What is a Migraine?
Every year, approximately 38 million Americans suffer from migraines. Individuals suffering from migraines typically experience intense pain and throbbing in a particular region of the head. Migraines are broadly categorized into three variants: migraine without aura, migraine with aura, and silent migraines. Aside from the debilitating pain, migraine variants have also been linked to the development of mental health issues, eating disorders, and concentration difficulties.
Signs and Symptoms of Migraines
The telltale sign of a migraine is an intense, long-lasting headache. An estimated 2-3 million Americans experience migraines that last up to 15 days. Unlike a regular headache, migraines are accompanied by a wide range of secondary symptoms, including visual aura, dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, and optical sensitivity. Migraines may be triggered by certain foods, protracted periods of stress, hormonal changes, of biomechanical abnormalities.
How the Upper Cervical Spine Affects Migraine
Recent breakthroughs in medical research have linked the onset of migraines to complications during the complex interactions between the brainstem and the neurovascular pathways of the central nervous system (CNS).
Misalignment in the upper cervical spine can disrupt these interactions, causing swelling around the brainstem and interrupting signal transmission from the CNS. Left untreated, misalignment-induced inflammation in the upper cervical spine can trigger migraines and tension headaches.
Misalignments in the upper cervical spine can also lead to musculoskeletal imbalances in the spine, shoulders, and neck. These imbalances can exacerbate bad postural habits, allowing tension to build up in the joints and musculature of the upper cervical spine. The occurrence of migraines has been linked to high levels of tension in the neck muscles, with 74% of migraine sufferers reporting neck or upper back pain.
How Our Treatment for Migraines Works
When it comes to migraines, conventional medical wisdom is to manage the symptoms using medication. While this treatment regimen may result in temporary pain relief, it fails to remedy the underlying cause of recurrent migraines. In comparison, upper cervical chiropractic care aims to both alleviate migraine symptoms and address the root cause of the condition.
The first step in treating migraines with upper cervical chiropractic care is identifying whether you have a misalignment in the upper cervical spine. To do this, our expert chiropractor, Dr. Shamloo, will use a number of scanning tools, including infrared thermography and advanced 3D imaging of the head and neck.
If a misalignment is detected, Dr. Shamloo will employ a series of gentle and precise chiropractic adjustments to realign the affected vertebra. By restoring the upper cervical spine to its natural alignment, we hope to remove a major source of musculoskeletal imbalances and reduce harmful inflammation around the CNS and brainstem.
If you are tired of living with migraines, call Upper Spine Knoxville to schedule an appointment. Dr. Shamloo provides treatment to patients in Knoxville, Alcoa, Maryville, Farragut, Clinton, Oak Ridge, Sevierville, Lenoir City, Karns, Hardin Valley, Powell, Halls and Fountain City in Tennessee, as well as the surrounding areas.
