Migraines can be very frustrating to deal with. You think you have a treatment that works, but then you get another migraine. You think you've figured out your triggers, but then you encounter a new one and you get another migraine. Often, the difficulties people experience with migraines have to do with the fact that a lot of common treatments for them deal with the symptoms, and not the root causes. There is an alternative: chiropractic care.

How does a chiropractor treat migraines?

At first, the idea of a chiropractor treating migraines may sound strange. Migraines are super-intense headaches with a range of other symptoms, and chiropractors mostly deal with backs. The key here is that migraines are either caused or made worse by pressure on certain nerves. Those nerves are associated with the spine in the back or the neck. By adjusting the spine, a chiropractor can relieve the pressure on those nerves, which can help prevent and ease migraines.

What will the chiropractor actually do when you're there?

A chiropractic visit for migraine treatment will be similar to a chiropractic visit for any other reason. The chiropractor will feel for places where your spine is out of alignment, and they'll place pressure on those parts of your back in very specific ways in order to realign the spine. You may hear a cracking or popping noise as they adjust you. 

In the case of migraines, many of the adjustments are likely to take place closer to the top of the back and neck, but this is not always the case. There may be times when you need more adjustments further down your back. Misalignments in this region could be affecting your posture, which could be causing you to sit with your neck at an odd angle, which could lead to migraines.

How soon will you get relief?

Many patients notice a reduction in the severity and frequency of their migraines after just one chiropractic visit. However, you will need to keep up with follow-up appointments for continued relief. Usual lifestyles tend to put strain and tension on the back, causing the spine to move and put pressure on the nerves again. A chiropractor will adjust for and correct this.

If you struggle with migraines and are frustrated with treatments that don't seem to be going anywhere, maybe it's time to give something different a try. Seeing the chiropractor can feel like a fresh start.

To learn more, contact a chiropractic treatment center in your area.