chiropractic - Headaches & Migraines Message Board

12-13-2001, 07:24 PM

Has anyone had any luck with getting relief from chiropractic? I have had terrible tension headaches for about 10 years, the last few years they have been bad enough to make me nauseous. My MD kept telling me to relax, I'm too stressed out and prescribed a muscle relaxant (Flexeril). That helped at first, but now it doesn't do a thing.

I get migraines too and take Zomig for that. Most of the time it works.

I've been going to massage therapists for a while and it helps but the effects don't last long.

I started going to a chiropractor about 6 months ago. She said my spine was out of alignment and that was preventing the muscles from relaxing. Plus I have pinched nerves.

Sometimes I do really well and can go a few weeks without needing an adjustment, but some weeks I'm in there 3 times. She doesn't tell me to come in, but I either get a headache or I can tell my back is out of alignment. It seems to help, but my husband thinks I should be farther along as much as I've been in for adjustments.

I do feel like I'm getting better, as far as the intensity of the tension headaches and the frequency of the migraines. But I am still getting headaches.

The chiropractor said it will take time to retrain the muscles to stay in place and not pull the bones out of alignment. She gave me some stretches to do and also recommended yoga, massage, and using hot and cold compresses.

What she says makes sense to me but I wonder if anyone else has tried chiropractic and how long it took to get any results.

Also, has anyone tried accupuncture?

I am tired of the drugs the MD gives me. I also have tried Ultram but I've heard that can be addictive and it makes me a bit nauseous.

Thanks for any advice you can give. -Cindy

Hodor · 12-13-2001, 08:21 PM

I am a 37 year old female who is currently seeing a chiropractor for headaches/migraines. I have gone to him for about 6 months now. Getting adjusted seems to help when I am having a headache at that time. They come back though, time and time again. So my experience so far has been getting relief when I am experiencing one but not an elimination of them all together. I'll probably continue seeing him for awhile, it was worth a try. I am sure if I don't get permanent relief I'll move onto something else. Good luck.

Vickie · 12-27-2001, 11:33 PM

I tried going to a chiropractor but it didn't really help me. If you have pinched nerves, some type of stretching will help. I also tried accupunture. It seemed to help for a short time but was not a solution. I think these things only work if there is a physical reason for the headaches. Mine are mainly caused by the changes in barometric pressure so medication is the only thing I have found that helps. Right now I am taking Neurontin. It seems to be the best so far, haven't had any really bad ones with it.
Having a doctor tell you that you need to relax when you know that isn't the problem is no help at all. That is when I finally found another doctor who would work with me.
I wish you well.

03-04-2002, 10:27 PM

I've only been to a chiropractor once, so I can't say for sure that it has helped greatly...but I did think I felt better after that than most other things I had tried. He gave me a story that sounds very like the one your chiropractor gave you - about retraining the muscles. Mine said it is like having crooked teeth, only in that case you can wear braces 24 hrs. a day and with you neck, you really can't. So it takes many adjustments over a long period of time (often years) to undo all the years of training you have put into them to be crooked. Makes sense to me, but I admit it sounds like the chiropractor stands to gain a lot by saying so...?

I have a lot of tension in my left shoulder that despite lots of hot compresses and stretching and massaging, I couldn't get to let go. It feels much better these days since that first adjustment so I plan to go back. Of course, I am also now doing yoga 3 times a week which is helping to not only stretch the muscles, but also prevent the stress buildup that leads to the tight muscle.

Hope that helps in some way.

mlgable · 03-04-2002, 11:32 PM

Why not ask the doc about some preventative medicince to lessen the severity and frequency of your headaches. Go ahead and try the chiropracter but it hasn't helped hubby's headaches but it does wonders for his neck etc. Also have you been checked for TMJ regarding your headaches??