Migraine headache
Introduction:
Migraines are severely painful, recurrent headaches that are sometimes accompanied by other symptoms such as visual disturbances (aura) or nausea. There are two types of migraine – migraine with aura (formerly called common migraines) and migraine without aura (formerly called classic migraines). If you have a migraine with aura, you may experience a visual disturbance (like seeing stars or zigzag lines or a temporary blind spot) about 30 minutes before the headache starts. Even if you don't experience an aura, you may have other warning signs in the period before the headaches starts (called prodrome), such as a craving for sweets, thirst, sleepiness, or depression. Although there is no cure for migraines, you can manage the condition by reducing the frequency of attacks and lessening pain once an attack starts.
Signs and Symptoms:
The headache from a migraine, with or without aura, has the following characteristics:
Throbbing, pounding, or pulsating pain
Often begins on one side of your head and may spread to both or stay localized
Most intense pain is often concentrated around the temple(s) (side of the forehead)
Can last from 4 - 72 hours
These symptoms may occur at the same time or before the headache:
Nausea and vomiting
Dizziness, lightheadedness, or even vertigo (feeling like the room is spinning)
Loss of appetite
Fatigue
Visual disturbances, like seeing flashing lights or zigzag lines, temporary blind spots (for example, loss of your peripheral vision), or blurred vision
Parts of your body may feel numb, weak, or tingly
Light, noise, and movement – especially bending over – make your head hurt worse;
Chiropractic
Several clinical trials indicate that spinal manipulation therapy may help in the treatment of migraine headaches. In one study of people with migraines, 22% of those who received chiropractic manipulation reported more than a 90% reduction of attacks and 49% reported a significant reduction of the intensity of each migraine.
In another study, people with migraine headaches were randomly assigned to receive spinal manipulation, a daily medication (Elavil), or a combination of both. Spinal manipulation was as effective as Elavil in reducing migraines and had fewer side effects. There was no added benefit to combining the two therapies.
In addition, researchers reviewed 9 studies that tested spinal manipulative therapy for tension or migraine headaches and found that it was as effective as medications in preventing these headaches.
