Migraines suck! Up to 15% of the world population struggles with migraines. They can be debilitating and make drastic changes to your day-to-day life at a moment’s notice. One of the scariest things about migraines is that it seems like we can’t figure out how to treat them. Many patients present to our office are in desperation mode, after struggling through three or four different medications to manage their migraines, with limited results. I have good news: we can help.
Migraines are common, but not normal. Meaning it is common to have them, but it’s not a normal thing to have migraines. Normal is healthy, with no migraines or headaches. The textbook symptoms of migraines include sensitivity to light, sound, and/or smell, nausea, vomiting, aura, and head pain that is usually one-sided. Many people find a trigger for their migraines, but that is often difficult to narrow down. The list of triggers is long and frequently different from patient to patient. We may even want to start a food diary to try to narrow the list of potential triggers.
The reason chiropractic works so well for migraines is that we can assess the entire patient and all systems involved. We can discuss dietary triggers. We can look at musculoskeletal triggers, such as posture and trigger points. We can examine neurologic triggers and causes. We treat with adjustments, supplements, rehabilitation, laser therapy, shockwave therapy, and more, depending on each patient’s needs.
$99 New Patient Special
Includes consultation, exam, doctors report of findings, PosturePro analysis, and first adjustment.
How Our Care Plan Works
1. Better
No matter where you start, we can improve together. The first phase focuses on making progress in your current ailments. Typically, this means alleviating pain and helping you return to your daily activities as smoothly and quickly as possible.
2. Stronger
Now that you’ve made progress, how do we KEEP it? We’ve all experienced improvements, only to regress when our focus shifts. This phase empowers your body to sustain the hard-earned progress you’ve worked so diligently to achieve.
3. Healthier
True HEALTHcare! So often, we are only concerned with our sickness and dysfunction, seeking treatment only when we experience symptoms. This is SICKcare. During the healthier phase, we focus on your overall health and maintaining your well-being.
How We Treat Migraines In Fuquay-Varina, NC
Comprehensive Consultation and Exam
Migraines are often big and scary, especially when you don’t have a good understanding of what is going on, or if your doctor doesn’t listen to you describe your symptoms. This is why every new patient appointment starts with a thorough consultation and examination. We begin with a tour of the office so you feel comfortable and get a better sense of our space. After this tour, we move into a consultation with one of the doctors, and we guarantee you will feel heard. We may ask questions to understand your symptoms better, but we know how important it is to feel like your provider is listening to you. During our consultation, we will set immediate, short-term, and long-term goals. These goals help our team understand exactly what you want out of care and how we can support your health journey.
Following the consultation, we move into a comprehensive examination, during which our team will work to rule in and rule out every diagnosis to determine precisely what is causing your migraines. This helps us paint a complete picture of your condition and know exactly how to treat it. Our examination will include a complete spine exam, with specific focus on the neurologic components of the cervical spine and cranial nerves. A complete cervical examination will also be performed to determine if there is a cervical component to your migraines. Imaging may be added depending upon the case.
Following this first appointment, we will have a Report of Findings and a treatment plan in place to help you reach your specific goals. All of this is discussed with you, making sure you have a complete understanding of your condition and how we need to treat your case specifically.
Specific Chiropractic Care In Fuquay-Varina, NC
The benefit of chiropractic care is our ability to identify precisely what is causing your symptoms and treat the cause, not just mask the symptoms. Subluxations, cervical tension, hormone changes, food allergies or intolerances, dehydration, posture, and more can cause migraines. Once we identify what is causing your migraines, we will build a plan to address that cause.
Subluxations are one of the biggest causes of migraines. Subluxations are any change in a joint’s ability to move or function freely and fully as it is intended to. These subluxations can also be called segmental joint restrictions, misalignments, and other synonyms. Adjustments will restore proper motion through these joints and, therefore, regain communication through the nervous system.
Hormone changes and food allergies both respond well to different types of diets and/or different detox diets. We have an entire team dedicated to nutrition and dietary counseling. This will include a one-on-one coach, as well as multiple different urine tests to find out exactly what your body is struggling with.
Massage Therapy and Soft Tissue Work
Many different types of migraine are either caused by or create neck tension. For some, this is a minor inconvenience, while for others it is a considerable problem that changes how they live their day-to-day lives. To address this, we will include multiple modalities in a treatment plan. The adjustment is the primary treatment, making the most significant changes. Shockwave is the subsequent treatment on the list for this neck tension. Shockwave therapy uses both pressure and sound to create a pulsing pressure that penetrates through soft tissue. These shockwaves are used to break up scar tissue and inflammation, thereby promoting blood flow and healing in the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the area.
Shockwave feels like a mixture between a massage gun and a TENS unit. When using this modality, patients often notice immediate results, such as decreased pain and increased range of motion. Treatments are rapid and usually complete within 5 minutes, but they allow the body to continue the healing process over the next 3-5 days. Significant changes from just a few minutes of treatment!
We also use dry needling to decrease the muscle tension. Dry needling will help work through multiple layers of muscle and significant trigger points. This is a fantastic tool to add to treatment plans for conditions with extreme cervical tension.
