Is there a cure for migraines?

Answer 1

Curing Migraine HeadachesAlthough there is not currently a permanent cure for migraine headaches, there are many various treatments, both preventative and abortive. Some people find that using vitamins and minerals they can reduce the number and severity of their migraines. The majority of migraine sufferers who seek a physician's help are put on medication. There are also some surgical treatments, such as the surgery for Patent Foramen Ovale, or the implanting of electrodes under the scalp. There is also a surgery called microvascular decompression surgery, which is akin to performing carpal tunnel surgery - but on the neck.

The point of all the above? We can reduce the number and frequency of migraine headaches. Reduce them to a bare minimum, one every five years even. But a comparison must be drawn to another neurological disorder - epilepsy. A person can have their seizures well under control for years, but the fact is their brain works differently - and there is the possibility that any day they could have a seizure. It is the same with migraine headaches. You could have them under control for years, but the possibility still lurks that you will have one - because your brain has a certain dysfunction.

More input and perspectives

I disagree there is no cure for migraines. I have a relative that suffered from migraines for 12 years. She had been to doctor to doctor all over the United States, and no-one could help her. She was on every kind of medicine that you could possibly think of for migraines. She also had to stay at many hospitals for tests. Until one day someone she read that a chropractor had helped people with migraines for fifty dollars. She went and all he had to do was have her in everyday for about two weeks, three days for another two weeks, then one day and so on. Within three months she had no more migraines. She said it was one of the best descitions she has ever made.

Chiropractic may be successful as a treatment for migraines for some people, particularly cervicogenic migraines. However, it is the same as any other treatment - doing the same as myofascial therapy, craniosacral therapy, osteopathic manipulation, microvascular decompression surgery, and the NTI appliance. It can adjust pressure and bad signaling of the nerves, as well as reducing muscle spasm (which for some is a trigger for migraines), however - the fact that you are a person who experiences the spreading cortical depression of migraine will not be altered. Also, the chiropractic treatment of neck manipulation carries a small risk of stroke due to causing clots in the carotid artery. If you do pursue chiropractic treatment for your migraine, any good chiropractor will know other methods of adjusting the cervical spine without that classic neck twist. Those that practice the Sacro Occipital Technique are especially gentle.The other chiropractic methods will give you the same benefit.

As a chronic migraine sufferer for over 15 years, I was getting as many as 22-27 migraine headaches a month. I discovered this after keeping a migraine diary. I was so used to getting them daily, I never realized how much of my life was affected. I started participating in a study. After thousands of dollars on medication and numerous efforts to relieve the pain (massage, massaging apparatuses, ice packs, eye covers, over the counter products like Biofreeze), I figured, "Why not?" I started getting Botox injections around my temples and scalp, and even down into my neck and shoulders. It was very similar to acupuncture, and actually felt relieving when I had them done since I usually had a migraine) This did improve the number and duration of migraines I was getting, but was only taking the number of migraines down to about 1/3.

I checked into a chiropractor who gives a Chiropractic Bio Physics (CBP) approach, which is essentially adding a sort of "physical therapy" into your treatment regimen. It took about 3 hours a week, being adjusted, stretched and doing excercises with my chirpractor, and following up on the excercises at home. He explained where and why I was getting the pressure on points of my nerves from my x-rays, and my treatment was catered to my specific causes. There are only a handful of chiropractors across the US that utilize this approach. Overall cost? About $1800 (without insurance). Luckily I had help from my insurance to absorb this cost, but I'd happily pay it in full to experience life as I do now - migraine free! I am happy to say that I now RARELY get migraines, about one or two days a month around my menstruation time, which my doctors all say are normal. I rarely have to use my prescription anymore, and can most of the time just use Excedrin Migraine.