Migraine Headache

Migraine headaches are recurrent and exceptionally painful, but Repair Recover Restore (R3) in White Plains and Port Chester, New York, can help if you get migraines. The primary conventional medicine treatment for migraine headaches is medication. The Repair Recover Restore team uses chiropractic techniques as an effective complementary therapy or alternative to medication. Call the nearest office or request an appointment online today for effective, drug-free migraine relief.

What is a migraine headache?

Migraine headaches are severe, recurring attacks that can cause such intense head pain you can’t function properly. Regularly having migraines reduces your ability to study or work and significantly lowers your quality of life.

Around 37 million people across the United States experience migraine headaches. The problem usually begins before age 40, and women are three times more likely to have migraines. 

Some patients only develop migraine headaches occasionally and may go years between attacks. Others get them frequently — sometimes every week.

What symptoms do migraine headaches cause?

Disabling pain that typically affects one side of your head is the chief migraine symptom, accompanied by one or more of the following:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Pale, clammy skin
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Light sensitivity
• Sound sensitivity
• Temperature sensitivity

Some people have migraines with aura — visual disturbances like blurred vision, flashing lights, blind spots, temporary sight loss, and seeing bright shapes like dots and lines.

Aura can also disrupt other senses, so taste and smell could change, or you might develop ringing in your ears.

Migraine headaches with aura are classic migraines. Those without aura are common migraines.

What causes migraine headaches?

There’s no simple answer to this question, but your genetics and environment could increase your risk of developing migraine headaches.

Research indicates that migraines often coincide with imbalances in certain neurotransmitters (brain chemicals), including calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Other problems that increase your risk of migraine headaches include brainstem changes and trigeminal nerve dysfunction.

Most people experiencing migraines have triggers — something that initiates a migraine. Common triggers include:

• Caffeine
• Aged cheese
• Food additives
• Overtiredness
• Excessive stress
• Hormone changes
• Irregular eating habits
• Weather changes

You can help prevent migraine headaches by recognizing your triggers so you can avoid them where possible.

How does chiropractic treatment help with migraines?

The Repair Recover Restore team begins by checking your medical history and lifestyle, looking for potential causes, and helping you find your migraine triggers. They then design a treatment program to reduce migraine attack frequency and severity.

Your provider might recommend dietary changes and vitamin B supplements. They use relaxation techniques to lower your stress levels and show you how to improve your posture. They may also employ chiropractic techniques and manual therapies to address cervical spine (neck) misalignment.

Call Repair Recover Restore to learn more about managing migraines successfully, or schedule a consultation via the online booking form today.