Chronic Migraine Headaches Helped with Chiropractic - A Case Study

2013-08-14Return to Health & Wellness Article Library

 

A study published in the Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research on July 22, 2013, documents the case of a 75-year-old woman suffering from migraines who was helped with chiropractic care. The Journal study reports that, "Migraine headaches are common and disabling, with an estimated 35 million US citizens experiencing a migraine in 2005."

A review of medical sources on migraines shows that the medical profession does not have an understanding as to the cause of migraines, and their only treatment is medication in an attempt to alleviate the pain.

However, the authors of this study suggest that, "Many investigations suggest that chiropractic care may be of benefit to patients suffering with headaches including migraines."

In this case, a 75-year-old woman presented herself to the chiropractor with migraines. She had been diagnosed with migraines as a teenager and suffered with them ever since. She had never been to a chiropractor prior to this time as reported in this case study. The woman reported that her migraine headaches were rated about an 8 out of 10, with 10 being the worst. She had taken numerous pain killers and anti-inflammatories in an attempt to help the problem.

The chiropractic examination and analysis including x-rays led to the conclusion that there was a subluxation at the upper neck known as the atlas. Based on this information, a specific form of upper neck adjustments was initiated to correct the subluxation in the upper cervical area of the neck.

The case study notes that after 10 weeks of care, the patient's migraines reduced from an 8 out of 10, to a 3 out of 10. The improvement was verified by examination procedures as well as by her medical physician. The study authors reported, "Upon re-evaluation with the patient’s medical doctor, the patient stated an improvement in the overall frequency and duration of migraines, as well as a reduction of her medications, but the exact dosages was not given."

Chiropractic Care Helps Boy With Migraine-Type Headaches - A Case Report

2010-02-14Return to Health & Wellness Article Library

 

A case report was published in the January 2010 issue of the scientific publication, "Explore, the Journal of Science and Healing", documenting the case of an 11 year old boy who was suffering from migraines and was helped with chiropractic care.

In this case an 11 year old boy was brought to a chiropractor after having suffered with headaches for the previous four years. The boy was diagnosed by their family physician with "migraine-type headaches" three years prior to the chiropractic visit. He was prescribed medications which provided only minor and temporary relief. According to the boy's mother her son experienced at least one severe headache every seven weeks and two to three mild to moderate headaches on a monthly basis.

In his description of the pain, the young boy described his pain as throbbing, but he was unable to point to any one spot. His headache attacks would last from a couple of hours to 5 hours in duration, and were sometimes accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

A chiropractic examination revealed that several areas of the boy's neck were very sensitive to the touch causing him to pull back as the chiropractor was examining these areas. Care was initiated using specific adjusting procedures for his spinal findings with the sensitivity to his neck being considered.

After a four week period it was noted that the boy experienced only one "mild" headache attack during this initial period of care. At a follow up visit nine months later the boy reported that he had only experienced "couple of mild headaches but no migraine-type headaches." Six months after that visit the report noted that the boy was symptom free. At the mother's request the boy continued periodic chiropractic visits for preventative purposes.

Resolution of Chronic Cervicogenic Headaches with Chiropractic

2015-01-15Return to Health & Wellness Article Library

 

In the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health is a study published on December 12, 2014, describing the case of a boy who was suffering with chronic headaches being helped by chiropractic care. The authors begin by clarifying that in order for headaches to be classified as chronic they must occur for a duration of more than 15 days per month, and for 3 months or greater than 180 days in a year. They note that approximately 3 to 4% of the general population suffer from chronic headaches.

In this case, a 6-year-old boy was brought by his mother to the chiropractor for consultation and possible care for the boy's chronic headaches. According to his mother, the boy went to the MD two years prior complaining of headaches that were occurring either daily or every other day. The MD told the boy's mother to give him ibuprofen for his headaches. This was ineffective and subsequently the boy was sent to a Children’s Hospital for further medical work-up.

