As I read through some of the Chiropractic research journals this one stood out to me as I could really relate to it.
For those of you who don’t know my story I started experiencing migraines when I was around 16. They got progressively worse until I was waking up and going to sleep with them nearly every day. I took all of the over the counter pain relievers like Tylenol and Advil with little relief. I didn’t go to my regular doctor because I just knew they would only give me more medications which wasn’t addressing the actual problem. I ended up at a Chiropractors office and he explained the problem was coming from misalignment in the bones in my neck. After getting regular adjustments my migraines went away. It was this experience that made me want to be a Chiropractor.
In this study the patient had a similar experience, though I don’t think she became a Chiropractor after her care. She was 23 years old and had been suffering from migraines for 10 years. She had seen her medical doctor and neurologists who prescribed several different medications that provide little to no relief. Her neck pain and migraines got worse after she was involved in a car accident 2 years prior to seeing the Chiropractor.
The Chiropractor evaluated her and found subluxations or misalignments in her neck, upper back and pelvis. She was also found to have a reduction in the normal forward curve of her neck. The Chiropractor put together a treatment plan and began adjusting her. After her first adjustment she didn’t experience any migraines. The neck pain gradually decreased over the course of a few weeks of care.
The patient in this study was able to get relief from Chiropractic care when nothing else worked because Chiropractic care addresses the cause of the problem. In the case of migraines misalignment in the upper bones in the neck affect the nerves that control blood flow to the head, the sinuses and muscles of the neck and upper back. This is where the migraines are coming from, not from a lack of pain relievers or muscle relaxers.
If you or anyone you know is experiencing migraines have them evaluated by a Chiropractor to help address the cause.