Migraine sufferers
We may be able to help the migraines without aura. The one with aura are for medical consideration. And as you know migraine treatment needs to consider may health factors. Good to start by removing all chemicals from your house (use eco friendly products), remove any mould from your house/work area, clean air con filters regularly, see a nutritionist for your specific body shape/metabolism requirements, remove sugar from your diet!, milk can stimulate sinus headaches and migraines, blood pressure check ups, sleep studies and airway restrictions/sleep apnoea, and many many more considerations
Unfortunately migraines can be misdiagnosed, and the pain often changes over time and one diagnosis becomes outdated!
Some ground breaking books on help with Migraines (aura and without aura):
- Dr Dan Pursers's - Progresterone Book, click here (for women).
- Inna Segal's - The secret language of your body, will help give you a clue into your emotional ties around this pain. Part of the therapy from an injury is the emotional (not just physical and medication). It is up to you to seek the right spiritual therapy.
Leigh uses psychotherapy inner child and Buddhism.
Many people with migraines also suffer secondary headaches different to their migraine.
If the migraine pain pathway on your head is the same as your headache pathway, we have a higher success rate.
If the migraine pathway on your head is different to the pain pathway on your head, it is harder to treat.
If you are waking with migraines/headaches/neck, its a big indication that its due to your night clenching/grinding (not a sign you need a new pillow!), usually due to sleep apnoea.
Treatment:
The first part of the treatment; (For non aura migraines)
Is thought to dampen down the trigeminocervical complex via the upper neck joints, with firm pressure to firstly make sure the neck is in central alignment (i.e no stiff joints or rotated neck joints, specifically C2 and C3).
We are finding it is most successful with people whose headaches become their migraines (i.e as the headache gets worse, it becomes migraine pain, and the referral pattern is the same, without aura. This treatment works regardless of its triggers (stress, dehydration, menstrual, cluster etc).
The technique does not involve any ‘cracking’ of the neck joints, and we complete a thorough assessment to see if your symptoms are suitable for the technique. Both the Physio and the client will know within x2-3 sessions whether it is working, Usually we see the client x2 the first week and x2 the second week. If you have not had at least 50% reduction of symptoms we reassess and recommend a specialist to manage your case.
It is very importantly you do your home exercises!! as our treatment is only half the treatment. The exercises help with your body awareness and a more central spinal position with everyday life.
Clients with migraines that are separate to their headaches (i.e are on a different referral pathway on their head) are more difficult to treat. So too with menstrual related headaches/migraines and aura associated migraines.
Watson DH, Drummond PD. Head Pain Referral During Examination of the Neck in Migraine and Tension-Type Headache. Headache 2012;52:1226-1235 (abstract)
Watson DH, Drummond PD. Cervical Referral of Head Pain in Migraineurs: Effects on the Nociceptive Blink Reflex. Headache 2014;54:1035-1045 (full)
These technique are safe on any age from 4 year old to 104 year old. We check that you have vital neck ligaments in tact before we work on your neck.
The second part of treatment; (Aura type migraines)
Involves an extensive assessment and questioning of your medical background.
For example restrictions in your airways can increase your clenching and impact on your health.
Bad Guts! - bad gut bacteria, gut anaemia, lots of different gut conditions can impact on your health, including increasing your clenching.
Changes in hormone levels - normal teenage hood, menopause, pregnancy, can also trigger an increase in clenching.
And thus create head pain/headaches/migraines.
Therefore we assess your health and prioritise which specialist you should see to address each medical condition that could be contributing to your overall over activity of night and day clenching and over stimulation of the trigeminal nerve.
Most commonly clients are referred onto expert night occlusion splint (like a mouth guard) dentists/specialists (who have also have training in sleep/respiratory medicine). If you have a restriction of airways and the wrong splint is made (ie reduces your airways further) you could become quite ill. Ask our team for the correct referral. Not all therapists who make splints have extensive training.