MRIs and computer tomography were performed on the boy but failed to show any medical reason for the child’s chronic headaches. The boy was also seen by a concussion specialist and a neurologist without any help. The patient and his mother returned to his pediatrician who made the suggestion of chiropractic care.

A chiropractic examination was performed and revealed areas of spinal irregularity on palpation. X-rays also confirmed malpositioning in the boy's neck. From the examination, it was determined that the boy had subluxations in his cervical spine. Chiropractic care was begun with the boy being seen two times per week.

On the third visit to the chiropractor, the boy reported that he had not had any headaches since his prior visit. On the fourth visit, he did report having another headache. However, from the fifth visit forward, the boy did not suffer any additional headaches.

Migraine Headaches Helped with Chiropractic

2013-03-13Return to Health & Wellness Article Library

 

A case study published in the Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research on January 24, 2013 documents chiropractic helping a patient with migraine headaches. The study authors note that "Among children between the ages of 5-15 years, the prevalence of migraine headaches are at 10.6% while among those 15-19 years of age, it is as high as 28%."

According to the Headache Classification Subcommittee of the International Headache Society, Migraine headaches usually are one sided affecting one half of the head and pulsating in nature, lasting from 2 to 72 hours. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, photophobia (increased sensitivity to light), phonophobia (increased sensitivity to sound) and the pain is generally aggravated by physical activity. Up to one-third of people with migraine headaches perceive an aura: a transient visual, sensory, language, or motor disturbance which signals that the headache will soon occur.

In this case a 16 year old girl went to the chiropractor, with the consent of her parents, suffering from migraine headaches without aura. Her history revealed that she had been suffering migraines since kindergarten, and with headaches for as long as she could remember. She described her headaches as a throbbing pain located in the frontal area, with these attacks occurring at a rate of 1-2 per week, and lasting approximately 2-3 hours per episode, occurring primarily at night. Since puberty her headaches seemed to have gotten worse. Over the years she had been prescribed approximately 15 different medications for her headaches.

A chiropractic examination and x-rays were performed. The examination showed postural abnormalities with the girl's head being tilted to one side, and the range of motion of her neck was restricted. Additional abnormal alignment findings were also noted from her examination. The specific x-rays taken showed spinal vertebrae in the upper neck being malpositioned, which were determined to be subluxations in her neck.

A specific plan of correction for the subluxations was begun. The study authors noted that the results were immediate. They recorded, "On the day following the patient's first visit, the patient reported noticing 'some' improvement in the intensity of her HA complaint. On her second visit and 5 days since her initial visit, the patient indicated no subjective complaints of headache that day."

Chiropractic checkups occurred regularly over a 5 year period to monitor the girls progress. The authors noted that, "According to the patient, her HA intensity being bearable without the need for medication and her headache attacks abated to approximately 2-4 migraines per month."

Pediatric Headaches and Neck Pain Resolved with Chiropractic Care

2016-01-11Return to Health & Wellness Article Library

 

Published on January 7, 2016, in the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, is a documented case of an 8-year-old girl suffering from chronic headaches being helped by chiropractic. The study reports that between one-third and one-half of school age children from 8 through 15 reported experiencing headaches.

Recurring headaches in children can have a profound effect on their school, their activity, and their interactions with family and friends. Most of the drugs used to treat children's headaches were never approved for usage in children. Several studies show that between 29% to 41% of children with headaches used alternative, non-medical forms of care including chiropractic.

This study documented the case of an 8-year-old girl who was suffering with neck pains and headaches. The problems seemed to have started 8 months earlier with the neck pain getting progressively worse while the headaches remained constant. The medical recommendation for this child was to take Tylenol, which provided only minor temporary relief. Her history included an incident where, as an infant, she had fallen off of a counter onto the floor.

A chiropractic examination showed that the girl carried her head in a forward position rather than a normal upright posture. The girl's range of motion in her neck was decreased, and there were several areas of trigger points noticed in her upper back and neck. The conclusion of the examination was that subluxations were present.

Chiropractic care was given to address the subluxations. The results of the care were positive for the young girl. After four visits, the study showed that the girl no longer suffered from her neck pain or her headaches.

