Usually, people see their chiropractors for a very specific reason – because they have back pain or even a stiff neck. They might even go if their hips or knees hurt since they know that an adjustment will help. However, people rarely consider going for things like migraines. This needs to change because chiropractors can indeed relieve migraine pain.
Your Pain May Stem From Your Neck
You’re probably already aware of the fact that a chiropractor can align the bones in your neck, especially the ones that connect with the skull, in order to relieve pain. With that said, you probably didn’t know that those can cause headache pain. Although some migraines are caused by things like hormonal shifts and nutrition (both things that a chiropractor can coach you on – more on that later) sometimes all that it takes is sleeping wrong and hurting your neck to cause a migraine. Thankfully, this can be avoided with proper neck support while sleeping and some new pillows. In the meantime, you’re still stuck with your migraine pain. A chiropractor can help with this by adjusting your neck (and even your back, since everything in your body is connected) in order to relieve your pain.
Determining the Cause of the Pain
Did you know that there are 22 different bones in the skull? Although these bones are fused together in adults, this doesn’t mean that they can’t cause your pain. We already discussed your neck and how sometimes headaches can come from there, but in other cases, the sources could be what you eat, how much stress that you’re under, and even from problems with the bones in your face and skull. Your chiropractor may ask you to keep a diary or log in order to see how your behaviors and routines affect
your migraines. This can help determine if there are any types of triggers.
Cranial Facial Releases and Massage
If your chiropractor determines that your migraine pain isn’t coming from your neck or even your diet, then he or she may perform a procedure called a cranial facial release. This is exactly what it sounds like… kind of. The procedure involves doing a light massage that also readjusts all of the bones in the face and skull. This is much less violent than it sounds, and it is nothing like the other bodily adjustments that a chiropractor does. Instead, the procedure is calming and includes things like massaging certain parts of the face to ensure that all of those bones are where they need to be.
If you suffer from migraines and are tired of taking medication for them, then it’s time to see a chiropractor. By keeping a log of your migraines, your chiropractor will be able to determine exactly what your triggers are. Also, if he or she decides that your migraines stem from a misalignment in your neck, back, or face, they can perform the necessary adjustments in order to curb your pain.
