Women holding head


We know that migraine headaches result primarily from stretching the arteries and nerves of the head. This causes headaches of varying severity, lasting from several hours to several days. The syndrome’s most notable feature: symptoms usually start on one side, spreading to the entire head as the migraine develops.

Other migraine signals include:

  • nausea
  • irritability
  • sensitivity to bright light
  • vomiting
  • constipation or diarrhea

The Pre-Headache

Some patients experience the throbbing migraine symptoms anywhere in the head (including face and neck), but usually the migraine headache is felt as a severe throbbing in the temples. The pre-headache phenomena is probably the most frightening aspect of the migraine headache. The sufferer soon learns that an impending attack is on its way, and may worry that it may strike at a crucial time or during an important occasion.

A mild, fluttery feeling in the stomach, followed by a sensation of colors and lights becoming brighter than normal, is a warning that a pre-headache is about to begin. You learn to anticipate the second phase of the pre-headache phenomena: Spots before the eyes, followed by dimming vision which affects 50% of your visual field. Some fear they may be going blind, so naturally, fear makes the problem even more unbearable.

Some symptoms may include what we call migraine equivalents, which include symptoms in the abdomen, chest, arms and legs. Other symptoms are non-painful attacks of vomiting, diarrhea, fever, swelling in various parts of the body, and rapid mood changes. The long-range effects shown in a study of migraine headache indicate a general disintegration of the victim’s personality. Sufferers may lose confidence and mistrust his or her ability to cope. Serious emotional instability and even mental breakdown may occur as the direct result of chronic migraine attacks.

What to do about migraines?

Consult one of our Beach Pain Center doctors if you have indications of a migraine headache. Researchers in the chiropractor field have developed special nerve examinations to determine the point in the neck at which the arteries and nerves are being blocked. X-ray machines, particularly adapted to take the unique X-ray views that will pinpoint the location of misalignment, are often used by chiropractors in difficult or unusual cases. It has been proven conclusively by thousands of X-rays that the migraine headache develops when one or more of the tiny neck bones are misaligned or forced out of normal position.

Considering that the nerves and blood vessels pass through small openings and canals in between the neck bones (vertebrae), misalignment naturally will cause a pinching-traction that stretches these nerves and blood vessels leading to the head. It is usually a simple matter for the doctor to release the impinged nerves and blood vessels, once the exact point of pinching-traction has been located. The migraine headaches will then disappear.

Make an appointment 817-831-3388 to experience the difference our doctors make in healing your pain.