Headaches

In a report from the Feb. 21, 2002 PRNewswire comes a story of a national telephone survey conducted by Media General Research in December 2001, in which it was revealed that consumers rely most on chiropractic as the number one natural, non-drug choice for most pains and injuries. The survey found for example, that 42 percent of consumers have experienced back pain during the past year. The number one natural choice was chiropractic care. The study also found that of those patients who saw a chiropractor, 91 percent rated their care as “very” or “somewhat” effective.

The study also showed that while sixty percent of consumers said they would go to an MD if they experienced an injury causing pain to their back or neck, about 23 percent said they would go to a chiropractor. This number was more than physical therapists at 7 percent, massage therapists at 4 percent, and acupuncturists at only 1 percent.

While it is a common public belief to associate chiropractic with back and neck pain, the survey also showed another area that is becoming more recognized by the general public when it comes to choosing chiropractic care and that area is the care of headaches. Although using drugs is still the most commonly used treatment for those who had experienced headaches in the past year, the second most popular choice of care for headache sufferers was chiropractic care.

The report also noted that in 1998, the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that chiropractic was the most frequently used drug-free treatment. Additionally the report mentioned that Chiropractic has been practiced in the United States for more than 100 years, and more than 3 million people visit one of the 60,000 chiropractors in the country every year.

A case study published in the November 30, 2009 issue of the scientific periodical, the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, documents the improvement, with chiropractic care, of a young boy suffering from headaches.

In this case a 13 year old boy had been suffering from daily headaches for the previous 4 years. The young boy reported that his headaches would occur for a minimum of 5 hours per day, and nothing seemed to help the pain. The boy never took medication for the condition but, after 4 years of suffering from these headaches, he was brought to a chiropractic clinic for care.

The study notes that about 66% of the population will suffer from headaches at some time. Additionally the authors report that according to the International Headache Society, there are 14 distinct types of headaches. The author also notes that, “Standard medical care in treating headaches is often unsuccessful due to the complicated nature of headaches, and proper medical management is largely dependant upon a proper diagnosis.” Most medical care involves the use of medications and does not use a structural approach used in chiropractic.

The Chiropractic analysis and x-rays revealed a reversal of the cervical (neck) curvature. Normally when looking at a side x-ray of the cervical spine, the neck should have an even and smooth bowing curvature toward the front. Care was initiated with specific adjustment and procedures designed to correct the loss of the neck curve.

After only 6 weeks of care a follow up x-ray was taken that showed a complete restoration of the normal neck curvature. The author reported, “In addition to the positive changes in the radiographic measurements of the patient, the headaches he suffered from for 4 years subsided until, by the end of the care plan, they were completely eliminated.”

Evidence reports recently released by the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research (FCER) show the effectiveness of chiropractic care for sufferers of Tension Headaches. The story released February of 2001, was the continuation of a release of a study done at Duke University several years earlier. In the study many different types of physical and behavioral treatments were used for patients with headaches. Chiropractic care was specifically compared to amitriptyline, a common medication used for headaches.

In this study the staff at the Duke Center screened articles from the literature, created evidence tables, and analyzed the quality and magnitude of results from these studies. They then drafted an evidence report with peer review from a panel of 25 reviewers, including researchers and clinicians in chiropractic.

The results showed that chiropractic was highly effective for patients with tension headaches. When compared with the drug amitriptyline, chiropractic and the drug had similar short term effects during the episode. However, the drug carried with it an adverse reaction rate in 82% of the patients.

The most profound effects were seen after the care was discontinued in the study. In these instances the patients who were on drug therapy essentially returned to the same state as before. However, the patients who were under chiropractic care continued to show sustained reduction in headache frequency and severity even after the chiropractic care was discontinued. The implications are that chiropractic is not actually a therapy or treatment, but rather gets to the cause allowing the body to effect a correction that lasts beyond actual care.

From the August 3, 2003 issue of the Peer-Reviewed Scientific Journal, Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research, comes a documented case study of a professional ice skater who had suffered from chronic migraine headaches. The study reports that when she was 23 years old and a professional skater she had sustained a concussion by hitting her head against the ice in a fall. Prior to her fall and concussion, she exhibited no health problems. Following the concussion, she suffered with tension and migraine headaches. These symptoms persisted over the next twelve years, during which time she utilized daily pain medications.

At age 35 she decided to initiate chiropractic care. The study notes that the initial examination showed evidence of subluxation in the upper neck (cervical spine) . The results were monitored by the doctor’s observation, patient’s subjective description of symptoms, and thermographic scans. Following three months of care all headaches were gone. After a one year follow up the patient still remained headache free.

