Can A Chiropractor Help Treat Migraines?
Focused care that relieves headache triggers, reduces migraine frequency, and helps you function with less daily disruption.
According to peer-reviewed data, WebMD found that seeing a Chiropractor for Migraine & Headache relief, “Worked better than patients’ usual pain relieving medications”. The study performed found that the group receiving chiropractic care reported fewer migraines per month while the patients who were only put on pain medication regressed to why they began at the beginning of the study.
This shows how important and useful Chiropractic Care is to relieving the pain and discomfort from chronic headaches and migraines.
What Is A Headache?
Headaches are unpleasant pains in your head that can cause pressure and aching. The pain can range from mild to severe, and they usually occur on both sides of your head. Some specific areas where headaches can occur include the forehead, temples, and back of the neck. A headache can last anywhere from 30 minutes to a week. The most common headache type is a tension headache. Triggers for this headache type include stress, muscle strain, and anxiety.
Tension headaches aren’t the only type of headache; other headache types include:
Cluster headaches
Cluster headaches are severely painful headaches that occur on one side of the head and come in clusters. This means you experience cycles of headache attacks, followed by headache-free periods.
Sinus headaches
Often confused with migraine, sinus headaches co-occur with sinus infection symptoms like fever, stuffy nose, cough, congestion, and facial pressure.
Chiari headaches
A Chiari headache is caused by a birth defect known as a Chiari malformation, which causes the skull to push against parts of the brain, often causing pain in the back of the head.
What Is A Migraine?
These headaches are intense or severe and often have other symptoms in addition to head pain. Symptoms associated with a migraine headache include:
- nausea
- pain behind one eye or ear
- pain in the temples
- seeing spots or flashing lights
- sensitivity to light and/or sound
- temporary vision loss
- vomiting
When compared with tension or other headache types, migraine headache pain can be moderate to severe. Some people may experience headaches so severe they seek care at an emergency room. Migraine headaches will typically affect only one side of the head. However, it is possible to have a migraine headache that affects both sides of the head. Other differences include the pain’s quality: A migraine headache will cause intense pain that may be throbbing and will make performing daily tasks very difficult.
Migraine headaches are typically divided into two categories: migraine with aura and migraine without aura. An “aura” refers to sensations a person experiences before they get a migraine. The sensations typically occur anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes before an attack. These can include:
- feeling less mentally alert or having trouble thinking
- seeing flashing lights or unusual lines
- feeling tingling or numbness in the face or hands
- having an unusual sense of smell, taste, or touch
Some migraine sufferers may experience symptoms a day or two before the actual migraine occurs. Known as the “prodrome” phase, these subtler signs can include:
- constipation
- depression
- frequent yawning
- irritability
- neck stiffness
- unusual food cravings
Treating Migraines
Prevention tips
Prevention is often the best treatment for migraine headaches. Examples of preventive methods your doctor may prescribe include:
- Making changes to your diet, such as eliminating foods and substances known to cause headaches, like alcohol and caffeine
- Taking steps to reduce stress like seeing a Chiropractor for Upper Cervical Care and overall body care.
Struggling With Headaches or Migraines?
- Tension headaches
- Migraine flare-ups
- Neck-related headaches
- Jaw and TMJ strain
- Pressure behind the eyes
- Stress-induced head pain
- Postural headache patterns
- Screen-related strain
If headaches are interrupting your focus, sleep, or daily routine, targeted care may help address the underlying triggers. Our approach focuses on relieving tension, improving alignment, and reducing the frequency and intensity of recurring head pain.
What to Expect During Your Session
During your session, we’ll review your headache or migraine pattern, including where it starts, how often it happens, and what triggers it (stress, posture, screens, sleep, or certain movements). Then we’ll assess your neck and upper back mobility, muscle tension, and posture to see what may be contributing to the pressure cycle. If care is appropriate, you may receive gentle, targeted adjustments and soft tissue work, along with simple at-home steps to help reduce flare-ups between visits.
Why Choose Limitless Chiropractic?
Headache-Focused Assessment
We look for the drivers behind your headaches, not just the pain. Your neck mobility, upper back mechanics, posture, and tension patterns are assessed to see what’s feeding the cycle. Care is specific, gentle when needed, and clearly explained.
Fewer Flare-Ups Over Time
Headaches and migraines often improve when trigger patterns are reduced consistently. With regular care, many people notice less neck tension, fewer headache days, and better tolerance to screens, stress, and long workdays.