Custom Therapeutic Exercise Plan
Motion is lotion. Training the muscles and joints of the cervical spine is invaluable in diminishing and eventually eliminating migraines. As part of every patient’s treatment plan, we include a list of stretches and exercises. These cervical muscles must create stability in our cervical spine. Having proper stretches to target tight muscles, as well as simple at-home exercises to strengthen weak muscles, helps create that stability. Muscle imbalances are often created by or made worse by Subluxations. Adjustments and the removal of these subluxations increase the proprioception (communication between the brain and body) to each of these joints. Each care plan we create includes diagnostic-specific corrective exercises designed to help improve the stability that each patient needs.
Deep Tissue Laser
Deep Tissue laser, or the more specific name, photobiomodulation, uses infrared light to penetrate 2-3 inches deep into the patient. This light does three things: it increases ATP production, improves oxygenation, and increases circulation. Our bodies naturally heal themselves through the inflammatory cycle. Once our body experiences trauma or an injury, it responds by recruiting more blood cells to the area to deliver more oxygen, as well as specific cell types, such as macrophages and leukocytes, to remove the debris. It takes a significant amount of energy to cycle through this process. So, what the laser does is take the same healing process our body already has and supercharge it. So, areas that experience trauma or injury can heal significantly more quickly. Areas that don’t heal well due to a lack of natural blood flow, such as ligaments and discs, respond well to deep tissue laser therapy, enabling them to recover more effectively and efficiently.
Deep Tissue Laser applied to the cervical spine and the skull will create a deep warming feeling. This warming feeling may last for a few hours following treatment. Some patients notice an immediate decrease in pain, but most patients report more lasting improvement following three to four treatments.
Nutritional Support
Treating migraines with nutritional changes works fantastically, but can be daunting to attack on your own. We have an entire team dedicated to nutrition and lifestyle changes. Patients who start the nutrition program begin with urine samples to better understand how their bodies break down and metabolize the food they consume. Patients then start the program with access to a one-on-one coach. They will track not only what they eat, but also how they feel, their energy levels, and their weight. For many patients, the goal of these nutritional counseling sessions is to decrease migraines or increase energy levels, but some patients start to lose weight. On average, patients who start our nutrition program lose 30 pounds in the first 71 days. And they keep it off! Finding better ways to fuel our bodies improves overall health and wellness in many ways and can also make drastic changes in migraine symptoms.
Common Causes of Migraines in Fuquay-Varina, NC
Hormones
Understanding hormone regulation is one of the most confusing aspects of our complex bodies. Part of the reason this is so confusing is that hormone systems are many different systems that all fall under the same umbrella. A woman’s monthly cycle is one of the most common causes of hormonal migraines. The ups and downs of estrogen and progesterone can cause migraines if the changes are extreme or irregular. Changes in the thyroid and the hormones that regulate it can also cause migraines. Understanding which questions to ask and what to look for can help differentiate which hormone cycles contribute to migraines. It can be discouraging and frustrating to track down what hormone dysregulation is creating chaos in our bodies.
Irregular Sleep Schedule
Good sleep hygiene is one of the most critical factors for our health and wellness, but it is often skipped or overlooked. Sleep is the time when our bodies try to recover. Your brain goes through different phases as it sleeps, working to recover from the stress and work you put it through that day. It even has a “waste clearance system” known as the Glymphatic System, which only activates when you go to sleep. We have all noticed how reduced sleep affects our mood, energy levels, and much more. There are a multitude of little things we can do to set ourselves up for successful sleep, but a few simple things you could start today are to have a consistent bedtime and wake time. This creates consistency in your schedule. The other thing is to create a bedtime routine. This triggers your body to recognize it is time to go to sleep, making the transition from awake to asleep quicker and smoother.
Diet
We underestimate how much our diet affects our health and wellness. Food is fuel, and what we put in our bodies matters. When the conversation on diet moves specifically to migraines, we try to keep it simple. Inflammatory foods trigger migraines, while anti-inflammatory foods prevent them. Inflammatory foods are things that are high in sugar, fried foods, highly processed foods, and alcohol. Foods that are considered anti-inflammatory include high-fiber foods like fruits and vegetables, fermented foods, turmeric, and staying hydrated.
Having a diet that fuels our bodies can lead to positive improvements in many areas of life, including reducing migraines.
Stress
Stress is a killer. It wreaks havoc on our body. This is one of the most significant factors for migraines, and we live in a world of stress. We are getting more and more stressed every year. Stress increases cortisol and other hormones that trigger the fight-or-flight response. This fight-or-flight response will increase our heart rate, raise blood pressure, increase muscle tension, and affect systems like digestion and the immune system. These changes in our bodies can even alter our brain chemistry. All these symptoms together can increase migraines and other migraine symptoms. Some people notice an increase in migraines during periods of high stress, while some patients notice migraines directly after a period of stress, known as the “let-down effect.”
