Migraine Management: Treatment, Habits and Care Options

Migraine is a neurological condition that can involve recurring head pain, nausea and sensitivity to light or sound. Some people experience aura. Treatment aims to reduce attacks and their impact; a quick technique cannot be promised to eliminate migraine.

Discuss attacks and prevention with your medical clinician

Record how often attacks happen, how long they last and how they affect work, sleep or daily activities. Medical treatment may include medicines for an attack and preventive options when appropriate. Frequent use of headache medicines can contribute to additional headaches, so discuss use with your prescriber rather than increasing doses yourself.

Use a headache diary

Note symptoms, medicines taken, sleep, meals and possible triggers. Patterns can guide a conversation about treatment. Avoid broad food restrictions based only on a generic list; a suspected trigger should be considered in the context of your own experience and nutritional needs.

Daily habits and complementary approaches

Regular routines, appropriate activity and relaxation strategies may be useful parts of a plan. They do not make migraine your fault or replace medical treatment. Ask about evidence and safety before adding supplements or other therapies.

Where chiropractic care fits

A person with migraine may also have a separate neck or muscle problem that warrants assessment. Research on spinal manipulation for migraine has limitations, and improvement in neck discomfort does not establish that migraine has been cured. Discuss benefits, alternatives and risks before any neck manipulation.

When a headache is an emergency

Call 911 for a sudden, unusually severe headache or a headache with new weakness, trouble speaking, confusion, seizure or loss of vision. Severe headache with fever and a stiff neck, or concerning symptoms after a head injury, also needs urgent medical assessment.

See our migraine information page for more on assessment and care. For non-emergency office questions, call 704-461-1836.

Sources: NINDS: Migraine; NCCIH: Spinal Manipulation; NHS: Migraine.