Approximately 100 million people experience headaches and approximately 37 million of those have migraines. Migraines are the 6th most disabling illnesses in the world with someone being admitted to the emergency room every 10 seconds. Physical therapy has been proven to relieve pain caused by headaches and Migraines.
What is the difference between a headache and a Migraine?
The pain caused from a Migraine throbs and activity worsens the pain. A headache will probably come on gradually and tends to be more chronic and steady. While there is pain with both, a Migraine pain is much more severe.
What are Migraine Headaches?
Migraines are a genetic neurological disorder in the central nervous system. The throbbing pain is generally severe and reoccurs. This pain generally affects one side of the head but in some cases the pain can be experienced all over. Migraine attacks are painful episodes which can last between 4 and 72 hours.
What other symptoms besides a severe headache may occur?
Migraine attacks may cause the following symptoms:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Visual disturbances
- Aura is a visual disturbance in which 25% of migraine sufferers experience and they usually last less than an hour
- Extremities or face experience tingling or numbness
- Dizziness
- Intense sensitivity to sound, light, touch and smell
How often do most migraine headaches occur?
Most individuals who suffer from migraine headaches experience 15 days of migraines in any given month. Due to the severity of the pain, most Migraine sufferers are not able to participate in normal activities and they try to find a quiet, dark room.
Can Migraines be treated?
Migraines can be treated but the treatment plan varies by person. One way to help alleviate Migraines is to identify any triggers and avoid those triggers. Stress can play a large role in Migraine Headaches therefore the ability to manage stress is crucial in the treatment. It is also recommended to improve sleeping habits and monitor food intake. Pain medications and physical therapy can help relieve Migraine pain.
How can physical therapy help relieve Migraine and headache pain?
Some headaches are known to be linked to tumors, sinus issues and vascular problems while others are linked with muscle and joint pain. At Oklahoma Physical Therapy we can help alleviate Migraine pain that is associated with muscle tension and tightness, poor posture, disc pathology and lack of neck motion. Medication is often prescribed since Migraines are affected in the central nervous system.
At Oklahoma Physical therapy we understand that each patient responds to physical therapy differently based on the extent to which muscles and joints are involved in the Migraine headache or attacks. We will create a customized treatment plan after we perform an evaluation to determine the problem areas. Heat and/or ice, soft tissue mobilization, muscle stretches and education are just a few treatments that we use at Oklahoma Physical Therapy if it is determined the Migraine pain is in the neck or surrounding areas.
Contact us at 405-749-6281 or online at https://oklahomaphysicaltherapy.com/ to make an appointment to meet with one of our skilled physical therapists.