Headaches & Migraines
Chiropractic treatment for migraines and headaches
Some people have no idea how crippling a headache can be. Their headaches are gone after a couple of tablets or could be avoided with a touch of moderation. Meanwhile, some of us are robbed of whole days and nights by terrible pain. These migraines and headaches can seem unavoidable when we can’t see a direct connection to anything we could change.
For sufferers of migraines and debilitating headaches, medication might sometimes dull the pain, but it doesn’t address the underlying cause in the way that chiropractic treatment can.
What causes migraines and chronic headaches?
When the spinal joints in the upper neck are not functioning properly, it can lead to nerve irritation. And since the nerves of the upper neck serve areas of the scalp and face, this irritation can result in headaches or migraines.
Headaches and migraines can also be caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain. When oxygen levels drop, blood vessels in the brain expand in an attempt to supply more oxygen to the brain. However, this process also triggers the pain nerves in the brain, leading to a headache or migraine.
Some of the other factors that can result in headaches and migraines are stress, poor posture, injuries, medication, and environmental factors like pollution and strong smells.
How does chiropractic care help with migraines and headaches?
Chronic headaches and migraines significantly impact the quality of life for sufferers, but they’re only symptoms, not the cause. If we treat only the symptoms, the symptoms will reoccur for as long as the cause remains. And while medication might dull the symptoms for a while, it’s likely that stronger and stronger medication will be required. Each medication comes with its own side effects, many of which are made worse or more likely by long-term use.
Chiropractic care is focused on the nerves and the breakdown in brain-body communication that is often the cause of migraines and chronic headaches. By freeing trapped nerves, reawakening disused muscles, and building the body’s natural resilience, a chiropractor has the tools to tackle the underlying cause of migraines and headaches, providing long-term relief.
Like any healthcare professional, as a chiropractor, I can’t promise you relief without assessing you first. What I can promise you is that any treatment I offer as a chiropractor will be gentle and directed at the cause of your pain, not just the symptoms. I can also tell you that I have successfully treated thousands of migraine and headache sufferers in my clinic in Canberra, many of whom thought they would never have relief other than medication and long days in darkened rooms.
If you suffer from migraines or chronic headaches, please schedule an appointment today so we can see how chiropractic treatment might help.