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Migraines and Physical Therapy

Migraines and Physical TherapyMigraines are a genetic, neural disorder affecting the central nervous system, mostly on one side of the head, though it may spread to the whole head. At times, pain may last for up to 72 hours. Migraines are a common symptom suffered across the globe. At Fusion Physical Therapy, our physical therapists are experts in dealing with the symptoms of this condition.

Difference between a migraine and a headache

The amount of pain makes migraines different from headaches. Headaches are more tolerable. Migraines come in throbbing sequences and are extremely painful.

Symptoms of migraines

The following are some of the symptoms of migraines:

  • Visual disturbance resulting in blurred vision and light sensitivity
  • Episodes of nausea
  • Numbness of face and/or extremities.
  • Extra sensitivity to sound and touch
  • Vomiting in extreme pain

Frequency of migraines

Migraines occur about every 15 days in a month. Every two weeks, you may encounter extreme pain. Severe pain and sensitivity to light and sound will stop you from functioning on daily activities and may severely hinder your work. It could stop you altogether in your ability to do your job.

Are migraines treatable?

Yes, but treatment is complicated. Like in cancer, heart disease or diabetes, patients may respond well to treatments, or they may not. There is a need to identify the triggering factors and adjust lifestyle to avoid these factors as much as possible. If light happens to be your trigger to a migraine attack, avoid light, or use photochromic glasses.

Stress is one of the most common triggers of migraine attacks. To curb the condition, you must have regular and sufficient sleep. You can take prescribed pain relievers when it occurs.

Most of all, you can seek professional help. Physical therapy, especially with muscle tension, neck immobility, poor posture, and disc pathology – among other factors associated with the upper musculoskeletal system.

Fusion Physical Therapy Can Help!!

At Fusion Physical Therapy, our certified physical therapists can provide the best treatment plan for treating your migraines.

Book an appointment for an assessment with one of our trained physical therapists and let Fusion Physical Therapy help you get started on experiencing a pain-free lifestyle today.

Migraines and Physical Therapy Options

migrainesMigraines are the 6th most disabling illness in the world and approximately 37 million experience migraines. Every 10 seconds someone is being admitted to the emergency room complaining of head pain. The proper pain relief for headaches and migraines might just be found in physical therapy.

Migraines are a pain that is far more intense that just a bad headache. Migraines are a genetic neurological disorder in the central nervous system which results in the pain and neurological symptoms associated with a migraine headache. Other diseases or disorders such as head injury and brain tumors do not cause migraines. The recurring, severe and throbbing pain usually affects only one side of the head however there are cases where the entire head experiences pain. These painful episodes that affect one side of the head as well as the entire head in some cases are known as migraine attacks and usually last between four and 72 hours.

Unfortunately, migraine attacks are often accompanied by the following symptoms:

  • Visual disturbances
    • Aura is a visual disturbance in which nearly 25% of migraine sufferers experience and it usually lasts less than an hour
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Intense sensitivity to sound, light, touch and smell
  • Extremities or face experience tingling or numbness

Most migraine sufferers have moderate or severe pain and experience 15 migraine days per month. Because the pain of the migraine is intensely painful, most Migraine sufferers and are not able to participate in normal activities.  In fact, most of the time they try to find a quiet, dark room.

Migraine sufferers and the treatment plan varies by person as there really isn’t a cure for migraines. We highly recommend our patients to log things in order to begin to identify the triggers and figure out how to avoid those triggers. We also recommend to our migraine sufferers that they need to manage their stress better, improve their sleep habits by going to bed earlier and modify their diets.

Many headaches are associated with muscle and joint pain while others are caused by sinus issues, tumors and vascular problems. Physical therapy can help treat the headaches that are caused by muscle tension and tightness, disc pathology, lack of neck motion or poor posture.

Since migraines are affected in the central nervous system in which medication is often prescribed. Physical therapy involves treating the muscles and joints which is different for each patient therefore the physical therapy treatment will be differently based on the extent to which muscles and joints are involved in the migraine.

At Fusion Physical Therapy in order to determine the problem areas we will perform an evaluation and will create a customized treatment plan to relieve the pain in those areas. We will use heat and/or ice, soft tissue mobilization, muscular releases, muscle stretches if the pain is in the neck or surrounding areas. We will also spend time with each patient to educate them on posture and body mechanics. Contact us today via phone at 580-699-5455 or online at www.lawtonphysicaltherapy.com/book-an-appointment for quick pain relief.