 |
The treatment of migraines and other head related pain is an emphasis in my chiropractic practice. The somatization of various head traumas can result in subtle fixations or restrictions to normal movement of the cranium and upper cervical spine called articular neurodyskinesias (traditionally referred to as subluxations by the chiropractic community). These articular dyskinesias can be causative to many head pain patterns and must be removed to restore normal cervical and cranial intersegmental movement and nerve function.
migraines
There are several causes of migraines. Many migraine patients have a strong familial history of migraines, some have specific hormonal balance issues that result in migraines which are linked to the menstrual cycle, a small percentage of others are organic in nature, often of a sudden onset and are related to brain tumors or other lesions in the cranium. A significant percentage of migraines are the result of mild to marked head and or neck trauma, are structural in nature and are secondary to articular dyskinesias of the upper cervical spine and cranial sutures (there is a subtle normal movement to the plates of the cranium). Additionally, dietary patterns and various food and drink triggers are common to mirgaineurs.
The approach used at my clinic is to take a detailed history of exactly when your migraines first began and what their progression through your life has been. Followed by a neurological/physical exam relevant to migraines, we also will review the diet history you bring to your first appointment. Should there be a reason to order diagnostic tests such as x rays, MRIs or blood tests this will also be done on your initial visit. If there is a reason to have a more comprehensive neurologic work up you will be referred to a neurologist.
Treatments usually involve a myofascial release of the cervical and cranial muscles and fascia, cervical spinal adjustments and nasal cranial release therapy ( NCRT). Over the 25 years that I have been offering this treatment I have found, as have many of my colleagues, that an initial series of three treatments is the most useful in restoring normal movement to the cranium. Some patients need additional NCRT treatments and most need some additional upper cervical and myofascial treatments to support the healing process. The initial three NCRT treatments are spaced over a 10 day to 6 week period, the timing of which is relevant to the patients response and life scheduling. Additionally, dietary changes are usually an aspect of most patients complete recovery from migraines.
Most of our patients have been suffering from migraines for several years and have some history of head trauma. Head trauma frequently is something. that happens in normal life, like a slip and fall bumping the head, braces on teeth, a fall from a horse, an auto accident, or even bracing or contracting against childhood emotional stress. Most have either tried the pharmaceutical approach and are exhausted by it or simply do not want to take drugs to deal with their pain. Most are female, about 75%, and most stop having migraines be a significant part of their life within 3 months.
Tuchin PJ, Pollard H, Bonello R. A randomized controlled trial of chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy for Migraine. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Feb. 2000: Vol. 23, No. 2, pp91-95. http://www.jmptonline.org/article/S0161-4754%2800%2990073-3/abstract
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19674722
chronic sinus related head/face pain
My experience has been that people who have sinus drainage issues, with resultant head pain and sinus infections, frequently benefit from the NCRT treatments coupled with sinus pressure point therapy and cervical adjustments. Freely open sinuses have proper air flow and do not usually contribute to head and face pain. There are other medical treatments available by EENT doctors that open the sinuses, all are either much more invasive and expensive or are drug based. These medical treatments are always available so I advise my patients to try the natural non invasive approach first as it generally is effective.
J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1995 Jan;18(1):38-41. Nasal specific technique as part of a chiropractic approach to chronic sinusitis and sinus headaches. Folweiler DS, Lynch OT.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7706959
tension headaches
 |
Many people with a history of upper neck and suboccipital muscle spasms that are the result of whiplash, job stress or sports injuries respond well to myofascial release and cervical adjustments which release the articular dyskinesias relax and lengthen the muscles and reset the underlying accumulated tension patterns that are causative to the headaches.
http://www.jmptonline.org/article/S0161-4754%2801%2999423-0/abstract
http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/gjhs/article/view/6425
TMJ stress
When clenching and grinding and imbalanced jaw muscle tension is the result of somatized emotional stress, the NCRT treatments frequently allows for a deep emotional release and a resetting of the jaw musculature. This technique is most effective when the patient is actively working with a psychotherapist specializing in post traumatic stress syndrome.
Additionally if TMJ pain is the result of muscle imbalance or spasms secondary to traumas such as a blow to the jaw or prolonged dental work, inter mouth myo-pressure point therapy combined with facial & suboccipital myofascial release in combination with NCRT can be very effective.
NCRT
The Nasal Cranial Release Technique or Bilateral Nasal Specific technique, as it has been historically called, involves the careful placement of small balloons into three distinct areas of the nasal passageways followed by a brief inflation of the balloon in a specific sequence. This inflation applies a gentle internal force to the cranial/facial bones allowing the plates of the cranium to easily separate slightly. This separation or adjustment of the cranial bones restores the normal subtle movement of the cranium and removes any compression or jamming stresses that have occurred. . Treatments consist of a series of 4 specifically positioned inflations through each nostril. You can see the location and brevity of the inflation in the video below
|
Dr Siegfrieds writing on NCRT/BNS treatments: http://oregonwellnesscare.com/chiropractic/2510-bilateral-nasal-specifics
Safety
The Nasal Cranial Release Technique is considered a very safe procedure and, anecdotally, a proven procedure for releasing cranial stress. As in all medical procedures there are some inherent risks, if you have an active sinus infection or are prone to frequent difficult to control nose bleeds this technique may not be appropriate for you.
Chiropractic treatments: bottom line is malpractice insurance premiums. Chiropractors enjoy very low cost malpractice coverage for one simple reason, people rarely are injured by chiropractic treatments. Malpractice insurance companies simply do not have a bias they just look at the stats.
The most recent in-depth review, published in the Feb 15, 2008 Spine Journal [9] was completed by members of the Spine Decade Task Force. It reviewed 10 years worth of hospital records, involving 100 million person-years. Those records revealed no increase in vertebral artery dissection risk with chiropractic, compared with medical management, and further stated that increased risks of VBA (vertebrobasilar artery) stroke associated with chiropractic and PCP (primary care physician) visits is likely due to patients with headache and neck pain from VBA dissection seeking care before their stroke.
Another recent study stated - To place this in perspective, if we agree that the risk of dying from a stroke after a neck adjustment is 1/4,000,000, there may be as much as a 100 times greater risk of dying from an ulcer due to taking a prescription NSAID like Motrin. If you drive about 8 miles each way to get to your chiropractic appointment, you have a statistically greater risk of being killed or seriously injured in a car accident getting to the office than of having a serious complication from your treatment.
billing
You may pay us for your services with check, cash or credit card. You will be provided with a bill which will include all appropriate diagnostic and procedural codes for you to submit to your insurance carrier for reimbursement. This office will not be processing your billing for you.
