For those of the 12% of Americans who suffer from migraines, or frequent severe headaches, there are many options for treatment. Medication oftentimes is the first line of treatment for migraines. Still, according to the Endeavor Rehab Center, some of these medications taken for long periods may cause different headaches to develop. Dry needling may be another treatment that can provide relief from migraine symptoms. Dry needling is a technique used by physical therapists to help treat pain, muscle spasms, and general tightness; all of which can contribute to migraine symptoms.
Headache Versus Migraine
While it may be easy to use these two names interchangeably, there is a big difference between having a headache and having migraines. According to the Cleveland Clinic, a headache is a less serious condition where the pain you experience is coming from your head or face and is not linked to any neurologic conditions. A common form of headache is a tension headache which is caused by tightening of the face or head. Migraines on the other hand impact is a complex condition that impacts your brain, causing debilitating pain and changes to vision, hearing, and sense of equilibrium.
What Types of Migraines Can Be Treated with Dry Needling?
Migraines are a complex neurological disease, and with that in mind, there can be multiple reasons that an individual can experience migraines. According to the American Migraine Foundation, the symptoms one experiences, triggers, and whether someone experiences headaches all can be used to classify what type of migraine an individual can experience. Dry needling can be an effective treatment for the following types of migraines:
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Cervicogenic migraines
Cervicogenic migraines present themselves as intense pain that is on one side of the head and radiates from the back of your head up over your scalp into the forehead and eye. These types of migraines are often due to muscle spasms and tightness of the suboccipital muscles, which are the muscles that sit at the base of your skull and provide support to your head. Since the subocciptial muscles also help with neck and head movements many times cervicogenic headaches are also accompanied by neck pain and limited neck range of motion. By releasing the tension in these muscles with dry needling, it allows for improved range of motion and decreased pain.
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Cluster migraines
Cluster migraines are a type of migraine that is characterized by a consistent building pain behind the eyes which occurs in groups that are 1-3 hours long and occur multiple times in a day. There can be periods of remission between clusters ranging from months to years. Other symptoms associated with cluster headaches include red or watering eyes, congestion, swelling on one side of the face, and swelling or drooping of the eyelid. There are a number of muscles that, when tight can contribute to pain behind the eyes. These muscles include the sternocleidomastoid (aka the muscle that runs down the side of our neck), temporalis muscle, masseter and the upper traps. Dry needling the trigger points in these muscles will reduce their tension and referred pain contributing to cluster migrains.
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Ice Pick
This type of migraine is characterized by a short, quick, jab of pain often either around the eye or in areas of common pain. The symptoms often come on without warning and can occur multiple times daily. While this type of migraine may occur with no other symptoms, it may also be a symptom of other conditions including shingles, multiple sclerosis, or in rare cases meningioma (cancer). Intense pain can be stressful (and rightly so) and lead to an increase in muscle tension. Utilizing dry needling for reducing overall muscle tension around the neck and shoulders can help to decrease the frequency and intensity of ice pick migrains.
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Migraines with or without auras
Migraines can present with multiple symptoms, but an aura is a sensory disturbance before the onset of a migraine. These symptoms include spots in vision, flashes of light, tingling in hands or face, and dizziness. According to the Migraine Trust, while we are unsure why auras occur it may be due to slow-wave brain activity called “cortical spreading depression” which results in changes to nerve activity, neurotransmitter expression, and blood flow which may lead to some of these symptoms.
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Chronic migraines
Chronic migraines are a classification of migraine where you experience migraines or headaches greater than 15 times per month for over three months. Like other migraines, it manifests itself as a pulsing pain that affects one side of the head. Additionally, it often comes with nausea, light sensitivity, and changes to the sense of touch. Research is ongoing into the exact cause of chronic migraines, but according to the Cleveland Clinic, it may be linked to genetics.
How Can Dry Needling Help with Migraines?
Dry needling has numerous effects on the body and can be utilized to influence both the musculoskeletal system and nervous systems. By targeting trigger points, or areas of tension in muscles or connective tissue, it can relax muscles in the face, neck, and shoulders which can refer migraine symptoms up into the head, forehead, and face. Additionally, dry needling can stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for relaxing the whole body. When combined with stretching and strengthening, dry needling can be an effective, minimally invasive, and medication-free way to tackle migraines!
Additional Considerations for Managing Your Migraines
According to the American Migraine Foundation, several strategies can be implemented at home to mitigate some stimuli that may bring on migraines. Utilizing these strategies in addition to dry needling can provide lasting relief.
Sleep
People who suffer from migraines often also have a disrupted sleep cycle which can increase the likelihood of the onset of migraines. Keeping a consistent bedtime and wake-up time with a goal of 8 hours of sleep per night can be an effective strategy for managing symptoms.
Exercise
Research has shown that frequent exercise can the severity, frequency, and duration of migraine attacks. It is recommended that one should get 3-5 days of physical activity ranging from 30-50 minutes. If you still need to exercise, start small with low-impact activities like walking, cycling, or water aerobics.
Eat
Ensuring that you have proper, consistent nutrition and hydration is important to decreasing the severity, frequency, and duration of migraine attacks. Meals that are high in protein, fiber, and healthy fats minimize blood sugar spikes which have been linked to the onset of migraines. Some food items can also be triggers for migraines such as coffee and red wine, so understanding what can cause migraines for you is important.
Diary
To receive the diagnosis of migraines and ensure you receive optimal treatment for your symptoms, it can be helpful to keep a diary of your migraine experiences. Keeping a log of the time of day, where your pain is located, other symptoms you experience during a migraine attack, and your stress level can be very helpful to your healthcare team in giving you the highest level of care.
Stress
Research shows that stress can be a major factor in developing migraines. Left unchecked chronic stress can lead to the development of migraine symptoms even when you are relaxing called “let down” migraine. Stress can come from multiple sources, so utilizing tools like diary-writing, mindfulness exercises, and talking to your healthcare professional can all be effective ways to manage stress.
Curious to try dry needling for your headaches or migraines? Contact us today to get started.
More questions about dry needling? Please see our blog called, “What is Dry Needling? Everything You Need to Know” for more in-depth information about this treatment.
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