The complex of migraine symptoms can have shattering health, career, and personal consequences. Chiropractic offers real help for chronic migraine headache sufferers.
15 million Americans spend $300 million annually for pain relievers that give only temporary relief, if any at all. Deadening the pain is - at best - a very temporary measure. It is the cause of the headache that should be considered.
The result of using pain relievers is to cover up potentially important symptoms. To make matters worse, since the cause of the headache is not addressed, it returns later, and is usually treated again with more pain relievers.
The greatest danger of headaches is: it may happen so often that we tend to ignore it. It's important to remember that a headache is not a disease, but a symptom. A severe headache, migraine or not, is Nature's way of telling you: "Something is wrong."
Your headache may be warning you of a serious problem. The cause could be a misalignment of one of the bones of the spine that is pinching the affected nerves, which in turn can affect any of your body's systems.
"...My priceless Good Health"
For four or five years I had suffered from severe headaches and neck tension. The debilitating pain would last for up to three days at a time. I would lose vision in one or both eyes - a "blackout" without losing consciousness.
I went to five MD's, seeking for someone to help me get rid of my pain. I also saw two optometrists, who assured me that there was nothing physically wrong with my eyes that would cause the strange loss of vision.
After hearing over and over than my blackouts were "normal," and my headaches were "just due to stress," I had almost given up. Each doctor gave me a new drug, and none of them had helped me an inkling.
Finally, in August of 1986 I began treatment with Dr. Bly. For many years I had seen a chiropractor off and on, but never on a regular basis. When I first began treatment, I was very hopeful, but doubtful. I religiously followed Dr. Bly's recommendations, NEVER missing a treatment.
I immediately felt relief following my treatments, but for about two weeks my headaches were still as painful. Then about three to four weeks into my treatment I noticed that my headaches weren't as painful. I could not only handle the pain, but they didn't last nearly as long. Soon after that my headaches all but disappeared.
Now after about eight months of treatment, very rarely do I have a headache, and the "blackouts" have diminished. In time, I have faith that they will be eliminated. I want to thank Dr. Bly for all he has done for me. I owe him my priceless good health.
Gratefully, Amanda G. |
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Migraine headaches present an especially frightening complex of symptoms that begin with the "pre-headache phenomena." The migraine sufferer soon learns the feelings that signal a headache ordeal is on the way. A fluttery feeling in the stomach, followed by the sensation that lights and colors are brighter than normal is a warning that the pre-headache phenomena is beginning.
The second phase of the pre-headache phenomena is more frightening. The sufferer sees spots before his eyes and a dimming of about half the visual field. The sufferer may fear he is going blind.
Other body symptoms appear, called migraine equivalents, which include pains in the chest, abdomen, and arms and legs. The sufferer may experience vomiting, diarrhea, fever, swelling in various parts of the body, and rapid mood changes.
Finally the sufferer experiences a grinding ordeal of hours or days of intense, pounding pain and occlusion of vision, including darkness and flashing lights. It may begin with pain in one side of the head, spreading over the whole head. It may be intense pain at the temples. The sufferer may be hyper sensitive to light and sound. Social contact and work are both nearly impossible.
Repeated attacks undermines the migraine sufferer's self-confidence. Other people begin to doubt the reliability of the sufferer, with disastrous effects on family life and career. Other health effects follow as tension and isolation weigh on the sufferer.
Chronic migraine attacks, in short, can virtually destroy a person's life.
What causes headaches?
Thousands of x-rays over the years have proven the connection between misalignment between bones in the neck and migraine headaches. This misalignment causes a pinching-traction stretching effect on the nerves and blood vessels that pass through small openings and canals in between the vertebrae.
"What can I do about Headaches?"
See your chiropractor immediately if you have any symptoms of a migraine headache. Chiropractors have been helping migraine sufferers for almost 80 years.
How can my chiropractor help?Through x-rays and a thorough examination, your chiropractor can pinpoint the misalignment of vertebrae and impingement on nerves and blood vessels of the spinal area, and release the pressure through gentle manipulation. Healing then begins and the headaches (along with the hidden problem behind the headaches!) can begin to disappear.
The doctor of Chiropractic deals with the cause of the problem, not just relief of symptoms. He has spent years acquiring a deep knowledge of the nerves and bones of the body. By asking questions, examining your spine, and studying your x-rays, he will be able to pinpoint the source of the problem.
Gentle, necessary spinal adjustments will be made, freeing the nerves to serve all parts of the body as nature intended, and the process of healing can begin.
Very often the cause of headaches involves one or more vertebrae that are misaligned or forced out of their natural position. Gentle adjustments will realign these vertebrae to their correct position and the persistent headaches will go away.
Don't Delay!
Headache Checklist
If you have any of the following
types of headache pain, you should
see your doctor of Chiropractic immediately:
- Recurring Headaches
- Sharp, piercing pain
- Heavy, dull pain involving the entire head
- Pain in the back of the head
- Pain at the top or center of the head
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Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent every year on pain pills, but the headaches remain. Your chiropractor may be able to help you immediately if you visit him as soon as a headache appears. He will be able to trace the problem and - at once - start the necessary corrections to get nature's healing processes working.
If you wait too long, there will inevitably be damage to the pinched nerves and recovery will be delayed. Call right away! There's no reason to put off starting to feel better. |
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