Migraines

Approximately 90% of people have had a headache at some point in their lives.  However, only 12% of those headaches are actually migraines.  Many people consider a severe headache a migraine, but that is not always true.  Migraines have very specific symptoms which aid in their diagnosis.  There are also several different types of migraines, but the two most prevalent are the classic migraine and the common migraine.  Throughout this article, we will discuss the particular symptoms associated with migraines, the difference between the two main types, the different phases of a migraine, potential triggers and how chiropractic care can help relieve migraines.

Migraines are typically classified as being unilateral (affecting one side of the head), described as pulsating and last from 2 to 72 hours.  If having a migraine, you may also experience nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light and/or sound.  A migraine will generally worsen with activity, unlike other common headaches.  Most who suffer from migraine headaches will find a dark, quiet room to lie down and rest or sleep until the headache passes. 

There are typically four stages of a migraine: prodrome, aura, pain, and postdrome.  The prodrome phase can occur hours or days before the onset of the headache and is present in about 60% of migraines.  Prodromal symptoms can include mood changes, irritability, depression or euphoria, fatigue, muscle stiffness, and food cravings.  The aura, only experienced with a classic migraine, immediately precedes the headache and appears gradually over several minutes and lasts less than an hour.  99% of all auras manifest as visual disturbances such as blurring, black and white zigzagging lines and spots.  The pain phase comes on gradually and is moderate to severe in intensity.  About 60% of the time, the headache is felt on one side of the head, but when the pain is felt bilaterally (both sides), neck pain usually accompanies it.  Bilateral migraines usually occur in those without aura, or common migraines.  Some effects of the migraine may last for days after the headache pain has subsided; this is called the postdrome.  These effects may include lingering soreness on the side of the head the migraine occurred or even impaired thinking, digestive issues, mood changes, and weakness. 

Anecdotally, migraines tend to be brought on when exposed to certain stimuli.  These stimuli are called triggers.  There is no solid evidence to support specific triggers because each person may be triggered by something different.  Common triggers can include stress, hunger, fatigue, certain foods, and environment.  Many report chocolate, alcohol, strong perfumes, bright lights and weather changes as being triggers. 

Based on the criteria given by the International Headache Society, the diagnosis of migraine without aura or “common migraine”, is made using the “5, 4, 3, 2, 1 criteria.” 

• 5 or more attacks (2 attacks for migraine with aura, or “classic migraine”)
• 4 hours to 3 days in duration
• 2 or more of the following:
  Unilateral (one side)
  Pulsating quality
  Moderate to severe in intensity
  Aggravated by physical activity
• 1 or more of the following
  Nausea and/or vomiting
  Sensitivity to both light and sound

Most people who suffer from migraines or other severe headaches will go see a medical doctor for relief because that is the “norm.”  A majority of those medical doctors will prescribe medications or herbal supplements to help relieve symptoms, but those medications can have some pretty significant side effects.  According to a page on the University of Maryland Medical Center website, “Several clinical trials indicate that spinal manipulation therapy may help treat migraine headaches. In one study of people with migraines, 22% of those who received chiropractic manipulation reported more than a 90% reduction of attacks. Also, 49% reported a significant reduction of the intensity of each migraine.


In another study, people with migraine headaches were randomly assigned to receive spinal manipulation, a daily medication (Elavil), or a combination of both.  Spinal manipulation worked as well as Elavil in reducing migraines and had fewer side effects.  Combining the 2 therapies didn't work any better.

In addition, researchers reviewed 9 studies that tested chiropractic for tension or migraine headaches and found that it worked as well as medications in preventing these headaches.”
(https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/condition/migraine-headache)


The chiropractors here at Pro Chiropractic are all well trained in several different soft tissue techniques to help alleviate muscle tension in the neck and upper back that can be contributing to the frequency and intensity of migraine headaches.