The International Headache Society
Have great guidelines, diagnosis guidelines, medication tips and medication overuse leaflets
go to; https://www.ihs-headache.org/
https://www.ihs-headache.org/ichd-guidelines
We may be able to help the migraines without aura. The one with aura are for medical consideration. And as you know migraine treatment needs to consider may health factors. Good to start by removing all chemicals from your house (use eco friendly products), remove any mould from your house/work area, clean air con filters regularly, see a nutritionist for your specific body shape/metabolism requirements, remove sugar from your diet!, milk can stimulate sinus headaches and migraines, blood pressure check ups, sleep studies and airway restrictions/sleep apnoea, and many many more considerations
Unfortunately migraines can be misdiagnosed, and the pain often changes over time and one diagnosis becomes outdated!
Some ground breaking books on help with Migraines (aura and without aura):
- Dr Dan Pursers's - Progresterone Book, click here (for women).
- Inna Segal's - The secret language of your body, will help give you a clue into your emotional ties around this pain. Part of the therapy from an injury is the emotional (not just physical and medication). It is up to you to seek the right spiritual therapy.
Leigh uses psychotherapy inner child and Buddhism.
Many people with migraines also suffer secondary headaches different to their migraine.
If the migraine pain pathway on your head is the same as your headache pathway, we have a higher success rate.
If the migraine pathway on your head is different to the pain pathway on your head, it is harder to treat.
If you are waking with migraines/headaches/neck, its a big indication that its due to your night clenching/grinding (not a sign you need a new pillow!), usually due to sleep apnoea.
Treatment:
The first part of the treatment; (For non aura migraines)
Is thought to dampen down the trigeminocervical complex via the upper neck joints, with firm pressure to firstly make sure the neck is in central alignment (i.e no stiff joints or rotated neck joints, specifically C2 and C3).
We are finding it is most successful with people whose headaches become their migraines (i.e as the headache gets worse, it becomes migraine pain, and the referral pattern is the same, without aura. This treatment works regardless of its triggers (stress, dehydration, menstrual, cluster etc).
The technique does not involve any ‘cracking’ of the neck joints, and we complete a thorough assessment to see if your symptoms are suitable for the technique. Both the Physio and the client will know within x2-3 sessions whether it is working, Usually we see the client x2 the first week and x2 the second week. If you have not had at least 50% reduction of symptoms we reassess and recommend a specialist to manage your case.
It is very importantly you do your home exercises!! as our treatment is only half the treatment. The exercises help with your body awareness and a more central spinal position with everyday life.
Clients with migraines that are separate to their headaches (i.e are on a different referral pathway on their head) are more difficult to treat. So too with menstrual related headaches/migraines and aura associated migraines.
Watson DH, Drummond PD. Head Pain Referral During Examination of the Neck in Migraine and Tension-Type Headache. Headache 2012;52:1226-1235 (abstract)
Watson DH, Drummond PD. Cervical Referral of Head Pain in Migraineurs: Effects on the Nociceptive Blink Reflex. Headache 2014;54:1035-1045 (full)
These technique are safe on any age from 4 year old to 104 year old. We check that you have vital neck ligaments in tact before we work on your neck.
The second part of treatment; (Aura type migraines)
Involves an extensive assessment and questioning of your medical background.
For example restrictions in your airways can increase your clenching and impact on your health.
Bad Guts! - bad gut bacteria, gut anaemia, lots of different gut conditions can impact on your health, including increasing your clenching.
Changes in hormone levels - normal teenage hood, menopause, pregnancy, can also trigger an increase in clenching.
And thus create head pain/headaches/migraines.
Therefore we assess your health and prioritise which specialist you should see to address each medical condition that could be contributing to your overall over activity of night and day clenching and over stimulation of the trigeminal nerve.
Most commonly clients are referred onto expert night occlusion splint (like a mouth guard) dentists/specialists (who have also have training in sleep/respiratory medicine). If you have a restriction of airways and the wrong splint is made (ie reduces your airways further) you could become quite ill. Ask our team for the correct referral. Not all therapists who make splints have extensive training.
The International Headache Society
Have great guidelines, diagnosis guidelines, medication tips and medication overuse leaflets
go to; https://www.ihs-headache.org/
https://www.ihs-headache.org/ichd-guidelines