Mar
When do you speak of chronic migraine?
Chronic migraine is diagnosed when you have 15 or more headache days per month, with at least 8 days showing typical migraine features. This pattern must persist for three months or longer. It differs from regular migraine through its frequency and impact on your daily life, requiring specific treatments.
What is the difference between regular migraine and chronic migraine?
The main difference lies in the frequency of attacks. With regular migraine, also called episodic migraine, you have fewer than 15 headache days per month. Chronic migraine means you have 15 or more days per month with headache, where at least 8 days meet the criteria for migraine.
These medical criteria are important for proper diagnosis and treatment. With episodic migraine, attacks come in waves, with periods of rest in between. With chronic migraine, there is hardly any rest and daily life is severely affected.
This distinction also determines the treatment strategy. Chronic migraine often requires preventive medication and a holistic approach, while episodic migraine is usually only treated during attacks. The prognosis also differs: chronic migraine can return to an episodic form with proper treatment.
What symptoms indicate that you have chronic migraine?
The main symptoms are frequent headaches with intense pain, usually throbbing and often on one side of the head. This headache is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound. With chronic migraine, these symptoms are present much more frequently than with ordinary headaches.
Specific patterns that indicate chronic migraine are:
- Headache that persists for 4–72 hours without treatment
- Pain that worsens with physical activity
- Regular aura symptoms, such as spots in your visual field
- Fatigue and concentration problems between attacks
- Sleep disorders and irritability
The difference from ordinary headaches is the intensity and accompanying symptoms. Tension headaches, for example, do not cause nausea or light sensitivity. With chronic migraine, the symptoms structurally affect your work, social life and daily activities.
What are the main causes of chronic migraine?
Chronic migraine develops through a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental factors. Important risk factors are stress, hormonal changes, irregular sleep, certain foods and medication overuse. These migraine triggers can cause episodic migraine to progress to the chronic form.
Common causes and triggers are:
- Genetic predisposition (migraine often runs in families)
- Hormonal fluctuations in women (menstruation, pregnancy)
- Chronic stress and emotional tension
- Sleep deprivation or excessive sleep
- Food triggers such as alcohol, cheese and chocolate
- Excessive use of painkillers (medication overuse headache)
Excessive use of painkillers is particularly an important cause. When you use painkillers more than 10–15 days per month, this can paradoxically cause more headaches. Changes in the nervous system and inflammatory processes also play a role in migraine becoming chronic.
How can you prevent and treat chronic migraine?
Prevention of chronic migraine begins with recognising and avoiding personal triggers. A regular lifestyle with fixed sleep times, stress management and healthy nutrition forms the foundation. Additionally, there are medicinal and non-medicinal treatments available for long-term relief.
Effective prevention strategies include:
- A regular sleep-wake rhythm (7–8 hours per night)
- Stress reduction through relaxation techniques
- Regular meals and drinking sufficient water
- Moderate physical exercise
- Avoiding known food triggers
Treatment options vary from preventive medication to non-medicinal therapies. A holistic approach often works best, where not only the symptoms are treated, but also underlying causes, such as tension in the neck and spine. This approach focuses on restoring the natural balance in the nervous system.
How Ruggensteun helps with chronic migraine
Chiropractic treatment offers a natural approach for chronic migraine by focusing on the spine and nervous system. Much headache in migraine arises from tension and misalignment in the cervical vertebrae, which disrupts nerve communication between brain and body.
Our specialised treatments for chronic migraine include:
- Spinal corrections for improved nerve function
- Y-strap treatment for decompression of the cervical vertebrae
- CFR (Cranial Facial Release) for headache relief
- A holistic approach focused on causes, not just symptoms
- Preventive care to prevent recurrence of complaints
By restoring the natural alignment of your spine, we can improve nerve communication and activate your body’s self-healing ability. Our experience with migraine treatments shows that a holistic approach often gives better long-term results than symptom management alone.
Would you like to know if chiropractic care is suitable for your chronic migraine? Contact us for a no-obligation discussion about your complaints and treatment options. We are happy to help you on your way to a life with less headache and more vitality. More information about our practice can be found on our website.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take before I see results from chiropractic treatment for chronic migraine?
Most patients notice improvement in the frequency and intensity of their migraine attacks within 2-4 weeks. A complete treatment usually takes 8-12 weeks, depending on how long you have had chronic migraine and the underlying causes. Patience is important, as the nervous system needs time to recover.
Can I combine chiropractic treatment with my current migraine medication?
Yes, chiropractic care can be safely combined with medication. We are happy to work together with your GP or neurologist to provide integrated treatment. Many patients can reduce their medication use over time under their doctor's guidance, but never stop medication suddenly without medical advice.
What should I do during an acute migraine attack while I am in treatment?
During an acute attack you can use your normal emergency medication and rest in a dark, quiet room. Avoid sudden movements and try to keep your neck relaxed. After the attack you can do light neck stretches that we have taught you. Record the attack in your headache diary to recognise patterns.
Is chiropractic treatment also suitable if I have had chronic migraine for years?
Absolutely. Even with long-term chronic migraine we can often achieve significant improvement. Although recovery may take slightly longer with long-standing complaints, we have good experiences with patients who have had migraine for years. The nervous system has a remarkable ability to recover, regardless of how long the complaints have existed.
Which lifestyle changes support chiropractic treatment best?
A regular sleep pattern of 7-8 hours per night is crucial. Additionally, daily neck stretches, drinking sufficient water (2-3 litres per day), and avoiding prolonged forward-bent postures during screen work help. Stress management through breathing exercises or meditation significantly enhances treatment results.
What happens if my migraine returns after successful treatment?
A return of symptoms can occur, especially with stress or neglecting preventive measures. We offer maintenance treatments to prevent this. If migraine returns, most patients respond faster to treatment because the nervous system has already 'learned' how to recover. Early intervention often prevents a complete relapse to chronic migraine.
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