 

 

If you or someone you know in the Gallatin Valley area is suffering from migraines or other headaches, please call Dr. Shea Stark with Pro Chiropractic at 406-388-9915 to schedule an appointment in our Belgrade, Manhattan, or Bozeman office.  Dr. Stark is a board certified chiropractor and the author of this blog post.  To learn more about Dr. Stark and the many benefits of chiropractic care, please visit our website: www.prochiromt.com.

Back-Pack Safety

With a new school year starting soon, I thought it was important to spread the word on backpack safety.  These days, children come home with backpacks full of gargantuan textbooks and binders overflowing with assignments and homework; which is great from an academic standpoint, but detrimental from a physical health point of view.  In this blog post, you will learn how to properly wear a backpack, how to properly pack a backpack and the potential safety risks associated with incorrectly wearing a backpack.

It may be a struggle to get your kids to wear their backpack on both shoulders, especially if they are in high school; but in order to maintain proper posture and avoid injuries, it is imperative that children of all ages utilize both shoulder straps.  Also, when purchasing a backpack, make sure that the shoulder straps are padded and adjustable.  The extra padding helps take pressure off the shoulders with heavier weight and the straps should be adjusted so the back of the backpack sits right up against your child’s back and the bottom of the backpack sits no lower than 4 inches from the waist to avoid hyperextension of the lumbar spine (low back).  If the backpack has a chest and/or hip strap, encourage your child to use them.  Use of these additional straps helps distribute the weight of the backpack more evenly and promote better posture.

When packing a backpack, always put the heavier items, like textbooks and large binders, in the back and lighter items, like spiral notebooks and folders, in the front.  Doing this allows the heavier weight to be closer to your child’s body limiting the change in center of gravity.  Be sure to utilize the pockets of the backpack to further distribute the weight of the load.  The total weight of the backpack should not exceed 10% of your child’s body weight.  Another important thing to remember…keep all sharp items, such as scissors, away from the body! 

Believe it or not, an improperly worn or overweight backpack can injure your child.  Carrying a backpack with one strap instead of two can cause potentially serious posture changes which can lead to chronic back pain into adulthood.  Wearing the backpack too low on the back can cause hyperextension of the lumbar spine which can lead to spine and joint degeneration in the low back region.  “According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2013 nearly 22,000 strains, sprains, dislocations and fractures from backpacks were treated in hospital emergency rooms, physicians’ offices and clinics.” (www.aota.org) 

Here are a few warning signs that indicate your child’s backpack is too heavy:

·        Pain when wearing the backpack

·        Tingling or numbness in the arms or legs

·        Difficulty when putting on or taking off the backpack

·        Red strap marks over the front of the shoulders

·        Any change in side to side posture while wearing the backpack

If your child complains of back, neck, or shoulder pain, especially associated with wearing their backpack, it is imperative to have them evaluated by a chiropractor as soon as possible to prevent any long term effects such as spine/joint degeneration and chronic pain.

 If you or someone you know in the Gallatin Valley area is looking for a chiropractor, please call Dr. Shea Stark with Pro Chiropractic at (406)388-9915 to schedule an appointment in our Belgrade, Manhattan, or Bozeman chiropractic clinics. Dr. Stark is a board certified chiropractor and the author of this blog post. To learn more about Dr. Stark and the many benefits of chiropractic care, please visit our website: www.prochiromt.com.

Habits That Are Hurting Your Back - Part 2

6. Sleeping on an old mattress.

Sleeping on an old, worn out mattress causes your spine to sag.  When you spend up to 1/3 of the day sleeping, the integrity of your mattress makes a huge difference in the health of your spine.  A sagging mattress can cause the ligaments and small muscles that support your spine to slowly stretch over time creating misalignments in the spine.  The changes in supporting musculature can cause other larger muscles to overcompensate causing trigger points, muscles spasms and increased muscle tone.  It is recommended to replace your mattress every 5-7 years, especially if you suffer from back pain.

7. Wearing high heels.

Wearing high heels significantly alters your posture.  Positioning your heels unnaturally above your toes tilts your pelvis forward and hyper-extends your lumbar spine.  The altered posture puts pressure on the lumbar spine and low back muscles causing pain.  

