Migraine Treatment: Arlington Heights, IL Chiropractor’s Perspective
Migraines are a severe neurological type of headache that affects millions of people each year. Many individuals assume migraines are simply a stronger version of a headache, but migraines involve a complex combination of nerve irritation, vascular changes, and neurological symptoms. Because of this, many people seek migraine treatment when attacks begin interfering with daily life.
Understanding Migraines: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Migraines are typically described as a severe throbbing sensation that occurs on one side of the head. Attacks are often accompanied by one or more disabling symptoms, including visual disturbances, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and extreme sensitivity to sound, light, touch, and smell.
Approximately 25% of migraine sufferers experience visual disturbances known as an aura prior to or during a migraine attack. Symptoms typically last between 4–72 hours.
There are many different causes of migraines. One of the most common causes that we focus on in our office includes both physical stress on the neck and mental stress.
One common trigger we evaluate in our office is mechanical stress on the cervical spine. Poor posture, prolonged screen use, and repetitive neck movements can place strain on the joints of the neck. Over time this stress may irritate the nerves that communicate with the head and contribute to migraine attacks.
Mental stress, including fear, worry, and anxiety, can also create tightness in the muscles that attach to the bones of the neck. This tension may place pressure on the nerves traveling into the head and trigger migraine attacks.
Finding the reason behind migraines is our main focus here at Sleigh Family Chiropractic. While we focus primarily on the mechanical and physical triggers within the spine and nervous system, we also discuss lifestyle changes, including diet, hydration, exercise routines, and sleep habits, that may contribute to migraine symptoms.
Signs and Symptoms of Migraines
Migraines often involve more severe symptoms than standard headaches. While headaches can include many different types of head pain, migraines are considered a neurological subtype with additional symptoms such as nausea, aura, and sensory sensitivity. If you are unsure whether you are experiencing migraines or another type of headache, our headache treatment page explains the different conditions in more detail.
Common migraine symptoms may include:
- severe throbbing pain on one side of the head
- nausea or vomiting
- dizziness or fatigue
- sensitivity to light, sound, or smell
- tingling or numbness in the face or extremities
- visual disturbances such as flashing lights or blind spots
Migraine attacks can last anywhere from several hours to multiple days. If migraines occur regularly, it may indicate an underlying issue within the spine or nervous system that could benefit from chiropractic care for migraines.
Common Triggers of Migraines in Arlington Heights, IL
Stress
Stress is one of the most common migraine triggers, affecting nearly 70% of people who experience migraines. Stress often causes muscle tension in the neck, which may lead to spinal misalignments that place pressure on the nerves traveling into the head. Managing stress through chiropractic care, exercise, meditation, or relaxation techniques may help reduce migraine episodes. Stress can contribute to both migraines and other forms of chronic headaches. If your symptoms are more related to muscle tension or posture strain, you may benefit from chiropractic care for headaches as well.
Changes in Sleep Schedule
Sleep plays an important role in brain and nervous system health. When the body becomes sleep deprived, it may increase the likelihood of migraine attacks. Maintaining a consistent sleep routine and using proper pillow support for the neck can help reduce stress on the spine.
We recommend choosing a pillow that supports the neck but does not press your chin to your chest. Chiropractic adjustments are a great form of treatment in improving your sleep quality, which can reduce the chance of developing migraines.
Hormonal Changes
Women are three times more likely to experience migraines due to hormonal fluctuations. Many women notice migraines during or before their menstrual cycle due to changes in estrogen levels. Focusing on eating healthy foods, engaging in daily exercise, and getting adjusted regularly can help with hormonal imbalances.
Changes in the Weather
When the weather changes drastically or from season to season, there tends to be a change in atmospheric pressure. This change in pressure can cause many to experience migraines. Allergies and sinus pressure are also common when the seasons change, which can also trigger migraines. It is important to remember to drink plenty of water throughout the entire year to ensure proper hydration as the weather changes from cold and brisk to hot and humid. This will hopefully prevent migraines from occurring.
Diet and Dehydration
Diet and water consumption have a huge impact on the development of migraines. One-third of people experience migraines due to dehydration. Water is vital for optimal health and healing. Signs of dehydration can include dizziness, lightheadedness, and confusion. It is important to drink plenty of water throughout the entire year to ensure proper hydration, especially as the weather changes from cold and brisk to hot and humid. In general, we recommend drinking half of your body weight in ounces of water per day. (If you weigh 100 pounds, you should drink 50 ounces of water per day.)
Foods are also a common trigger for many who experience migraines. We recommend keeping a food diary to help indicate which foods are your triggers. Foods typically associated with the onset of migraines include those containing histamine and/or MSG, chocolate, cheese, artificial sweeteners, caffeine, cured meats, and foods that are very pungent.
Light and Smell
Sensitivity to lights (bright lights, fluorescent lights, flickering lights) and smells is another trigger of migraines in many people. We often hear complaints of migraines in those who tend to work long hours at a computer. Wearing blue light glasses and taking breaks from the computer can help reduce the onset of migraines.
Migraine Treatment in Arlington Heights, IL: Our Chiropractic Approach
The chiropractors at Sleigh Family Chiropractic focus on identifying the underlying causes of migraines by evaluating spinal alignment and nervous system function. Our chiropractic migraine treatment approach is designed to reduce pressure on the nerves, improve spinal mobility, and help patients experience long-term migraine relief.
