Headache & Migraine

Everyone experiences it at some point: headaches. There are many forms, including tension headache, migraine, facial pain and headache as a result of whiplash.

Migraine is a well-known type of headache and is often confused with other headaches. Migraine affects approximately 1 in 10 adults. An estimated 5% of children develop migraine before the age of 11. Migraine is caused by changes in the diameter of blood vessels in the head, in which the mobility of the neck vertebrae and nerve irritation may play a role. Neurological chiropractic treatment can therefore provide relief for certain forms of migraine.

Symptoms

Migraine can occur with or without aura. Migraine without aura is the most common. Someone with migraine with aura experiences neurological phenomena during the attack, beginning with flickering and spots before the eyes, followed by a stabbing pain on one side of the head. Migraine without aura does not affect vision, but typically causes headache around one eye or on one side of the face.

Certain foods, medications or alcohol can also trigger a migraine attack — examples include wine, chocolate or cheese. In women, migraine is often associated with the menstrual cycle. Migraine is up to three times more common in women, likely due to different hormone levels and their effect on blood vessels.

The chiropractor examines whether there is a connection between your migraine and problems with vertebrae, joints or nerves. If that turns out to be the case, neurological chiropractic treatment is worthwhile.

Treatment

The chiropractor will first ask you about your headaches and your general health, as headaches can be related to other health complaints. A thorough physical examination then follows. The chiropractor uses various medical methods to determine the source of the pain and assess the mobility of the joints that may be involved.

After the consultation and examination, it may be concluded that your complaint cannot be treated by a chiropractor and requires further investigation. The chiropractor may advise you to contact your GP or undergo further diagnostic testing.

Depending on your complaint, the chiropractor can begin treatment. With the help of pressure techniques on the vertebrae, muscles and nerves can function better. The pressure techniques improve mobility, relax the muscles and allow surrounding nerves to resume their functions, so that pain and other complaints can decrease or disappear. Your chiropractor will let you know how things stand. In addition to treatment, advice on posture, ergonomics, exercise and nutrition may also be given.