person experiencing them. In this stage, you will experience the symptoms mentioned at the beginning of this article.
The postdrome stage comes next and is often referred to as a migraine hangover. You may notice mood changes and some strange feelings. You may feel very happy, excited, and full of energy or you may feel fatigued and lethargic. You may still have a dull headache.
The length of the stages of migraines varies with each individual. Some phases may be skipped and you may even have migraines without having head pain.
The Pain of Migraines
The pain associated with migraines has been described various ways:
- Throbbing
- Pounding
- Debilitating
- Pulsating
- Perforating
Some people experience a dull ache that is steady. The pain may begin very mild but soon becomes moderate to severe. Migraine pain is almost always felt in the forehead area. In two-thirds of the cases, it is on one side of the head only. Migraines typically last 4 hours. Without care, they may last for as long as 72 hours to a full week. In migraines with aura, pain may occur at the same time as the aura or may never be felt at all.
Nausea Related to Migraines
More than half of the people with migraines also have nausea. Most of them also vomit. These symptoms may occur at the same time the headache starts. However, in most cases, they happen about an hour after the head pain begins.
Nausea and vomiting are as debilitating as the head pain itself. In fact, if you are vomiting, you may not be able to take your migraine pills or you may take them and vomit them up before they are able to be absorbed. This can make your migraine much more severe.
Acupressure can help with nausea due to migraines. A study done in 2012 provided evidence that acupressure reduced migraine-associated nausea in as little as 30 minutes, with improvement over the next four hours.
Addressing the Underlying Cause of Migraines to Find Relief
Research has revealed that upper cervical chiropractic care has helped over 90 percent of people who sought their care for migraines. They report having not just short-term but lasting relief from the pain of migraines. How is this line of care so successful?
Often, migraines are linked to a misalignment in the bones of the upper cervical spine, particularly the C1 and C2 vertebrae. These bones are designed to act as a protection for the brainstem. However, if an accident or injury has occurred, these bones can actually put pressure on the brainstem and cause it to malfunction. They may also act as a blockage to the flow of blood and cerebrospinal fluid from either getting to or leaving the brain. Any of these problems can lead to migraines.
We use exact measurements of the upper cervical spine to locate where your specific misalignment is located. We then employ a gentle method which does not require us to pop or crack the spine or back to get positive results. The bones are encouraged to move back into their original position naturally, leading to healing from the damage done by the misalignment. Once this is accomplished and communication is restored, migraine pain often improves. Some people see their migraines go away and not return.
To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Cheney, call our Draper office at 385-331-7035. You can also click one of the buttons below.
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