Each year, thousands of patients visit a chiropractor for migraines because of the extreme discomfort during each episode. Aside from the throbbing pain, some also have other symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, making it extra challenging to work on even the smallest task.
Does this sound similar to your experience? What if we tell you that there are actually some symptoms that you could spot to prepare for a migraine attack? More importantly, there’s hope for your condition.
Let’s learn more about these two topics. First, let’s look into the key symptoms that occur before migraine episodes.
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Unlike regular headaches, migraines tend to cause throbbing or pulsating pain. If you’re like most people, you will only feel that sensation on one side of the head. However, if you’re unlucky, you will feel the pain on both sides.
Did you know that roughly 38 percent of people who experience migraines complain about neck pain? Moreover, a study published in SAGE Discipline Hubs reveals that neck pains are 68.4 percent more prevalent in patients with primary headaches.
Several patients report experiencing aura or sensory disturbances at least an hour before they have a migraine attack. Some of the typical symptoms you should look out for include seeing spots, wavy lines, and flashes of light.
Have you noticed how it’s easier to cope when you stay in a cool, quiet, and dark room during a head pain? That’s because patients like you become more at risk of sensory overload during attack. By limiting exposure to stimuli like certain odors, bright lights, and loud sounds, you can potentially reduce your migraine’s intensity. Also, by paying close attention to your sensory sensitivity, you might be able to know when the episode will start
Many migraineurs report muscle weakness on one side of the body before their migraine episode starts. Although the medical community doesn't know the exact reason why this occurs, it’s a common sign that you should look out for if you want to cope better.
If you frequently feel like you need to pee, it may be an indication that you’re minutes or hours away from a migraine attack.
Besides visual disturbances, some patients of a chiropractor for migraines report numbness and tingling sensation on one side of the body. Often, the feeling begins on the fingertips then radiates towards the rest of the arm and the face.
As silly as it may sound, sudden food cravings are sometimes a tell-tale sign that you’re about to experience bouts of migraines. Some share that they crave chocolate, while others specifically look for something salty.
Physicians think that there’s a genetic basis for the coincidence of migraines and depression. Hence, if you suddenly feel an overwhelming wave of depression, irritability, or over-excitement, it might be your body’s way of warning you. Also, if you already suffer from depression, you’re more susceptible to chronic migraine attacks.
Nausea and vomiting are quite common in patients who experience migraines. The National Headache Foundation says that people who have vomiting and nausea as migraine symptoms often suffer from a more severe form of pain and a longer time to feel relief.
The throbbing pain caused by head pain is already hard enough to deal with. Unfortunately, for some folks, their pain tends to worsen when they attempt to move. Do you experience worsening migraine symptoms too when you walk or climb up the stairs? Do you also notice more chronic pain after engaging in intense workout routines?
Most people think that nasal congestion and watery eyes only occur because of sinus headaches. This is why roughly 90 percent of folks believe they have sinus headaches when, in fact, they are experiencing migraines.
After a migraine, it’s common to feel tired and lethargic. You might also have a difficult time sleeping at night, causing you to get stuck in a vicious and tricky cycle that triggers another episode.
Pain and pressure sometimes build up behind the eyeballs, causing you to feel extremely irritated and uncomfortable. This is quite typical in patients who frequently suffer from head pain. The worst part is that even if you try to rest your eyes, the pain doesn’t subside at all.
Yawning stretches the jaws, bringing in more oxygen into the blood and boosting blood flow to your neck, face, and the rest of your head. However, when they happen too frequently, this might be a warning sign of a migraine episode.
Confusion is quite common for people who experience migraines. That’s why you might find it a bit difficult to express your thoughts before the pain starts to set in. However, take note that if this never or rarely occurs for you, you may need to see your primary care physician and check for other conditions.
Have you ever experienced hangover headaches before after a long night of drinking or partying? It’s a totally unpleasant feeling. Unfortunately, if you have headache, you’re most likely to experience a similar pain before or after an episode. Some of the common symptoms that come with this include difficulty concentrating, lethargy, and weakness.
If you have been diagnosed with basilar migraines or migraines with brainstem aura, you might be accustomed to experiencing symptoms such as double vision, temporary vision loss, and dizziness. You might also struggle to keep your balance.
Keeping track of the warning symptoms that come before, during, or after a migraine can make a lot of difference in managing pain. You can note all these details in a journal so you can easily refer to them when needed. If you ticked most of the items above, you should seek help from upper cervical chiropractic professional. A misalignment in your neck bones might be the culprit behind your debilitating symptom.
Through a chiropractor’s help, you can correct the bones’ position and relieve the pressure on the spine and the brainstem. This could help you manage your pain and potentially eliminate your migraine episodes. Find a chiropractic professional near you today to experience the benefits of upper cervical care.
TV show host Montel Williams describes how specific chiropractic care has helped his body.
The content and materials provided in this web site are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to supplement or comprise a medical diagnosis or other professional opinion, or to be used in lieu of a consultation with a physician or competent health care professional for medical diagnosis and/or treatment. All content and materials including research papers, case studies and testimonials summarizing patients' responses to care are intended for educational purposes only and do not imply a guarantee of benefit. Individual results may vary, depending upon several factors including age of the patient, severity of the condition, severity of the spinal injury, and duration of time the condition has been present.
