Headache Treatment With Upper Cervical Care in Mount Dora, FL

Symptoms vs. Root Cause

The mainstream approach to migraines is heavily focused on symptoms and triggers and not often traced to its root causes. Migraines are categorized a across a wide spectrum including:

• With or Without Aura
• Chronic or Episodic
• With or Without Headache
• and other differentiators

Your specific migraine diagnosis is based on a number of factors. However, there are some common symptoms across the entire migraine spectrum including:

• Throbbing, pulsating pain
• Light sensitivity
• Sound sensitivity
• Nausea
• Pain on one side
• Vision changes, blurred vision

Beyond these common symptoms, the different categories of migraines have other related symptoms. The symptoms of migraines can be debilitating. Unfortunately, the vast majority of migraine treatments focus on reducing or minimizing the symptoms with pharmaceutical interventions and rather than correcting the physiological conditions that may potentially lead to migraines. This type of symptomatic approach can provide relief and sometimes prevent migraines from becoming debilitating, but it still leaves the physiological root cause untouched.

Regardless of the type Or name of migraine you experience, the most important thing to understand is why your migraine exists. This is where upper cervical care comes in.

Triggers vs. Root Cause

It is important to clearly distinguish the difference between root causes and triggers. These are often listed together, but there are distinct characteristics of each of them. Triggers are environmental factors or changes that cause migraines to start or worsen. Some common triggers include:

• Hormone changes
• Sleep pattern changes
• Weather changes
• Physical strain
• Emotional stress
• Caffeine
• Bright lights
• Alcohol
• Specific food triggers
• and others

Unlike the triggers, the underlying root cause or causes are always present, and just aggravated by certain triggers to cause the symptoms of migraine. Upper cervical chiropractors are focused on correcting root causes associated with migraines.

Root Causes of Migraines

Migraines are a associated with a number of root causes in the brain and in the brainstem.

The Mayo Clinic states (on their website) that, “Migraines may be caused by changes in the brainstem and its interactions with the trigeminal nerve, a major pain pathway.” The brainstem sits in the lower part of the skull and in the craniocervical junction, which is the joints between the skull and the upper neck vertebrae. A misalignment of the craniocervical junction can create nerve interference in the brainstem, leading to problems with the trigeminal nerve and trigeminal nucleus. This would lead to migraine pain.

The brain is surrounded by a protective fluid called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This CSF flows around the brain and down the spinal cord with a consistent pulsing. Obstruction to the flow of CSF can occur from malformations or misalignments in the craniocervical junction. This obstruction often leads to pressure changes within the skull which can also cause migraine symptoms. The goal of upper cervical care is to restore these brain and brainstem functions to normal, therefore improving or eliminating the migraine at its root.

Correcting the Neck

Upper cervical care has already shown improvements in migraines in some published research. Many upper cervical doctors report significant and consistent clinical improvement in patients who suffered from migraines. Upper cervical chiropractors focus on the alignment of the craniocervical junction. A careful examination is performed to determine if there is nerve interference in the upper neck followed by specific imaging of the upper neck to measure for misalignment. A specific correction of the upper neck is done using one of the upper cervical techniques, which are precise and extremely gentle with no forceful twisting or cracking of the neck. The focus of upper cervical care is to get the upper cervical spine to stay in proper alignment, which can lead to lasting improvements in your migraines if you are a candidate for care.

How We Treat Headaches With Upper Cervical Care in Mount Dora, FL

Common Types of Headaches in Mount Dora, FL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a massage or chiropractic better for headaches?

Both are great but serve different purposes. Massage primarily focuses on the soft tissues (muscles, fascia), improving circulation, and reducing stress, whereas chiropractic focuses on the neuro-structural system (the spinal joints and adjacent nerves). Because a chiropractic adjustment affects the nervous system, it will also directly affect muscle tension and vasculature. Massage is a wonderful compliment to chiropractic care, but not a replacement for it.

When should you see a chiropractor for headaches?

If you have unresolved headaches that haven’t responded to other treatments and have ruled out any underlying medical condition (high blood pressure, vision strain, etc.), getting a proper chiropractic spinal evaluation would be prudent. Also, if you have accompanying neck, upper back, or shoulder pain or muscle tension, these are red flags for spinal/structural issues best addressed by a great chiropractor. If you’ve already been to a “traditional chiropractor” and haven’t found lasting results, you may have an overlooked misalignment in the upper neck—this is where Upper Cervical Specific chiropractic shines. Post-graduate training and special imaging are required to properly analyze and correct this misalignment in the upper neck.

How can I relieve my headaches?

Well, there’s a difference between relief and resolution. For temporary relief, there are always pain meds—but you and I know that’s not a great long-term viable solution. Relief will also largely depend on the type of headache (e.g., tension vs. migraine). Tension headaches may respond to hot/cold packs, rest, increased hydration, and massage. Migraines may have more complicated causes, such as blood-vascular issues or sensitivities to foods or other environmental stimulants. Generally, migraines require a quiet, dark room to lie down and rest. Hot/cold packs and hydration will help as well.

Can getting your neck adjusted by a chiropractor help with headaches?

Certainly, IF the cause of the headaches has a neuro-structural component. (Hint: most do). The best advice is to get a detailed spinal evaluation by your chiropractor to find out if they can help, or at least rule it out and get direction for your next step in finding a solution.

Is chiropractic effective for migraines?

The short answer is a resounding YES! Here at Mount Dora Family Chiropractic, we’ve historically had great success in helping those suffering from headaches and migraines. Whether at our center or elsewhere, we’d strongly encourage you to get an evaluation to see if chiropractic can help.

At Mount Dora Family Chiropractic, we specialize in Upper Cervical Chiropractic care – the upper spinal region where the head and neck join. The top two bones in the neck are scientifically and very precisely analyzed (known as the atlas (C1) and axis (C2) vertebrae). Doctors of Upper Cervical Chiropractic understand that misalignments or subluxations in this part of the spine can interfere with normal nerve pathways, cranial blood, and CSF flow, thus affecting various body systems which may cause or contribute to various health conditions, including migraine headaches.

Upper Cervical Chiropractic care, however, aims at realigning the upper cervical vertebrae to restore proper nerve function and promote overall health. This form of care, along with lifestyle modifications and support, can make a significant difference for those dealing with migraines.