Neck and Head in Harmony: Exploring the Migraine-Neck Connection!
Jan 12, 2024 -- Posted by :Migraine, a neurovascular disorder of the brain, affects roughly 15% of the global population and is the leading cause of disability in adults younger than 50 years. It's been found that individuals with migraines are twelve times more likely to experience neck pain compared to those without migraines. Moreover, individuals who suffer from migraines and concurrent neck pain tend to have more frequent and severe headaches, along with increased sensitivity in the trigeminocervical complex, where sensory information from the face and neck merges. The relationship between migraines and neck pain, however, is a subject of ongoing debate.
Some experts argue that migraines lead to increased sensitivity in the brain or central nervous system, resulting in neck pain. Conversely, others believe that the sensitization arising from neck pain may trigger migraines. To explore this dilemma, a study conducted in August 2023 examined the clinical differences between migraine sufferers with and without neck pain.
This study involved 44 migraine patients without neck pain, 64 with neck pain, and 54 individuals without pain, who were assessed through physical exams and questionnaires regarding their headache symptoms, neck pain/disability, and its impact on mental health and quality of life. Results showed that while both groups with migraines had more issues than the pain-free group, those with concurrent neck pain exhibited more severe headache symptoms, greater cervical musculoskeletal problems, more pronounced sensitization signs and symptoms, and a higher psychological burden compared to those without neck pain. Additionally, a separate 2023 study discovered that migraine sufferers with balance impairments, potentially stemming from cervical spine dysfunction, had weaker neck muscles, more frequent migraine attacks, and more severe neck pain.
Such findings suggest the need for categorizing migraine patients based on the presence or absence of neck pain for research and treatment planning purposes. For migraine sufferers also experiencing neck pain, treatments focusing on the neck's musculoskeletal issues might offer significant benefits. Chiropractors are adept at assessing and treating individuals with migraines and neck pain, aiming to alleviate musculoskeletal factors that could be exacerbating or even causing their symptoms.
So, if you are experiencing neck pain, pinched neck nerve, cervical radiculopathy or pain in your neck muscles and type in pain management near me or chiropractor near me, you may find Coast Chiropractic Centers with Dr. Timothy Harcourt, me, comes up.
You may wonder, “Do I need an MRI scan of my neck and who around me can I get a referral from?”
Some people around you will try stretching first to see if they get relief from their neck pain. A pulled muscle generally will get better with rest. Persistent or worsening pain intensity and/or frequency necessitates a visit to see a professional near you.
Check out what the experts say about chiropractic care for neck pain here:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31870638/
Call me, Dr. Tim Harcourt, at Coast Chiropractic Centers at (239) 278-3344 or stop by if we’re in your area on your day off for a walk-in visit and mention this article for an awesome discounted first visit to include history, exam, and adjustment or Class IV high-intensity laser treatment.
So if you find yourself experiencing neck pain that is affecting your quality of life and allowing you to enjoy Fort Myers Beach. Come see us at Coast Chiropractic Centers located on 7270 College Parkway.
If you would like to avoid getting neck pain in the first place or to take a proactive approach to your health and wellness nearby, our membership program called Club C may be just the thing for you with great cost savings, convenience, and even more importantly, a plan to get your health back and keep it.
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