Frequent Headaches or Migraines? Put Down the Pain Pills and Contact a Chiropractor

Frequent headaches and migraines aren’t just an inconvenience – they can seriously disrupt our everyday lives. The majority of people will experience a headache at least once in their lives, but if you’re a chronic migraine sufferer, you might have as many as 15 migraines per month. A pounding head, tense muscles, nausea, and noise or light sensitivity can make it impossible to work or take care of your family. The good news? Chiropractic treatment may be a safe and effective way to help reduce or eliminate your headaches – unlike the alternative options!

At the Minneapolis Chiropractic Center, we treat headaches in Minneapolis, MN, with non-invasive and safe chiropractic care. Our goal is to address your headaches at their source, whether that’s a spine out of alignment or a pinched nerve.

Types of headaches

There are multiple types of headaches one might experience. Each type can have a different underlying cause, but many are related to the spine and its surrounding structures.

• Tension headaches: Tension headaches often present as a “band” of tension around your head. You might feel pressure behind your eyes or radiating down your neck. The pain is similar to that of migraines, but usually without the nausea or sensitivity to light and sound. These often occur when you experience muscle tension for a long period of time, such as sitting in an uncomfortable position, slouching or using the wrong type of pillow. Chiropractic care may help by reducing muscle tension and supporting good posture.
• Cervicogenic headaches: Cervicogenic headaches are the least common type of headache. They usually stem from an old neck injury or misalignment and present on one side of the neck. As the headache continues, it can move to the front of the head and radiate down the arm. Chiropractic may help by realigning the spine and ensuring that the musculoskeletal system isn’t pinching any nerves.
• Migraines: Migraines are extremely painful headaches that are often accompanied by a visual aura, dizziness, nausea, and sensitivity to light and sound. Those who suffer from frequent or chronic migraines can find it difficult to function on a daily basis. Sufferers may find relief in neuromuscular massage.

How chiropractic treatment may help

If your headaches originate from neck injuries, spinal misalignments, or muscle tension, chiropractic treatment may be an effective alternative to other pain relief methods like pain medication. Even migraine sufferers may find some relief through certain chiropractic methods.

• Spinal adjustment: This is the type of chiropractic adjustment most people are familiar with, thanks to the popping noise (cavitation) it often produces. Your chiropractor will first assess the source of your pain. Then, they will use their hands to apply force to your neck or spine, helping the bones and soft tissues return to their normal positions and potentially improving mobility and compression issues.
• Joint mobilization: Joint mobilization occurs when your chiropractor moves your limbs and joints for you, gently stretching your body in controlled movements. This is designed to improve your range of motion and reduce pain.
• Neuromuscular massage: Neuromuscular massage is good for anyone but may be especially relieving for migraine sufferers. This type of deep tissue massage focuses on trigger points around the back, neck, shoulder, and head. The goal is to release muscle tension and improve relaxation, which might aid in reducing the frequency and intensity of your migraines.
• Cervicocranial mobilization: This gentle mobilization technique is similar to spinal adjustment but uses less force. The head and neck are moved and rotated in certain patterns to improve movement and release tension.
• Lifestyle adjustments: Part of chiropractic’s holistic approach means addressing the source of your pain, not just your symptoms. Whether your desk is forcing you to slouch or device usage is giving you text neck, you’ll never fully heal until you fix the root of the problem. Your chiropractor should give you information about simple solutions you can use to stay free of pain.
• Exercise: Finally, exercises and stretching are an important part of chiropractic care. For example, if bad posture is contributing to your tension headaches, you’ll need to build strength in your spine and core muscles. For cervicogenic headaches, deep neck flexion exercises may stretch and strengthen the neck muscles, actively helping you avoid further injury.

If you’re ready to try chiropractic care for your headaches in Minneapolis, MN, our chiropractor Minneapolis MN team will help you design an individual treatment plan to target the root cause of your pain. We use advance Chiropractic BioPhysics (CBP) techniques as part of our holistic treatment program. Call us today to schedule your first appointment.

Chiropractic BioPhysics, or CBP, is one of the most scientific, researched, and results-oriented corrective care techniques. CBP-trained chiropractors aim to realign the spine back to health, eliminating nerve interference and addressing the source of pain, fatigue, and disease. As with all chiropractic care, CBP is gentle, painless, and non-invasive.