Headaches and migraine explained

Migraine is not just a bad headache

Migraine is not just a headache. Over 5 million Australians live with migraine, affecting 1 in 10 men and 1 in 3 women. Working-age women are the most significantly affected, with up to 45% of women aged between 25 and 45 experiencing migraine attacks. A migraine attack can last for days, weeks or even months. There are many types of migraine with a range of presentations.

Clinical consultation with an osteopath

During an initial consultation, your osteopath will take a thorough case history to find out more about:

• The frequency, intensity and duration of your headache or migraine
• The location of the pain and how long have you have been experiencing headaches or migraine
• Any medications that you take for your headaches or migraine attacks, as well as any other medications you may be taking
• If you have any known triggers for your headaches or migraine attacks
• General lifestyle questions to work out other potential triggers

Osteopathic approach

Osteopaths may use a variety of techniques to help manage headaches and/or migraine. These may include but are not limited to:

• Soft tissue techniques
• Muscle energy techniques
• Mobilisation of joints
• High-velocity low amplitude (HVLA) therapy (joint cracking)
• Indirect techniques (e.g. counterstrain)
• Rehabilitation exercises

Expected outcomes

Patient results do vary, depending on how long you have been experiencing symptoms. Some people may progress quicker or slower than average. However, generally, you would expect to see some changes/improvement over the course of a three-month period for a chronic condition, following regular weekly treatments.

During this time, you would expect that your symptoms would be gradually improving in terms of intensity, frequency, duration and response to medication.

Potential triggers for migraine

Think about the factors that may trigger your migraine and discuss these with your osteo. Some common triggers of migraine may be:

• Diet. For example, cheese, chocolate, citrus fruits, alcohol (especially red wine)
• Either too little or too much sleep
• Hormones such as oestrogen. For example, changes in hormone levels during the menstrual cycle
• Physiochemical causes such as too much heat, light, noise or certain chemicals
• Emotional causes, such as stress, excitement or fatigue
• Relaxation (weekend migraine). This is often triggered by a period of stress and overwork followed by relaxation