The study’s conclusion noted, “The onset of the symptoms following the patient’s fall on her head; the immediate reduction in symptoms correlating with the initiation of care; and the complete absence of all symptoms within three months of care; suggest a link between the patient’s concussion, the upper cervical subluxation, and her headaches.

From the February 2004 issue of the Journal of Chiropractic Pediatrics, comes a documented case study of a 28 year old women who suffered with migraine headaches for over a decade before being helped with chiropractic care. In her case there was no history of previous trauma. Her migraines would last for several days and would cause nausea and dizziness.

In addition to her headaches, she also revealed a history of an irregular menstrual cycle, she would normally menstruate no more than twice per year. This problem resulted in infertility. After years of not becoming pregnant, she sought help from a reproductive endocrinologist. She was placed on medication which created additional side effects but did allow her to become pregnant. Unfortunately, after 9 weeks she suffered a miscarriage.

After years of these problems the woman started chiropractic care. She was initially given an examination and it was determined that she did have spinal problems. A series of specific chiropractic adjustments were then initiated. A re-examination was performed one month after care began. The patient reported a reduction in her headaches. After the second month of care another examination was performed and the patient reported that she had no incidence of migraine headache for the entire previous month. Additionally, the patient noticed that she had started a regular menstrual cycle. Within six months of the initiation of chiropractic care, she became pregnant.

From the June 7, 2003 issue of the Australian newspaper “The Advertiser” comes an article that features children and chiropractic. The article begins with, “Chiropractic, long perceived as the cracking of bones is becoming increasingly popular for babies.”

Dr. Paula Stacey, state president of the Australian Chiropractors’ Association is quoted, “Babies can’t tell you they’ve got a headache or a sore neck”. She notes that chiropractors provided gentle adjustment to the head and spine of newborns and also recommended regular maintenance visits. “They get born,” Dr. Stacey said. “The birthing process, coming down the birth canal, can be quite traumatic.” She continues, “If the spine is in ideal alignment, you’ve got the best chance of the nervous system sending the messages as they should be sent.”

Patient Hope Deane, said she first took her daughter Ruby to the chiropractor about two months after her birth. Now, Ruby goes for a “tune up” once per month. She explains her reason by saying, “Young ones crash all the time, or they land in funny ways, or sleep in funny ways. We’re stopping the problems before they start, rather than looking for short-term results. She hasn’t been sick. Maybe that’s helping her stay healthy.”

Published in the September 2010 issue of the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, is a case study documenting the improvement with chiropractic, of a young boy suffering from headaches, neck pain, asthma, and reading disabilities. In this case the 10-year-old boy was a poor reader and suffered eye strain while reading. He also exhibited poor memory of classroom material, and was unable to move easily from one line of text to another during reading. The case documented that he was taking 4 medications for the asthma but still suffered problems during exercise.

This elementary school student was brought to the chiropractor with a history of neck pain and headaches for the previous 3 years. Using a numeric pain scale the young boy drew out a pain scale where he rated his pain at 5 out of 10 for both his neck pain and headaches. When asked how many days per week he suffered from headaches, he responded by reporting having headaches 3 or 4 days per week.

The history showed that 3 years ago, just prior to the start of his headaches and neck pain, the boy suffered an accident when he was wrestling with his sister. The patient had tumbled backward from a seated position and landed on his chest causing his neck to be excessively bent forward. In the following 3 weeks the boy suffered from neck spasms, and his mother noted that his headache problem began at this time. Because he was already suffering from other health issues such as asthma, no specific treatment was sought for his neck and headache problems.

Some of the boy’s chronic conditions included episodes of severe asthma associated with nasal allergies and sinus problems. He was unable to participate in organized sports because he could not run and play without wheezing requiring medications.

The results this boy experienced with chiropractic care were life changing. At the end of his first treatment, the boy reported that his headaches were gone. After only 5 visits the boy reported that all of his symptoms were gone and he gave a score of 0 of 10 on his head and neck pain using the numeric pain scale. The author noted that, “the patient showed improvement in his reading ability, head and neck pain, and respiratory distress. His ability to read improved, performing at his own grade level. He has remained symptom free for 2 years.”

Several news stories appeared in the general press citing cases of migraine sufferers being helped by chiropractic care. One such story appeared on the June 7, 2007 WIStv.com, one in the June 6th Times Plus of Wisconsin and still another on the June 4, 2007 Boston channel 2 news. These stories noted that migranes affect nearly 28 million people and cost an estimated $13 billion a year in reduced productivity.

One of these stories describes the plight of Pam Delrosso a woman who suffered from debilitating migraines for 25 years. Ms. Delrosso described her life with migranes by saying, “My quality of life just went downhill. I’d be in bed for days on end.”

