Managing Migraine Pain

Migraines are intensely painful headaches that can come on suddenly and last for days. Often, sufferers rely on medications for pain relief, but in addition to the side effects from the medicines, this strategy can trigger rebound pain when the effectiveness wears off. Fortunately, there are other ways to cope with migraines, including visiting a chiropractor. If you suffer from migraine pain, consider these ways of coping and managing migraine pain.

Know Your Triggers

If you get migraines regularly, consider keeping a journal of when your headaches occur and what you were eating, drinking, and doing during the run-up to your migraine. Keeping a journal of this information can help you identify some of your migraine triggers. For example, some people find that certain kinds of cheeses, chocolate, stress, or lack of sleep cause them to get a migraine. When you know your triggers, you can take steps to avoid them to help to reduce the frequency of your headache.

Consider Drug-Free Treatments

Pain relievers can play a role in migraine treatment for some people, but relying on them often causes more harm than good. You may experience some relief, but then a rebound headache with worse pain than the initial headache may occur. Taking medications regularly can also reduce their effectiveness, meaning that you need to take more medicine to get relief. Drug-free treatments can provide long-term relief without the side effects. For instance, a chiropractor can perform a spinal adjustment to correct misalignments that may be a core cause of your migraines, so you experience fewer headaches.

Take Action at the First Sign of a Headache

Don’t wait for a migraine to become full-blown before you start treating it. Follow any treatment tips your chiropractor has given you when the signs of a migraine occur. Some people are able to reduce the intensity and duration of a migraine by going to sleep, sitting in a dark room, or using a heating pad when the first signs of a headache happen.

Don’t let debilitating migraine pain take over your life. At The Houston Spine & Rehabilitation Centers, our chiropractors in The Woodlands can help you find relief without the need for medications. Schedule your appointment today by calling 281-362-0006.