Chiropractic Care for Migraines: Could Adjustments to the Spine Ease Your Head Pain?
Rewritten Article:
Experiencing a migraine episode is no picnic. Heck, it's like a constant battle with blinding pain, nausea, and sensitivity to light. If you're ready to chalk it up as a loss and retreat to a cave, you might want to consider integrative medicine like chiropractic care as your next move. Here's a lowdown on how chiropractic care might help with your migraine episodes.
Can chiropractors help with migraines?
Perhaps. Some research indicates that chiropractic care could potentially reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines. But, it's not a one-size-fits-all solution, and we sure could use more research to truly understand its benefits.
Chiropractors and migraines: What's the deal?
You might be wondering how a simple adjustment of the spine could help your head. The logic goes something like this: chiropractic treatments can supposedly decrease nerve irritation, encourage normal blood flow, reduce muscle tension that triggers migraines, strengthen the muscles that support your spine, and realign the spine to restore communication within the nervous system.
But does it really work? The jury's still out on that one, but here's what we know so far:
- A 2016 study found that sessions of cervical and upper thoracic spine manipulation were more effective in alleviating pain in individuals with chronic headaches compared to exercise and movement.
- In a 2019 case study, three participants with chronic migraines reported improved pain scores, reduced medication usage, and more pain-free days after a year of chiropractic treatments. It's worth noting that other treatments, like oral medications and Botox injections, were also utilized.
- A 2019 systematic review analyzed six randomized controlled trials and found that spinal manipulation generally resulted in a reduction of migraine days and a decrease in pain and intensity.
Should you give chiropractic care a try for your migraines?
Chiropractic treatments are generally safe when performed by a licensed practitioner. However, there's always a tad bit of risk involved.
Increased risk of stroke
If you've got an increased risk of stroke, you might want to hold off on chiropractic care. The high-velocity thrust technique sometimes used in cervical manipulation could put a strain on the carotid and vertebral vessels.
Osteoporosis
If your bones are more brittle due to osteoporosis, you should speak with your primary care physician or orthopedist before seeing a chiropractor. Even if they give you the green light, let your chiropractor know so they can adjust their approach accordingly.
Other bone conditions
If you've got a condition that affects your bone health, like Paget's disease, bone tumors, spinal bone infections, or multiple myeloma, you should consult your doctor before going to a chiropractor.
Certain inflammatory diseases
Inflammatory diseases like ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis can make chiropractic care a bit tricky. The Arthritis Foundation suggests avoiding chiropractic care during a flare-up.
Other migraine treatments
If chiropractic care doesn't work wonders for you, don't sweat it. There are plenty of other strategies to help manage your migraines.
- Medication. Your doctor might suggest different types of over-the-counter or prescription medications, such as triptans, antiemetics, ergot alkaloids, acetaminophen, combination analgesics, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) to help keep your symptoms at bay.
- Relax. Stress is a common migraine trigger. Techniques like breathing exercises, mindfulness, and meditation can help reduce stress and may prove beneficial for managing your migraines.
- Work it out. Exercise is a great way to help relieve tension and can be as simple as a nice walk in nature, a gentle yoga class, or a leisurely bike ride.
- Keep a headache diary. Keeping track of the frequency, duration, and intensity of your migraines can help you identify potential triggers and patterns.
- Stay hydrated. Dehydration can trigger migraines, so make sure you're drinking enough water each day.
The bottom line
While chiropractic care isn't a magic bullet for curing migraines, it may help reduce the frequency and intensity of symptoms for some people.
Consistent chiropractic treatments could potentially give you more pain-free days, but it's important to approach any treatment with a reasonable expectation and an awareness of its limitations. Chiropractic care might not work for everyone, and more research is needed to better understand its effectiveness.
In the meantime, there are plenty of other options to help manage your migraines, such as medications, lifestyle changes, and stress-reduction techniques. Collaborating with a healthcare provider can help you find a treatment plan that's right for you.
- Although chiropractic care might not be a universal solution for migraines, some research suggests it could potentially reduce their frequency and intensity for certain individuals.
- In a case study from 2019, three participants with chronic migraines reported improved pain scores, reduced medication usage, and more pain-free days after a year of chiropractic treatments, although other treatments were also utilized.
- It's recommended to consult a doctor before starting chiropractic care if you have an increased risk of stroke, osteoporosis, a bone condition such as Paget's disease or spinal bone infections, or an inflammatory disease like ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis.
