Headaches and Migraines "Story"

People are often surprised when I tell them a good percentage of my patients are being treated for headaches and migraines. The truth of the matter is that there is often correlation between headaches and neck pain. Misalignments of the vertebrae in the upper neck will often feel more like a headache at the base of the skull. Chiropractic adjustments are very effective at treating these types of conditions.

Another common condition is the forward head posture. When the head sits forward from it's ideal alignment above the shoulders, it stresses the neck muscles that hold your head up. At 1 inch forward, a 10 pound head takes 20 lbs of tension to hold up. At 2 inches forward it becomes 30 lbs. and so on. Often the pain is felt at the base of the skull where these muscles attach. This can also be felt as tension at the temples or around the entire forehead. Chiropractic adjustments can help re-align your spine and head and reduce this abnormal tension.

Migraines are a different story. They often start as a visual disturbance such as spots or tunnel vision, then the pain hits. A true migraine will often be so severe that the patient cannot function, cannot work or think, and usually ends up in a dark room for much of the day due to light sensitivity. Nausea and vomitting is not uncommon. If you ask a doctor what causes a migraine, you usually get something about dilation of the blood vessels in the head creating pressure and pain. This is a "what" and not a "why".

Why migraines occur is not yet fully understood, but figuring out and reducing the triggers is the quickest way to reduce their occurence and severity. The more common trigers are certain foods including chocolate and wine. In women, hormonal imbalances are often triggers during certain phases of their menstrual cycle. Physical stress and/or emotional stress can also trigger a migraine. Stress to the neck as described earlier is often a big factor. Once these triggers are found and delt with, reduction of symptoms by 50% or more is often seen.

As you can see, all of these factors can contribute to the patients' condition to various degrees. One can have a food trigger, as well as a hormonal, and seasonal allergy trigger. When a patient only gets an adjustment, without a consultation and evaluation, they are being treated like a machine that needs to be fixed. They are not being treated like a person with a multifaceted condition. Make sure your chiropractor is a doctor and not just a "mechanic".

So, what is your headache "story"?

Low Back Pain "Story"

A funny thing happened this week. We received 5 calls this past Monday all from people in severe low back pain. Our office always takes in low back patients, but it was unusual that they all called in on Monday. By Thursday, they were all doing significantly better. I know chiropractic care is effective, but sometimes it even amazes me how fast it can work.

I believe that the biggest reason we get great results is because I listen to your "story". Anyone can take a history on a patient to find out that they have low back pain. It takes patience and persistence for a doctor to find out that someone's low back pain first started 12 years ago after lifting a suitcase, and the pain was initially on the left side, but now is on the right side and it goes down the right leg to just past the knee, with left big toe numbness that has been there for 12 years, and that there has been six or seven episodes in that time frame, and that some relief was found initially through physical therapy, but now the pain came back. Other very important information includes what position the patient sleeps in, and on what type of mattress, what type of exercise do they like to do (if any), what sports did the patient play in high school or college, and how much of the patient's current job involves prolonged sitting or constant lifting?

I must say it is a little disconcerting when a new patient comes in my door and immediately lays down on the table for an adjustment. Invariably these patients have been to another chiropractor, who obviously did not talk to them much at all, much less find out their "story".

With all of the advice you can get from late-night infomercials, pharmaceutical companies, or shoe and mattress sales people, ask yourself this:
do they know your "story"?