In the conclusion of this study, the authors wrote, "This case report described the successful care of a child with cervicogenic headaches. This case report provides supporting evidence on the effectiveness of chiropractic care in children suffering from neck pain and cervicogenic headaches."

Daily Headaches Gone Under Chiropractic Care

2015-06-15Return to Health & Wellness Article Library

 

From the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health comes a study published on May 25, 2015, documenting the case of a young boy with daily headaches being helped by chiropractic. The study begins by noting that between 10-20% of school age children suffer with headaches. This number increases to 27-32% at the age of 13-14 years for a headache within a given month.

The authors report that chronic daily headaches affect 2-4% of adolescent females and 0.8-2% of adolescent males. A diagnosis of chronic daily headaches is made when headaches occur more than 4 hours per day, 15 headache days per month or more, over a period of 3 consecutive months, without an underlying (medical) pathology.

In this case, a 13-year-old boy was brought to the chiropractor by his parents for a consultation and possible care. It was reported that the boy was suffering from headaches every day for several years. There was no history of trauma or any physical injury prior to the onset of the boy's headaches. The boy's mother did report her son's headaches to his MD, who said that they were probably sinus related. However, he did not recommend any treatment or further tests.

A chiropractic examination of the boy was conducted which included a postural inspection, palpation, and range of motion. Based on the examination findings, it was determined that the boy had multiple vertebral subluxations and chiropractic care was initiated.

The boy was initially seen two times per week for the first two weeks. Care was reduced thereafter as improvement was seen. The study reports that the boy's response was immediate as his headaches stopped as soon as chiropractic care was started. This improvement made an immediate and profound impact on the boy's quality of life and ability to function.

In their conclusion, the authors wrote, "This case report provides supporting evidence on the effectiveness of chiropractic adjustments characterized as high-velocity, low amplitude thrust to sites of vertebral subluxations. We encourage further research on the use of this type of care in children suffering from CH, (chronic headaches)."

Headaches and Chiropractic

2013-08-14Return to Health & Wellness Article Library

 

The title above is from a release by the American Chiropractic Association on August 2, 2013, that appeared in several news outlets including the American News. The release, and several associated news articles discuss how chiropractic helps people who suffer from headaches.

The ACA release begins by noting, "If you have a headache, you're not alone. Nine out of ten Americans suffer from headaches. Some are occasional, some frequent, some are dull and throbbing, and some cause debilitating pain and nausea."

Another article about chiropractic and headaches in the Merritt Herald from Canada on July 24, 2013, starts by stating, "Did you know that one of the most common forms of headache is actually caused by problems in the neck?"

The ACA release reported on research of how chiropractic helps headaches by noting, "A report released in 2001 by researchers at the Duke University Evidence-Based Practice Center in Durham, N.C., found that spinal manipulation (adjustments) resulted in almost immediate improvement for those headaches that originate in the neck, and had significantly fewer side effects and longer-lasting relief of tension-type headache than a commonly prescribed medication."

Using chiropractic care for headaches is not a common medical procedure. This fact was illustrated in the Merritt Herald article, "Unfortunately, the medical understanding of headaches often does not take into account the chiropractic model, which remains foreign to many within the medical profession."

The Merritt Herald article also reported that this information is not new, noting that, "In 1995, a team of MDs at Syracuse University established neck problems as the cause of many headaches with scientific, anatomical proof." The researchers were headed up by Dr. Rothbart, a medical doctor.

In an interview after the research, Dr. Rothbart stated, "Some brilliant people have put their hearts, souls and minds to this (headache) problem and haven't come up with anything. All we've been able to do is treat people with an array of medicines, one after the other, and hope the side effects won't be too bad. We couldn’t believe it at first. We've been able to put together a scientific explanation for how neck structure causes headaches — not all headaches, but a significant number of them. It's true that chiropractors have been saying this for years. Unfortunately, many (medical) doctors tend to have a jaundiced view of chiropractors, but they were right about headaches."