Headaches/Migraines continued

3) Chiropractic treatment of childhood migraine headache: a case study. Proceedings of the National Conference on Chiropractic and Pediatrics 1994, p. 85-90. As abstracted by Masarsky Cs. Headache and Torticollis (Research review) ICA International Review of Chiropractic 1995; 51(1): 45-47.

• A case of a 10-year-old male with a three-year-history of migraine headaches. During the first month of chiropractic care, it was reported that he only had two prodromal episodes, but no full migraines.

4) Case #3: 13-year-old with headache, depression, poor appetite, nausea, general muscular weakness, dizziness and sensitivity to light and noise. Case reports in chiropractic pediatrics. Esch, S. ACA J of Chiropractic December 1988.

• A 13-day-old with a history of respiratory difficulty since birth (home birth, uncomplicated). Infant had difficulty nursing due to “stuffiness.” Upon presentation patient was in considerable pain, wearing dark glasses and ear plugs to compensate for increased sensitivity to sound and light. One week beforehand he had been injured in a football game collision. Medical doctors had given the child painkillers. Patient was hospitalized in traction for two weeks with no improvement.
• Chiropractic examination: X-ray (Davis series) of the cervical spine showed right lateral displacement of atlas with right rotation of C-2. Following initial adjustment the patient could ride home without wearing his sunglasses and for the first time in two weeks expressed an interest in food. He returned the next day saying he felt, “The best I’ve felt in six weeks.”

5) A case series of migraine changes following a manipulative therapy trial. Tuchin PJ. Australasian Chiropractic & Osteopathy, Nov. 1997; 66(3), pp. 85-91.

• Four cases of migraine responded dramatically to spinal care. Many self reported symptoms were either eliminated or substantially reduced. Average frequency of episodes was reduced by 90% with the length of each headache reduced by 38%. Medication use dropped 94%. Other symptoms associated with migraine were reduced including nausea, vomiting, photophobia and phonophobia.

6) A holistic approach to severe headache symptoms in a patient unresponsive to regional manual therapy. Stude, DE and Sweere, JJ. JMPT 1996; 19:202-7.

• This case history deals with a woman who suffered from severe migraine headache symptoms who found no relief from medical care or cervical chiropractic adjustments. This is the case of a patient suffering from severe headache complaints who was previously unresponsive to regional cervical spine care. Chiropractic spinal adjustments were provided as the only intervention and the patient reported no visits to the emergency room, even after a 1-year follow-up, and the average visual analogue pain decreased.
• Results: the use of analgesics decreased by 36% in the manipulation group, but was un-changed in the soft-tissue group; this difference was statistically significant. The number of headache hours per day decreased by 69% in the manipulation group compared with 37% in the soft-tissue group; this was significant. Finally, the headache intensity per episode decreased by 36% in the manipulation group, compared with 17% in the soft-tissue group; this was significant.

7) Chiropractic care of a 13 year-old with headache and neck pain: a case report. Hewitt EG. Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, Sept. 1994; 38(3): 160-162.

• From the abstract: This report describes a 13 year-old female who had suffered from unremitting headache and neck pain for five days. She described them as a throbbing and stabbing pressure that normally occurred once per week and lasted approximately one hour. She had missed one week of school. She had visited her family MD and he had recommended seeing a chiropractor. Following a series of four chiropractic treatments over a two-week period, her headache and neck pain resolved. Patient had injured her neck in gymnastics. Her neck pain and shortly after her headaches resolved. At a four-week follow-up, she remained pain free.

8) Toftness Spinal Correction in the treatment of migraine: a case study. Gemmell HA, Jacobson BH and Sutton L Chiropractic Technique, May 1994; 6(2): 57-60.

9) ENCEPHALGIA / MIGRAINE A Case Study by Harley Bofshever DC, ICPA Newsletter, Nov/Dec, 1999

• HISTORY- A 10-year-old girl was brought in to my office on 2-15-99 suffering chronic and severe migraine headaches. History reveals that this patient has been having migraine headaches 6 times a week for the past 3 years. At the current time, the patient has not been able to go to school due to the severity of the headaches. The patient was treated at Marino's Children's Hospital, where she recently saw a neurologist. Her pediatrician has prescribed Periactin Syrup as a preventative, however it has not been helpful. The patient does suffer mild allergies to mold and mildew. She did have a double hernia at 72 ­months, which required surgery. Past treatment for her headache, has included an illumination diet, prescribed by her pediatrician, which she has been on for the past 2 ½ years, however results have been extremely poor. It is noted that headaches do run on the paternal side of the patient's family.
• EXAMINATION- Detailed examination was performed in our office revealing restricted range of motion of the cervical spine is noted. Palpatory tenderness of Cl / C2 on the left. There is also inflammation to the posterior cervical musculature. At the time of examination the patient did have a headache and stated that her pain intensity of her headache was a 10. There are also taunt and tender fibers of the posterior cervical musculature and the trapezium region bilaterally. Cervical x-rays taken in the routine weight bearing position and analyzed revealing an atlas listing of ASLP; decreased cervical lordosis, lower cervical subluxation and rotation of the upper thoracic vertebrae.
• CARE PLAN- Recommendations were made for adjustments 3 times a week for 8 weeks and 2 times a week for 4 weeks due to the severity and chronicity of her headaches. At the end of that period she will be reexamined. If patient responds well to care, the care plan may be reduced pending patient's response to treatment.
• PROGRESS - The patient's symptomatology improved following her third visit at which time she stopped using the Periactin Syrup. She was advised to continue her treatment of 3 times a week. By the end of her third week, the patient was able to begin school again. She also started her dance classes for the first time in 2 years, and actually began to smile again. She was leading a normal and healthy life for a child of her age by the end of the 5th visit.

Article on Headaches in Children: http://www.chiroweb.com/archives/16/17/04.html

References from Koren Publications’ brochure: Help for Headache Sufferers

• Seletz, E. Whiplash injuries. JAMA, Nov. 29, 1958, pp. 1750-1755.
• Bogduk, N. Cervical causes of headache and dizziness. In G. Grieve (Ed.), Modern Manual Therapy of the Vertebral Column. Churchill Livingstone, 1986, pp. 289-299.
• Bogduk, N. The anatomical basis for cervicogenic headache. JMPT, Jan. 1992, pp. 67-70.
• Kreeft, J. Headache following whiplash. In Spine: State of the art reviews: Cervical Flexion-Extension/ Whiplash Injuries, Sept. 1993, p. 395.
• Braaf, M., & Rosner, S.J. Trauma of the cervical spine as cause of chronic headache. Trauma, 1975, 15, pp. 441-446.
• Results of manipulative treatment on childhood migraine. Hippocrates, 1963, pp. 308-316.
• Turk, Z. Mobilization of the cervical spine in chronic headaches. Manuel Medizin, 1987, pp. 15-17.
• Ussher, N.T. Spinal curvatures-visceral disturbances in relation thereto. California and Western Medical Journal, 1933, 38, p. 16.
• Vernon, H.T. Spinal manipulation and headaches of cervical origin. JMPT, 1989, 12, pp. 455-468.