Migraine Headache Relief
Migraine Headaches Are Complicated
Migraines cannot be treated as if they’re just a really bad headaches, because they’re not; they’re a neurological disorder. When you have a migraine, you can feel intense pulsating or throbbing pain on one side of your head that limits or impairs normal activity and is often intensified by physical exertion. To be considered a migraine headache, these symptoms must be accompanied by nausea and at least one of the following: sensitivity to light, sensitivity to sound, and/or sensitivity to smell.
A few other things you need to know about Migraine Headaches:
- Migraine headaches need to be diagnosed by a doctor*
- Migraines can have a hormonal component
- Migraines headaches may or may not have a vascular pounding component
- You may have any number of seemingly unrelated triggers
- Stress is NOT a migraine trigger, but can make you more susceptible to your triggers
- Pain relievers, including caffeine, may cause rebound headaches if taken too often
*Note: If you have headaches that fit the description of a migraine, you NEED to have them diagnosed by a doctor because many very serious conditions can mimic the pain patterns of migraines. While the more serious conditions are fairly rare, it really is a case of better safe than sorry. As a responsible massage therapist, I won’t work on your migraines if you haven’t been diagnosed. This is because, in many cases, headache massage will make these serious conditions worse.
Relief is Possible
Sadly, there is no cure for migraine headaches and you should be wary of anyone who promises one.
However, A combination of skilled massage, bodywork, trigger identification, stress reduction, and aromatherapy can reduce both the intensity and the frequency of your migraines.
Migraines Need a Plan
At New Yew, you get:
- An individualized treatment plan with your goals and needs in mind
- Flexibility, should your goals or needs change
- A large number of techniques available, because there are many means to the same end and everyone responds to a given technique differently
- Choice of massage, bodywork, reiki, and/or aromatherapy
- A therapist who specializes in migraines
- A therapist who does her best to stay current on migraine research
- A therapist who never assumes she knows more about how your pain or body feels than you do
- Help to design an effective stress management plan that will be tailored to your needs, personality, and lifestyle
