There may be 39 million migraineurs in the US alone, but they don’t experience all of the same symptoms. We’re going to take a closer look at the symptoms of five of the many different categories of migraines. Then we will consider a natural therapy that has been proven effective in dozens of case studies.
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These used to be referred to as common migraines, but since that downplayed how debilitating migraines are, the term was changed to migraine without aura. What are its symptoms? Here are some of the more common ones:
Episodes generally last anywhere from 4 to 72 hours and may repeat anywhere from a few times a year to daily (see chronic migraines). The frequency with which headache medicine is taken may result in rebound headaches (also called medication overuse headaches). It is the most basic form of this neurological condition.
They used to call this a complicated migraine, but they just changed the description to migraines with aura. While aura is the primary difference, there are some other connected issues that are worse with this type of migraine.
This is the common name for migraines that don’t have a headache phase. One of the many things that separate migraines from headaches is that a headache is merely one symptom of a migraine. They are a neurological condition with many symptoms, one of which is usually a headache.
Since symptoms vary from person to person and attack to attack, a headache doesn’t have to occur with every episode. It is the most common symptom, but that just makes things more confusing. As a result, sometimes people who get silent migraines are misdiagnosed or suffer additional stigma on top of what is already attached to being a migraineur. Symptoms can include:
These are just some of the more common symptoms. There are many more possibilities, making these headache-free type just as debilitating as a classic migraine.
While this is a rare type and can be classified as a silent migraine, it is worth mentioning because it can be rather disturbing if you are not sure what is happening. A retinal migraine involves temporary vision loss in just one eye. Other visual disturbances are also possible. The onset of the problems begins gradually and clear up within an hour. Sudden vision loss in one eye, on the other hand, can be the sign of a medical emergency.
Chronic migraines can involve any of the types noted above or others that we do not have room to discuss here. The main determining factor in considering episodes as chronic is that symptoms exist 15 or more days per month. So a person may be suffering from daily episodes, or they may be experiencing a couple of headaches per week but with prodrome and postdrome symptoms that cover at least 50% of their days. Either way, you can understand how debilitating chronic migraines may be. For some of the millions who have chronic migraines, it makes ordinary activities, like holding down a job, impossible.
If you are suffering from migraines, the frequency with which neck pain is a symptom may be a factor in finding genuine relief. Even if you don’t personally suffer from neck pain at this time, a small misalignment in the C1 (atlas) vertebra could still be at work. What may this type of subluxation result in?
All of these can be factors in the onset and recurrence of migraines. So it makes sense to see a chiropractic subspecialist called an upper cervical chiropractor.
Upper cervical chiropractors specialize in detecting and gently correcting even the slightest of atlas misalignments. This can restore proper blood flow to the head and help to improve central nervous system function. As a result, some patients with neurological conditions experience stunning results.
If you would like to learn if upper cervical chiropractic care is the right way for you to find natural relief from migraines, contact a practitioner in your area to schedule a no-obligation consultation.
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.