Dear Dr. Bob:
Q. My teenage daughter and I both suffer from migraines. I recently heard that chiropractic can help. What can you tell me about it?
- Cheryl F., Philadelphia
A. That’s a great question, Cheryl. And an important one, too. I find that most people with headaches – whether they are classified as Tension, Cluster, Stress and even Migraines, respond well to a specialized form of Chiropractic care.
When someone comes to see me, we sit down and I take a careful history of their experiences with headaches: When do you first remember experiencing them? When did they come on? How often do you get them? On a scale of 1-10, how bad are they? Did you suffer any traumas in the past 10 yrs or so? Have you had any other treatments for your headaches, and if so, what. (I assume that if past treatment were successful in getting rid of or controlling them, you would not be talking to me about headaches.) Did you have any testing done such as blood work, radiographs or MRI’s? Are you taking any medications to control the headaches? What results do you find from the medications? Do they work? Are you experiencing any side effects? Are you aware of potential side effects from these medications?
There are two main elements I will be looking for: one has to do with the integrity of the joints in your neck, shoulders and mid back. Are they properly moveable or are they “stuck.” If they are stuck, the lack of proper, healthy motion is a contributing problem. Also, delicate nerves can be irritated, not allowing proper messages to muscles, veins, arteries and other tissue. These must be corrected to help restore good health.
I will also check your muscle tone. Certain muscles, when injured or contracted, don’t allow proper blood flow in or out of the muscles. Waste builds up and begins to crystallize, burning the muscle tissue and even referring pain to other areas (like your head). You would be surprised what muscles refer pain to the head. These sick muscles must be restored. I will work on them, and we can also get you in for massages to help speed up the process.
We usually begin seeing results in about two or three weeks. I’ve even had people tell me that they got relief following their first treatment. Be sure to ask your children, too, if they suffer from headaches. Headaches in kids often go undetected or unexplained, affecting their quality of life, their grades, moods and outlook. Headaches are painful, debilitating and extremely frustrating to live with. Fortunately, most people with headaches can be successfully treated without drugs or surgery.
All the best,
Dr. Bob Rush
Doc@DrRobertRush.com
Do you have a question for Dr. Bob? Email him at Doc@DrRobertRush.com
or call to speak to him at (215) 693-1290.
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