Understanding Silent Migraines
Silent migraines, also known as acephalgic or typical aura without headache, are a unique type of migraine characterized by experiencing the typical symptoms of migraines but without the headache. This condition is known as "silent" because the most noticeable migraine symptom – the painful headache – is absent.
However, silent migraines are not silent in terms of symptoms; they come with many of the discomforts associated with migraines, making it essential to understand their symptoms, triggers, and treatment options, which include a range of medical therapies and holistic approaches like upper cervical chiropractic care.
Symptoms of Silent Migraines
Silent migraine sufferers often experience an 'aura' phase, which can precede or occur during the migraine. These auras often manifest as visual disturbances such as blind spots, flashing lights, or zigzag patterns. But they can also involve sensory, motor, or verbal disturbances.
Other common symptoms include:
- Visual disturbances: Such as flickering lights, spots, or lines, or temporary blindness.
- Sensory changes: Tingling or numbness in the face or extremities, typically on one side of the body.
- Difficulty speaking: Speech may be slurred or hard to produce, and the person may have trouble communicating.
- Mental fog: Difficulty concentrating, confusion, or forgetfulness may occur.
- Weakness: There may be a sudden feeling of weakness on one side of the body.
- Dizziness or vertigo: An imbalance, spinning sensation, or even fainting could occur.
These symptoms typically resolve within an hour but can be quite debilitating.
Triggers of Silent Migraines
Silent migraines can be triggered by the same factors that provoke regular migraines. Triggers can vary significantly between individuals, but common ones include:
- Stress: This is a common trigger. Both chronic stress and acute stress can provoke a silent migraine.
- Changes in sleep patterns: Both too much and too little sleep can serve as triggers.
- Certain foods and drinks: These may include aged cheese, alcoholic beverages (especially red wine), and foods containing MSG or nitrates.
- Caffeine: Both excessive intake and withdrawal can trigger migraines.
- Hormonal changes: In women, fluctuations in estrogen levels, such as those before or during periods, pregnancy, and menopause, can trigger migraines.
- Environmental factors: These include changes in weather or barometric pressure, bright or flickering lights, loud noises, or strong odors.
Prevention and Management of Silent Migraines
Avoiding known triggers is a crucial part of managing and preventing silent migraines. Keeping a headache diary can help identify potential triggers and patterns. It's also essential to maintain a healthy lifestyle, which includes regular sleep, a balanced diet, regular exercise, and stress management techniques.
Medication can also be a part of silent migraine prevention. This may involve medications originally designed for epilepsy, depression, or hypertension but have been found useful in preventing migraines. For acute episodes, medication to manage associated symptoms like nausea or vertigo can be beneficial.
Treatment Options
Treatment for silent migraines generally aims to alleviate the immediate symptoms and prevent future episodes. Common medical treatments include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), triptans, and ergotamines.
However, there are effective alternative and natural treatment methods that are beneficial to helping alleviate silent migraines. One such method is upper cervical chiropractic care.
Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care
Upper cervical chiropractic care focuses on the relationship between the upper cervical spine (neck) and the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), recognizing that misalignments in the upper neck can interfere with the normal functioning of the nervous system. This misalignment, known as an upper cervical subluxation, can be caused by various factors, including physical trauma, stress, and toxins. Correcting these subluxations can help improve overall health and treat a variety of conditions, including silent migraines.
How We Treat Silent Migraines
Upper cervical chiropractic care stands as an effective treatment for silent migraines, offering sustainable and significant results. Specializing in this type of chiropractic care at Upper Spine Knoxville, Dr. Bejian Shamloo targets silent migraines at their source rather than merely mitigating secondary symptoms.
First, Dr. Shamloo will conduct diagnostic testing in order to identify any misalignments in your upper cervical spine. And, Dr. Shamloo utilizes advanced 3D imaging in order to get a detailed snapshot of your spine's health and alignment. This cutting-edge technology allows him to execute accurate corrections during treatment.
Once misalignments are detected, Dr. Shamloo will employ delicate upper cervical chiropractic adjustments to realign the vertebrae and relieve any nerve compression. These adjustment techniques are non-invasive and devoid of pain, offering patients the opportunity to find relief from migraines without resorting to medication or surgical intervention.
If silent migraines are impeding your daily activities, Dr. Shamloo is ready to assist. He extends his services of upper cervical chiropractic treatments to patients in Knoxville, Alcoa, Maryville, Farragut, Clinton, Oak Ridge, Sevierville, Lenoir City, Karns, Hardin Valley, Powell, Halls, Fountain City in Tennessee, and nearby regions.