Migraines are a painful topic to discuss and even worse to experience. Migraines typically come with a throbbing pain in the head, visual disturbances, sensitivity to light and sound, and even nausea. As many as 36 million Americans suffer from some sort of migraine headache each year. 3 million Americans have the displeasure of chronic migraines of 5 or more monthly.
There are several different types of migraine headaches and even the same type of migraine will vary from person to person. There is much speculation in the scientific community of the actually cause of migraines but the mechanisms of how they affect people are well known. The systems primarily related to migraines are: blood flow, muscles, the brain, and the nervous system. This makes it challenging for healthcare professionals of all kinds to discern from one patient to the next due to the uniqueness of every case. Treatment options are also relatively nonspecific with limited results.
New treatment options are coming and going quickly as it is a broad market. A new prescription cream is being experimented in clinical trials. The cream contains a NSAID (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) which has a numbing effect, applied to the trigeminal nerve located on the cheeks.1 The trigeminal nerve is a cranial nerve which comes from the brainstem which is responsible for a majority of bodily function. This nerve has been linked to migraine headaches.
To learn more about the connection between neck injuries and migraines download our free e-book below.
Many people are now seeking alternative treatments for natural relief to migraine headaches. Fair Oaks, CA Migraine Specialist Dr Brett Gottlieb is helping patients get relief without drugs. Dr Gottlieb is an Upper Cervical Chiropractor who specializes in the alignment of the Atlas Bone (C1 vertebra) and its role with headaches. The Atlas Bone is where the brainstem is contained is it exits the skull and becomes the nervous system for the rest of the body. If the Atlas bone becomes misaligned it can put strain on the structures surrounding the brainstem which affects the cranial nerves, possibly causing headaches.
Studies have shown that in large populations of headache patients with an Atlas misalignment have improved with as little as 1 or 2 Upper Cervical Chiropractic Adjustments.2 When the Atlas is in its proper position the brain and nervous system can regulate body function normal and headaches resolve over time.
What to Do Next
In order to address this syndrome the patient must be evaluated thoroughly in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). If an upper neck misalignment is found, the misalignment can be corrected with Upper Cervical, a specialized procedure that is safe, gentle and extremely effective.
References:
- ?Anderson P. Topical Gel Promising in Migraine. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/843685 (accessed 12 June 2015).
- ?Elster EL. Upper cervical chiropractic care for a patient with chronic migraine headaches with an appendix summarizing an additional 100 headache cases. J Vert Sublux Res 2003;AUG(3):1-10
To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Gottlieb, call 916-655-0569, or just click the button below.
If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
