Migraines

Symptoms

Migraines are a kind of headache that cause pulsing sensations or a severe, throbbing pain. They’re often accompanied by extreme sensitivity to light and sound, as well as nausea and vomiting. They can last anywhere from hours to days at a time.

Some people experience warning signs that a migraine is coming, such as an aura. While they often progress through 4 different stages, not everyone who suffers from migraines will experience each stage. The 4 stages of migraines are: prodrome, aura, attack, and post-drome. 

Prodrome

This refers to symptoms that you may notice 1 to 2 days before getting a migraine, such as:

• Cravings
• Constipation
• Mood changes
• Frequent yawning
• Stiff neck
• Increased urination
• Fluid retention

Aura

Auras can sometimes occur either before or during your migraine. They usually begin gradually and can last up to an hour. While typically visual, they can include other disturbances, as well. Auras include:

• Vision loss
• Vision phenomena, such as flashes of light or bright spots
• Tingling in your arm or leg
• Trouble speaking
• Numbness or weakness on one side of your body or your face

Attack

Migraines can last for hours or days. Depending on the person, you’ll either have them rarely or multiple times in a month. Symptoms of migraines include:

• Throbbing or pulsating pain
• Pain on one or both sides of your head
• Extreme sensitivity to light and sound, and sometimes touch and smell, too
• Nausea and vomiting

Postdrome

After experiencing a migraine, you may experience some pain again after sudden head movements. Most people feel drained for as long as a day after, though some people can experience elation. The postdrome stage is often called the “migraine hangover”. 

Causes And Triggers

It’s not entirely understood what causes migraines. Factors such as genetics and your environment appear to impact one’s likelihood of getting them. Generally, family history, your age (migraines peak in your 30’s), hormonal changes, and being a woman make you more likely to get migraines.

There are many different things that can trigger migraines. Some common migraine triggers include:

• Hormonal changes in women 
• Stress
• Sleep changes
• Smoking
• Medications, like sleeping pills
• Alcohol
• Food additives
• Foods, such as processed foods
• Sensory stimuli, such as flashing lights
• Physical exertion
• Weather changes

Chiropractic Treatment For Migraines

Elite Chiropractic can help you find relief for your migraines. Chiropractic care for migraines always starts with an assessment of your condition and your history in order to determine what triggers your migraines and what treatment plan would be best suited to you. People who get chiropractic treatment for their migraines typically report that they experience migraines less frequently, and that the ones they do suffer are less intense. 

Some of the ways that we treat migraines include:

• Spinal manipulations
• Spinal Decompression Therapy
• Spinal Traction Therapy
• Vibration Plate Therapy
• Class IV Laser Therapy
• Lifestyle changes recommendations
• Soft Tissue Therapy
• Management methods you can use at home

Chiropractic care helps migraines by reducing inflammation, increasing your mobility, and improving your nervous system’s function. This helps your body be better able to manage pain. 

Elite Chiropractic is here to help you find relief. Contact us in Wenatchee, WA today to schedule your consultation and let us help you manage your migraines and lessen their severity.