Migraines affect a substantial portion of people today. Maybe you are one of them or know someone who struggles with migraines. The pain is constant and lasts for hours. You want to curl up in a dark room in absolute silence just to get through the episode.

Genetic and environmental factors are believed to cause migraines but exactly how is still unknown. The most common form of treatment is the use of over the counter drugs and prescription medications. Other treatment methods include therapies that help relieve stress, dietary changes, acupuncture, and avoidance of triggers.

Despite what little is known of migraine causes, most authorities will agree that they have a strong correlation to the function of nerves and blood vessels in the head. It has been suggested that abnormal sympathetic nerve stimulation activates faulty blood vessel regulation by the brainstem. Decreased blood flow causes the enlargement of vessels causing pain sensations in the distribution of those vessels. Along this line of thinking, it is interesting to consider the fact that migraines could be caused by past neck injuries or unresolved spinal trauma.

This is likely the reason that migraines and other types of headaches often respond well to specific chiropractic care. Correction of neck alignment causing improved neurological control of blood vessels in the head could decrease or eliminate the occurrence of migraines.

Chiropractic researcher Dr. Erin Elster authored the research paper titled "Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care for a Patient with Chronic Migraine Headaches with an Appendix Summarizing an Additional 100 Headache Cases." From the cases she recorded, 85 no longer experienced headaches after 1-8 months of care and 12 had improved. Only 4 cases showed little improvement in that time. Interestingly, the patients under 18 years of age all experienced resolution of headaches in two months or less. There are several other commentaries in the chiropractic literature regarding migraines, headaches, and neurological pain conditions such as fibromyalgia and trigeminal neuralgia.

For more on migraines and headaches:

Migraine Headache Relief | Little River, Longs, Loris, North Myrtle, SC

Post-Concussion and Whiplash Symptoms | Little River, Longs, Loris, North Myrtle, SC