Migraine Treatment Options

In this article, we go over the migraine treatment that I am aware of knowing there are treatments that are being discovered as I am typing. Here are the more commonly used ones.
Chiropractic Adjustment
Chiropractic care or spinal manipulation therapy has been a proven method for people seeking alternative migraine treatment. Studies have shown that in the case of tension and migraine headaches, manipulative therapy can be as effective as preventative medications in helping to keep off the onset of migraines. Once a migraine has begun, chiropractic therapy can also greatly reduce the painful symptoms if care is given in a timely manner.
Prescription Meds

Triptans are a preventative treatment that has the ability to constrict or narrow the arteries to the brain preventing them from expanding and causing migraines. This method has proven to be a successful one for those whose doctors will prescribe it yet the downside to using a treatment such as triptans is the side effects associated with them. Triptans though effective can be harmful; caution is needed as well as research in order to determine if you are a safe candidate for this particular migraine treatment. They can cause liver problems, kidney issues, stroke, stress, suicidal thoughts and even heart attacks. Beware of the easy cure with side effects! Now let’s go over some of the differences between a migraine and a normal everyday headache before we talk about a few more migraine treatment options.

Head Pain Diffs

Some 38 million people put up with headaches throughout last year making headaches a very common complaint. The concern is not that a headache has taken place but the number of times the headache occurs as well as the length in which the headache lasts. If frequent headaches (not migraines) occur and last longer than a few hours, medical attention might be needed in order to assure that the pain being felt is truly a headache and not something more. Some people have even had tumors growing consistently for year and people just thought they were experiencing a headache and not a growing cyst. It is important to understand the differences between a migraine and a normal/tension headache; in doing so, you can better equip yourself toward preventative means than just focusing on the temporary remedial work. Pay close attention to the next few points as they should explain in more detail what a headache versus a migraine looks like.
• A headache attacks quickly and with no warning where as a migraine we learned has preemptive warning signs.
• Migraines can last up to three days headaches a few hours.
• A headache though bothersome does not typically result in a loss of productivity and the inability to function.
• Headaches feel more like a pulsing feeling inside your head; migraines on the other hand tend to be felt only on one side of the head.
• Some level of irritability might occur with a headache but typically subsides after some over the counter medicine has been taken, sadly those suffering with a migraine do not bounce back as quickly.
• Feelings of nausea, dizziness, sensitivity to light and sound are all characters of a migraine and will not be present with a headache.

Massage Therapy

Massage Therapy can be a very useful migraine treatment, especially if the migraines are triggered by stress or tension. A massage therapist is trained to work the muscles around the head, neck, shoulders, and back in order to increase blood flow in those areas and to help relieve muscle tension. This is because when given first, massage therapy can help to loosen the muscles in the head, shoulders, and neck and produce better results with spinal manipulation. But you must remember to use a profession massage therapist and not to just go get a massage as a deep-tissue massage or Swedish one will only irritate and intensify the already experienced migraine pain and symptoms. The therapist must only focus on the sub-occipital muscle group which runs along the spine.
Acupuncture
As one of the oldest migraine treatments, Acupuncture has been used to cure more than just migraines; it focuses on restoring blocked, life-giving energy to the body through hindered channels or intersection point throughout the body. It is mildly evasive as you do need a professional to do it and you don’t just pop a pill to a cure. They use tiny needles to initiate a successful healing process.

Tags: Acetaminophen (a.k.a. Tylenol), migraine pain, migraine relief, Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), over the counter medication, treating migraines