Managing stress is challenging. This is one of the most common conversations in our office because, as we mentioned, we are getting increasingly stressed every year. There are many ways to manage the type of stress that causes migraines. The habits that work best are the ones you practice and enjoy. Things like breathing exercises, yoga, and regular exercise are all fantastic at managing stress, but take time to practice. Increased sleep and hydration are both critical for managing regular stress as well.
Changes in the Weather
Many people report an increase in migraines with weather changes. Weather changes are often caused by high- or low-pressure systems blowing in and bringing in new weather. Our skull is complete with sinuses. Sinuses are simply a space. This space serves many purposes, but when one of these weather pressure systems comes in, it can change the pressure in our sinuses. This pressure can contribute to migraines. It will shift blood flow around the skull. And in places with high allergen counts (like North Carolina), this increased pressure will be exacerbated by high mucus content. Patients often describe this feeling as an increased pressure in their skull; put simply, it feels like increased pressure because there is. The weather isn’t something you may track daily, but when you are struggling with migraines, it can affect your day-to-day life.
Now I can’t change the weather, but we can help your body better accommodate these weather changes, making those days of new pressure systems less stressful.
Caffeine and Alcohol
Caffeine and Alcohol consumption can both contribute to migraines for many people. Caffeine is one of the most researched supplements, and research shows, time and time again, that it is a fantastic supplement when used correctly. But using it correctly can be difficult. Above, we discussed how sleep, or lack thereof, can contribute to migraines. The amount and timing of caffeine consumption can both affect our sleep. Caffeine has a half-life between 4 and 6 hours. Meaning it takes that long for half of the caffeine we consumed to be eliminated from the body. So, if you consume 200 mg of caffeine at 12 pm, there will be 100 mg left at 5 pm. Then, at 10 pm, about 50 mg of caffeine will remain. Understanding this allows us to control how much we consume and when, so we can still go to bed at a reasonable time.
Alcohol is a highly inflammatory substance. We have already discussed how an inflammatory diet can cause systemic, or whole-body, inflammation, which can lead to many issues, including migraines. Alcohol is also a diuretic, meaning your body won’t be able to retain water, and it will cause dehydration. Alcohol also gets broken down by the body from ethanol into acetaldehyde, which is one of the primary contributors to symptoms of a hangover. Acetaldehyde is toxic to our bodies, contributing to migraines and other symptoms. And finally, alcohol decreases our HRV (heart rate variability). HRV is one of the primary ways to measure how our body is resting and recovering. This is one reason why we often feel like we sleep well after alcohol, but don’t feel rested. With decreased HRV, our sleep is less restorative, and our bodies aren’t recovering as they should.
Caffeine and alcohol aren’t harmful substances, but when they aren’t used responsibly, they can contribute to migraines.
Check Out Our Location Near You
609 Attain St #141, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
Frequently Asked Questions
Can going to a chiropractor help with migraines?
Yes! Chiropractic is one of the top solutions for migraines.
Can an out-of-alignment neck cause migraines?
Neck issues are among the top causes of migraines. Correcting alignment and eliminating subluxations are the best ways to reduce migraines.
Are migraines bad for the brain?
Chronic migraines not only affect day-to-day activities but can also create long-term changes in brain chemistry. Although this rarely becomes irreversible, the longer the issue persists, the longer it takes to treat and achieve improvement.
Is massage good for migraines?
Massage is often good for migraines for the short term. This will decrease muscle tension, a top symptom of migraines, but it rarely eliminates the primary cause. So, although these are helpful in the short term, they seldom make a lasting change.
What is the quickest way to get rid of a migraine?
The quickest way to get rid of headaches varies from patient to patient. If you’ve found something that makes a quick change, I’d encourage you to continue using that in times of need. But these quick fixes are often just band aids. They reduce symptoms but don’t address the cause of migraines. If you want to make long-term changes in the frequency and severity of headaches, talk to a chiropractor.
How do you permanently cure a migraine?
Although there is no way to cure a migraine permanently, you can work to decrease the frequency and severity to the point that they are almost non-existent. There is no way to guarantee they won’t come back, but we can stack the cards in your favor and make sure you nearly forget that you ever struggled with migraines.
What is the most effective treatment for migraines?
Wholistic chiropractic care is the most effective treatment for migraines. This allows us to integrate multiple treatment modalities for each case to determine precisely how each needs to be treated.
Does exercise help with migraines?
Yes. Regular exercise shows drastic improvements in migraine symptoms and frequency.
What is the best preventive medication for migraines?
Preventive migraine medications may occasionally improve symptoms. These are different from patient to patient. Over time, these also change, with patients reporting that they randomly stop working. This conversation is better addressed with your medical doctor, who should have a complete understanding of your symptoms before making a recommendation.
What food to avoid during a migraine?
The specific foods that patients should avoid depend on the patient. In general, eating less inflammatory foods should reduce symptoms. Inflammatory foods are high in sugar, fried foods, refined foods, and, for most patients, gluten.
$99 New Patient Special
Includes consultation, exam, doctors report of findings, PosturePro analysis, and first adjustment.
