Because your neck supports the weight of your head (an average of 12 pounds) and provides a wide range of motion, it’s especially susceptible to pain and injury. Dr. Jason Leavitt and the skilled health care team at Ultimate Health Medical Clinic diagnoses and treats all types of neck pain at their office in Littleton, Colorado. If you suffer from neck pain, don’t hesitate to call us at (303) 904-0331 or book an appointment online today.
What are the symptoms of a migraine?
A migraine typically causes a severe pulsing sensation on 1 side of your head and is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. Although most migraines progress through 4 stages, you may not always experience each one.
- Prodrome: During this stage, which happens a day or so before a migraine, subtle bodily changes can signal an impending headache. Changes include constipation, mood changes, food cravings, and neck stiffness.
- Aura: This stage may occur before or during a migraine, and often includes visual disturbances, such as seeing bright spots or flashes of light. It may also include a temporary loss of vision, pins and needles sensation in an arm or leg, facial weakness, and difficulty speaking.
- Attack: The migraine itself, which may last anywhere from 4-72 hours, can cause pain on 1 or both sides of your head, blurred vision, lightheadedness, sensitivity to light and sound, and nausea or vomiting.
- Post-drome: In the final, exit phase of a migraine, you may experience weakness, moodiness, dizziness, confusion, and sensitivity to light and sound.
What triggers migraines?
Although it’s not well understood exactly what causes the pain-sensitive structures in your head to react, migraines can be triggered by a variety of factors, including:
- Female hormonal changes
- Certain foods and additives (including aged cheeses and MSG)
- Alcohol (especially red wine)
- Stress and fatigue
- Sensory stimuli (including bright lights or heavy perfume)
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Environmental or seasonal changes
How are migraines treated?
Chiropractic care can be very effective for treating migraines, especially if your headaches can be traced to a spinal misalignment in your neck. Such misalignments can cause you to hold your head in the wrong position, thereby straining the muscles and nerves that are connected to the pain-sensitive structures in your head. Used in conjunction with massage therapy and corrective exercises, spinal adjustments helps provide immediate, long-lasting relief for spine-related migraines.
Testimonials
I’ve struggled with migraines for most of my adult life. The first time I came to Ultimate Health two years ago, Owner and Dr. Jason Leavitt, performed an occipital adjustment that immediately relieved my migraines. Getting adjusted regularly keeps the migraines at bay, but if I miss a few weeks or am dealing with significant levels of stress, the migraines can start creeping in again. In a high state of stress this last month, I was having migraines daily. I’ve been seeing Dr. Leavitt for the occipital adjustment twice a week for the last three weeks and the migraines are completely gone, to the point I can go back to a maintenance schedule. I don’t take medications, and nothing works for my migraines as well as chiropractic adjustments do.
– Katherine H.
