With 39 million Americans suffering from migraines, there is no other neurological disorder that even comes close. At the same time, we still have a lot to learn about this potentially chronic health condition. We’re going to point you in the right direction to help you find natural relief from migraines. But first, we need to address the fact that there are up to four migraine phases depending on the type of migraines you get. Let’s take a closer look at these phrases. 

Migraine Prodrome: The First Phase

Sometimes referred to as the premonitory phase, migraine prodrome consists of symptoms that reveal that a migraine is on the way, usually within the next 24 hours. According to some researchers, up to 40% of migraine sufferers experience a prodrome phase. However, that number may be higher because some people may just not know that these symptoms are related to their migraines. 

Symptoms of Prodrome Phase

• Food cravings – This symptom has led some people to believe that certain foods are migraine triggers because they eat the food and then the migraine comes. However, they may be eating the foods because they are having cravings due to a migraine that is already on the way. 
• Fatigue
• Unexplained thirst
• Neck pain and soreness – This is one of the most common migraine symptoms and may continue during the migraine itself.
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Concentration problems
• Mood changes

Aura: The SecondPhase

This is a rather uncommon among the migraine phases with only about 20-25% of sufferers experiencing aura. This is yet another preliminary phase of migraine, but it happens much closer to the actual attack, usually within the hour. 

Symptoms of Aura Phase

• Numbness or tingling in the extremities as well as in the face
• Visual disturbances including but not limited to blurred vision or seeing flashes of light, wavy lines, and floaters. You may also experience blind spots.
• Dizziness or vertigo
• Sensory sensitives including sight, sound, smell, and touch
• Sensory hallucinations 

Patients who experience migraine with aura are also more susceptible to depression and suicide, so it is important to discuss this with your doctor if you experience aura and depression.

Headache Phase: The Third Phase

The most known of the four migraine phases has been named after the most common symptom. Keep in mind that only 85-90% of migraines present with a headache, so your “headache phase” may include other symptoms noted here, but without this telltale indicator of migraine.

Symptoms of Headache Phase 

• A headache that consists of at least two of the following four symptoms: (1) moderate to severe pain, (2) pulsing or throbbing pain, (3) one-sided pain, (4) pain that grows worse with exertion
• Neck pain
• Dizziness or vertigo
• Sensory sensitivities
• Nausea and/or vomiting 
• Chills or hot flashes
• Sinus congestion 
• Cognitive problems such as confusion 
• Visual disturbances including temporary vision loss
• Trigeminal (facial nerve) pain
• Mood changes and/or panic attacks

While this is not a definitive list of symptoms, all of the most common ones are listed here. 

Migraine Postdrome: The Fourth Phase

A migraine hangover or the recovery phase are a couple of other ways to refer to the postdrome phase. During this final migraine stage, your body and central nervous systems (CNS) are recovering from the effects of the migraine. As a result, symptoms may last another 48 hours following the conclusion of the headache phase.

Symptoms of Postdrome Phase

• Extreme exhaustion
• Mood changes
• Concentration problems
• Appetite changes
• Cognitive difficulties including reduced comprehension 

All four migraine phases can be debilitating, especially if you get all of the phases and have more than one migraine per week. You may feel like the postdrome from one migraine runs right into the prodrome of the next one. How can you find natural relief and get your life back? We would like to introduce you to upper cervical chiropractic care, a safe and natural therapy that has helped many patients in case studies.

Upper Cervical Chiropractic and Migraines 

If you haven’t heard of this chiropractic subspecialty, there are a few things that you should know right off the bat:

• It is highly focused – We only adjust the top two bones of the neck, the C1 and C2. These bones have the greatest effect on the central nervous system, and they can help the rest of the spine because the other vertebrae are affected greatly by even the slightest misalignment in the top bones of the neck. 
• It is extremely precise – Because fractions of a millimeter matter when it comes to the C1 and C2, we take precise measurements using diagnostic imaging techniques. In fact, your first adjustment won’t occur until the second visit because the doctor needs time to calculate a precise adjustment for you based on your exam. 
• It is safe and cost-effective – Because adjustments are so precise, they are also gentle. There is no popping or twisting of the neck. This makes upper cervical chiropractic safe for all ages. You will only receive an adjustment when needed, so once the surrounding soft tissue stabilizes, you can space out your office visits and save some money. 

If you are suffering from migraines, regardless of which migraine phases you experience, upper cervical chiropractic may be the natural source of relief you’ve been searching for. Contact a practitioner in your area today to learn more.

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