A second migraine sufferer, Adriana Grassi was a personal trainer who was very much into physical fitness. She describes her passion for fitness by saying, “This is my job, my career. I love doing what I do. I think I can help people change their lives.” Unfortunately, Grassi’s career almost came to an end due to the onset of migraines. She remembers, “I had a problem training my clients because I had terrible migraines. I couldn’t talk, I couldn’t even see, sometimes, the light.”

According to the two stories both women went to neurologists, both had MRIs, CAT scans, and both were given a variety of medications. In both cases, medical care did not work. Fortunately, both women turned to chiropractic care.

Both articles report that the two women underwent a form of chiropractic care known as Orthogonal Chiropractic. According to Dr. Ryan Alther, a chiropractor interviewed for these stories, “Ortho meaning 90 degrees. We’re trying to get the skull 90 degrees to the atlas, which is the top vertebrae, and the atlas at 90 degrees to the rest of the neck.” Dr. Alther explains that when the head and neck are not at right angles, it can cause nerve interference and alter blood flow, resulting in severe headaches, neck and back pain.

For Pam Delrosso the results from chiropractic care were life changing. She states, “They don’t devastate me like they did before. I’ll get an occasional headache — maybe once a month, every 2 months. It goes away in an hour and it doesn’t put me in bed for three days.”

Adriana Grassi also had a life changing experience because of her chiropractic care. The articles note that she’s been headache free for months. She commented, “I would definitely say it’s a miracle.”

A scientific study published in the February 2010 issue of, The Spine Journal, from the North American Spine Society offered future evidence of how chiropractic helps headaches. The study was conducted at Western States Chiropractic College by the Dean of Research, Dr. Mitchell Haas, who is also a faculty member of that institution.

In this study a total of 80 participants who were suffering from a specific form of headaches, known as cervicogenic headache (CGH), were separated into different groups. These groups received either 8 or 16 visits consisting of either chiropractic care or massage. The researchers referred to the chiropractic care as “spinal manipulation” (SMT), and listed the massage as LT for light manipulation. In addition to these groups, an additional number of participants received no care at all and were used as a control group for comparison.

In the two groups that received chiropractic care, the procedures were described as ” high velocity low amplitude spinal manipulation”. Care was only rendered for either 8 visits or 16 visits. The results of this care was compared with participants who received a light massage on either 8 visits or 16 visits.

To grade the changes the researchers used a modified version of the Von Korff pain and disability scale, which is a standard scientific way of measuring pain and rating it on a scale from 10 to 100. The researchers also noted the number of headaches and the amount of medication that the participants took because of the headaches. Information was collected every 4 weeks for a period of 24 weeks.

The results showed a significant decrease in pain for the group that received chiropractic care over the group that did not receive any care at all. Both the groups that received chiropractic showed an approximate 50 percent decrease in the number of cervicogenic headaches as well as a decrease in severity.

The groups that received massage also showed improvement over the control group, but that improvement was significantly less than the group that received chiropractic care. The researchers wrote in their conclusion, “Clinically important differences between SMT (spinal manipulative therapy, aka chiropractic adjustments) and a control intervention were observed favoring SMT.”

In the January 2002 edition of the peer reviewed scientific journal, the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, (JMPT) appeared a case study on a 41-year-old woman who sought chiropractic care with complaints of pain at the TMJ on both sides, ear pain, ringing in the ears, vertigo, decreased hearing ability, and a sensation of pressure or fullness in both ears. She also reported that movements of her jaw while talking or chewing provoked pain at the TMJ.

Before seeking chiropractic care she was treated for her TMJ by two medical doctors. She was also referred to an eye, ear, nose, and throat specialist, who diagnosed her with TMJ syndrome. Additionally, she was referred to a dentist for the problem. Medical recommendations were to apply heat to the area, reduce talking and yelling, and change her diet to a soft diet. Even with all this medical and dental care her symptoms steadily continued to get worse.

Eventually she sought the care of a chiropractor. After an examination it was determined by the chiropractor that the patient had an Atlas subluxation, (first bone in the neck). Care was begun by a series of adjustments. After only a few visits the patient reported significant improvement in her symptoms. After two and a half months she reported complete relief from the TMJ symptoms. She also reported a decrease in the frequency and severity of her headaches. Prior to starting chiropractic care, she was experiencing 1 to 2 migraine headache attacks per month. The effects of the chiropractic care were long term as shown at her 1-year follow-up where she had not experienced any headache symptoms for a period of 9 months and her TMJ complaints had completely resolved.