Severe migraines can greatly affect your daily life, but did you know that they may have an effect on pregnancy and childbirth? A new study conducted at the Montefiore Health system examined 90 women who needed medical care for severe migraines while pregnant. A few of their findings include (1) -
It is important to note that the study did not investigate why these events were more common in women with severe migraines. Traditional migraine treatment for a pregnant woman involves NSAIDs and potentially IV drugs if the symptoms are severe enough. These can stop migraine symptoms short-term, but they do not get to their root cause. Many migraine sufferers are looking for natural treatment options.
How are my migraines related to my neck?
Your spine is responsible for protecting your spinal cord. Your spinal cord is responsible for sending messages to and from your brain. When the top bone in your spine (atlas) misaligns, this creates pressure within your spinal cord. This pressure causes the messages going to and from your brain to be distorted. This may lead to migraine symptoms, such as head or facial pain and muscle spasm.
Upper Cervical Care is a chiropractic technique that is designed to gently realign the atlas vertebra. Upper Cervical is incredibly precise – this allows for no popping or twisting of the neck. Through realignment of the atlas, tension on the spinal cord is reduced. This allows for proper signals to travel to and from the brain. Having proper signals may lead to reduced migraine symptoms.
Palmer et al. studied 47 patients with non-migraine headaches. After two weeks of care (and only one correction), the subjects had a significant reduction in headache pain. They found that after 3-4 months of care, their headache symptoms decreased by 75% on average. (2)
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.