8. Letting stress build up.

Stress and anger take a physical toll on your body by causing muscle tension in the low back.  Also, when you get stressed, your body releases a hormone from the adrenal glands called “cortisol” which helps to regulate blood sugar.  When too much cortisol is released, the adrenal glands become fatigued.  One of the symptoms of adrenal fatigue is low back pain!  Always take time to de-stress when you feel it starting to build up.  Your back will thank you!

9. Watching too much TV.

Statistics show that watching 15 or more hours of TV per week results in a 3% increase in low back pain; especially when you sit on an over sized sofa or a broken-in Lazy Boy.  Sitting in furniture that is not supportive is similar to sleeping on an old, worn out mattress.  The same slow stretching of the supporting ligaments of the spine can occur, causing low back pain.  Love TV?  Here’s how you can help combat the problem…get up and walk around or stretch during those dreaded commercials.

10. Ignoring back pain.

If you have low back pain, DON’T ignore it!  In most cases, the pain will continue to get progressively worse and can start to interfere with your work, social life and other daily activities.  There are so many different causes of low back pain that it is important to get evaluated and properly treated to prevent further injury.  Chiropractors are experts in treating back and neck pain. 

If you or someone you know in the Gallatin Valley area is looking for a chiropractor, please call Dr. Shea Stark with Pro Chiropractic at 406-388-9915 to schedule an appointment in our Belgrade, Manhattan, or Bozeman chiropractic clinics. Dr. Stark is a board certified chiropractor and the author of this blog post. To learn more about Dr. Stark and the many benefits of chiropractic care, please visit our website: www.prochiromt.com.

Habits That Are Hurting Your Back - Part 1

1.  Sitting For Too Long

Sitting puts 40% more pressure on your spine than standing.  When you’re sitting down, your posture changes…especially because most people who sit for long periods of time are either sitting behind a desk at work or on a couch at home.  When you sit at a desk, in front of a computer, your shoulders round forward and your head juts forward.  That forward head translation and hunched shoulders puts pressure on the muscles in your upper back and neck causing tightness, stiffness and trigger points to form.  Make sure to get up and move or stretch every half hour or so.

2.  Skipping Exercise

On average, 40% of people halt exercise when they have back pain.  Believe it or not, skipping exercise when you have back pain can prolong your pain.  I’m not saying to go into the gym and lift heavy free weights or jump on a treadmill and run 5 miles, but activities like walking, stretching and yoga help to speed up healing.

3.  Eating an Unhealthy Diet

Eating an unhealthy diet adds excess pounds, especially around your midsection.  That excess weight changes your center of gravity, thus changing your posture.  That posture change causes your back muscles to compensate in different ways to support your spine which causes pain.  An unhealthy diet can also cause high cholesterol which can clog your arteries over time.  Clogged arteries are a major culprit of back pain.

4.  Having Your Car Seat In A Bad Position

When you get into your car, do you feel like you have to stretch to reach the steering wheel or pedals?  If so, your seat is probably positioned too far back.  Your seat should be close enough to the steering wheel and pedals that you don’t have to reach for them.  Reaching alters your posture which can cause back pain.  Also, make sure that your car seat back is angled at 90 degrees so that you are sitting upright and the head rest is flush with the back of your head for added support.

5.  Overloading a Purse or Briefcase

Carrying heavy bags, such as a purse or a briefcase, causes an imbalance in your shoulders which negatively affects your posture.  The maximum recommended weight of a purse or briefcase should be about 10% of your body weight.  Always be sure to switch the side your carry your bag on to help even out the musculature in your back and shoulders.

If you or someone you know in the Gallatin Valley area is looking for a chiropractor, please call Dr. Shea Stark with Pro Chiropractic at 406-388-9915 to schedule an appointment in our Belgrade, Manhattan, or Bozeman Chiropractic clinics. Dr. Stark is a board certified chiropractor and the author of this blog post. To learn more about Dr. Stark and the many benefits of chiropractic care, please visit our website: www.prochiromt.com.