Migraines affect up to 12% of people, meaning that about 39 million people are dealing with this debilitating neurological condition in the US alone. There are many categories of migraines, and one of those is ocular. What sets this type of a migraine apart? The patient experiences visual symptoms. If that sounds like you or someone you know, we encourage you to consider the following article. We will conclude with a natural way that many migraine sufferers are finding relief.
Since the term ocular migraine describes migraines with visual symptoms, this category runs the gamut from migraine with aura to silent migraines that cause temporary loss of vision in one eye. What are the symptoms of an ocular migraine?
Many symptoms of a general migraine may occur. For example, most migraines feature a moderate to severe headache (which is why some have the false impression that migraines are just a bad headache). In the case of migraine with aura, the headache is preceded by visual symptoms about 20-30 minutes before the pain begins. The symptoms of aura can include seeing flashing lights, zigzag lines, or even partial or total vision loss temporarily.
Silent migraines refer to migraines that do not have a headache as a symptom. Some ocular migraines cause loss of vision in one eye for about 30-60 minutes. An eye doctor can help to confirm that there is nothing physically wrong with the eye. This helps to confirm a diagnosis of optical migraines. Sometimes the eye experiencing the migraine symptoms will just have blurry vision rather than vision loss. Also, the patient may experience pain behind the eye. In this type of migraine, it is common for just one eye to be affected.
Triggers vary from person to person, so the practice is becoming common to maintain a migraine journal. This will allow you to track your own triggers. Some are avoidable. Others are not but at least can provide a warning that a migraine could be on the way. Many people report the following occurrences before a migraine:
While there is no single underlying cause of migraines that has been identified, researchers are looking into numerous possibilities. Just a few of these include:
It is interesting to note that all three of these conditions can be caused by the same underlying problem – a misalignment of the atlas (C1) or axis (C2) vertebrae, located at the base of the skull. These bones protect the brainstem and facilitate proper flow of blood and CSF.
If you suffer from neck pain, have a history of head or neck trauma, or use poor posture on a regular basis, a misalignment in this sensitive area may be leading to your migraines. Is there a natural way to correct the issue?
If the word chiropractor makes you nervous, we want to assure you that upper cervical chiropractic care is very different. Adjustments are precise, gentle (no popping or twisting), and only focus on the C1 and C2. Gentle adjustments may also last longer, which can make this a cost-effective form of care.
To learn more about upper cervical chiropractic care, contact a practitioner in your area. You may find that a gentle adjustment or two can have significant benefits for your health, including helping with migraines.
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.