We begin with a comprehensive evaluation of spinal alignment, posture, and nerve function to determine the underlying cause of migraine symptoms. Your doctor listens carefully to your history and performs a detailed exam including spinal palpation, posture analysis, orthopedic testing, neurological scans, and digital X-rays when necessary.
When necessary, digital X-rays help identify structural problems such as cervical spine misalignment, joint dysfunction, or disc stress that may contribute to migraines. X-rays allow us to understand the structure of your spine and determine the safest and most effective locations for chiropractic adjustments.
A subluxation occurs when a spinal joint becomes misaligned or restricted, placing stress on the nervous system. Because nerves in the neck connect directly to the head, this dysfunction can contribute to migraines. Chiropractic adjustments restore joint motion, reduce nerve pressure, and support proper nervous system function.
We provide guidance on posture correction, movement strategies, and therapeutic exercises to support spinal health and reduce tension in the neck and upper back. Strengthening supportive muscles and improving posture helps maintain proper spinal alignment and may reduce the likelihood of future migraine episodes.
How We Treat Migraines In Arlington Heights, IL
Comprehensive Consultation and Exam
Before performing any sort of examination or migraine treatment, you will first sit down with a doctor who will really listen to what you have been experiencing. We want to make sure that we know exactly what is causing your pain before recommending an evaluation or treatment.
Once we have a better idea of what has been going on, we will perform a very thorough examination including palpation of the spine, posture analysis, orthopedic tests, computerized neurological scans, and digital X-rays (if needed).
The goal at the end of the evaluation is to determine if dysfunction in the spine and nervous system are the root cause of your migraine headaches. From there we can determine the best course of chiropractic treatment for migraines (including referral if we determine that chiropractic care is not the best approach for your migraines).
Specific Chiropractic Care / Arlington Heights, IL
In chiropractic care, restricted spinal joints are often referred to as subluxations. These areas of reduced motion can place stress on surrounding nerves and tissues. When this occurs in the neck, it may contribute to nerve irritation that triggers migraine symptoms. When this happens, it puts stress and pressure on the nervous system, preventing the nerves from functioning how they should.
The nerves in the neck are directly related to migraine headaches, which is why spinal misalignment can contribute to recurring migraines.
Chiropractic adjustments for migraines are very specific movements that are performed on areas of the spine where subluxations are present. This removes pressure on the nervous system, allowing your nerves to function optimally. If your migraines are caused by a subluxation, they won’t get better until that is addressed.
Custom Therapeutic Exercise Plan
When joints of the spine are misaligned or not functioning how they should, they can create muscle weakness, tightness, and/or imbalance. Muscle weakness can come from poor posture which typically results in the head shifting forward.
Postural imbalance in the neck and upper back can also contribute to migraine symptoms. When certain muscles become tight while others weaken, it creates additional strain on the cervical spine. Corrective exercises help restore balance to these muscle groups and support long-term migraine management.
For this reason, you will receive a customized therapy plan that is to be done at home to support proper healing and long-term migraine relief.
Nutritional Supplementation
In addition to receiving chiropractic care for migraines, we often discuss lifestyle factors that may be contributing to your migraine symptoms.
Many times migraines can be triggered by the foods we eat. We highly recommend keeping track of the foods you consume and whether a migraine attack is triggered.
We may also recommend nutritional supplementation when appropriate to support the healing process and help reduce migraine triggers.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can going to a chiropractor help with migraines?
Chiropractic care is great for patients with migraines. We know that the spinal nerves in the neck go to the head. When the joints of the neck are unable to move and function how they should, it can create stress and inflammation in these nerves which can lead to migraines. Chiropractic adjustments focus on restoring motion in the spinal joints to take pressure off the nerves so your body can function as it should. Allowing the nervous system to function optimally can help resolve your migraines.
2. Can your neck being out of alignment cause migraines?
Neck alignment can absolutely cause migraines. When the bones of the upper neck are out of alignment or not able to function and move properly, it creates pressure on the nerves that travel up into the head, leading to migraines. Chiropractic adjustments remove those misalignments and restore motion into the joints, taking pressure off of the nerves, reducing, and resolving migraines.
3. What is the most effective treatment for migraines?
We believe chiropractic care is the most effective treatment for migraines. The reason for this is that many times migraines arise from imbalance, misalignment, and /or restriction within the spine. Many medical professionals prescribe medications to help with migraines as the first form of treatment, but this is not actually resolving the underlying cause. Medications work to cover up the symptoms of the migraine, not correct the cause. Although medication may be needed in some cases, we believe that it is better to start with the most natural, least invasive option first. Chiropractic care gets to the root cause of your migraines and resolves the actual problem rather than just focusing on resolving the symptoms. This is why we believe chiropractic should be your first stop when you have a migraine.
4. Does exercise help with migraines?
Exercise can help with migraines. Migraines can arise not just from the bones of the spine being out of alignment or not moving how they should, but they can also arise from muscles in the neck and upper back being too tight. Exercises focusing on releasing the tension in the neck and upper back can be beneficial, especially when performed in addition to getting adjusted.
5 What food to avoid during a migraine?
We recommend keeping a log of what food you eat and if a migraine was triggered to try and rule out which foods to avoid.
Start Your Migraine Treatment in Arlington Heights, IL
If migraines are affecting your daily life, our team at Sleigh Family Chiropractic can help identify the underlying cause. Through personalized chiropractic care, we work to reduce nerve irritation, improve spinal function, and help you experience lasting migraine relief.