How Can Registered Massage Therapy Help?

Introduction

Migraines are on the lower side of what I consider a good time, as someone who suffers from episodic migraines after a few years of chronic migraines I am all too familiar with the impact they can have on our lives socially, physically and psychologically. Migraine sufferers tend to miss a lot of work, have to cancel last minute with family and friends and may find it harder to stick to an exercise routine if you’re constantly being interrupted by this unwelcoming frequent visitor. Some people may worry about what the boss, family and friends think as a lot of people don’t fully understand what a migraine is. This article will hopefully help you understand a little bit more of what we believe is actually happening and maybe give you a few pointers on how to navigate a life while living with migraines.

What is a migraine?

The first thing to note is that migraines are more than just a bad headache. At this point there is no known “cure” for migraines as research is still limited and educating healthcare professionals and the public on the matter is still growing. Originally the thought was that migraines were caused by the constriction and dilation of blood vessels in the head causing the source of severe pain. With more current research the belief now is that migraines are a neurological disorder involving nerve pathways and brain chemicals.(3) There is now evidence to support a familial factor to migraines (“90% of migraine sufferers have a family history of migraines”)(4), but studies now show that environmental factors also play an important role.(3)

A migraine is an intense pulsing or throbbing pain, usually focused in one area of the head but both sides are affected in about 1/3 of attacks. This must happen at least 5 times and last for 4-72 hours when untreated to be diagnosed as a migraine. Other symptoms that commonly occur include sensitivity to light (photophobia), sound (Phonophobia), touch (Allodynia), smell (Hyperosmia), nausea/vomiting, dizziness (Vertigo), visual disturbances “aura” (zig-zag lines, flashing lights or temporary loss of vision, which occur in 25% of people, lasting usually less than an hour) and tingling in the extremities or face. In 15-20% of attacks symptoms start to show before the actual head pain begins.(3,4)

Common Triggers

Triggers will vary from person to person and can change throughout someone’s lifetime. Some common triggers include, stress, food sensitivities/additives, caffeine, artificial sweeteners, delayed or missed meals, physical exertion, anxiety, depression, sensory stimuli, sleep changes, weather changes, alcohol and drug use and hormonal changes in women. It usually takes a lot of trial and error to pinpoint someone’s specific triggers, but with the help and guidance from you Family Doctor, Naturopath or Dietitian they can help narrow them down and find something that works for you. It can be very

Social/Economic

It is important to note that you are not alone in this, migraines are the 3rd most prevalent and 6th most disabling illness in the world effecting over 1 billion people worldwide.(4) Statistics in Canada are limited but, in the USA, an estimated 39 million people are affected, 18% of which are women, 6% are men and 10% are children.(4)

In a quantitative opinion survey by Eli Lilly and Company (February 20, 2018)2, they found that those who suffer from migraines have an increased impact on their day-to-day life. Out of the 1018 adults who took part in this survey 518 people had been diagnosed with migraines. Out of these people 91% that “those who do not suffer from migraines don’t understand the severity of the illness”, 62% try to hide the true impact from those at work or school, 82% expressed the stress of having an unpredictable illness like migraines, 70% agreed with the statement “I’ve avoided making plans because of migraine.” And on average missed 7.4 gathering such as birthdays, holiday gatherings and graduations within the last year. Among parents 72% agree that migraines affect their ability to take care of their family and 77% of which have children under the age of 13 agree they aren’t able to interact the way they would like with their children. Also found in the study is the impact on careers of those suffering from migraines. 68% agreed they are less productive at work, 55% believe migraines have had a negative effect on their career goals while 32% have admitted to turning down opportunities including promotions causing a loss in additional earnings due to migraines. They also found that migraines effect the people in our lives as well, 90% of those who have a family member suffering from a migraine attack agreed they feel “helpless” and 74% would like this person to seek better care or treatment to help.

So, it is easy to see that migraines can directly affect our lives in more than just physical pain but on are much broader scope from our careers to our relationship and everything in between. For those who suffer from migraines, remember you are not alone.

How Massage Therapy Can Help

Massage therapy can help by decreasing stress, reducing muscle tension around the neck, shoulders and upper back, and desensitizing your nervous system. Our goal is to create a safe space to help you on your path to wellness, as mentioned earlier “there is no cure” for migraines but by decreasing stress and tension, prescribing you individualized home care stretching, exercises or mindfulness practices, we can hope to decrease the frequency and even the intensity of migraine attacks.

As I’m sure most of you know that most people tend to hold their tension in their shoulders/neck and can be the source of Tension Type Headaches (TTH) in quite a few of us. These TTH’s can sometimes trigger migraines if the affected areas have become increasingly sensitive, especially when additional stress either physically or mentally is piled on. This increased sensitivity is a protective response from our body to warn us of potential danger or damage, this is possible even when there is no actual physical damage. When an area that is already sensitive receives additional muscle tension a TTH may be triggered, once a TTH is occurring in an area that has an increased sensitivity it is possible for a migraine to be triggered as well.

By receiving semi-regular massage, acupuncture, chiropractic’s, physiotherapy and staying proactive with your self-care plans (that we can help you make) you can start managing the stress in your life more efficiently, decrease the muscle tension before it becomes a contribution to headaches and best of all you will start to replace those potential “damage” signals with good feeling, a “safe” signal that will over time decrease that sensitivity to a point that will be easier to manage.

References

1. Golden L. Peters, PharmD, BCPSSupplements and Featured Publications, Current, New, and Emerging Therapies for the Prevention and Management of Migraine, Volume 25, Issue 2

2. Survey reveals many people with migraine live with pain nearly half of every month [news release]. Eli Lilly and Company: Indianapolis, IN; February 20, 2018.

3. Migraine Research Foundation https://migraineresearchfoundation.org/about-migraine/what-is-migraine/

4. Migraine Research Foundation https://migraineresearchfoundation.org/about-migraine/migraine-facts/

5. Noseda R, Burstein R. Migraine pathophysiology: anatomy of the trigeminovascular pathway and associated neurological symptoms, cortical spreading depression, sensitization, and modulation of pain. Pain. 2013;154(suppl 1):S44-S53. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2013.

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What Is A Migraine?