Understanding Migraines
If you’re sitting in our office at Kosterman Chiropractic in Cary, NC for the first time as a migraine sufferer, chances are you’ve already been through the wringer. You’ve seen your primary care doctor, maybe a neurologist, maybe several. You’ve tried Topamax, gabapentin, triptans, or some combination of medications that either partially work, stop working over time, or come with side effects that feel almost as bad as the migraines themselves. And yet here you are — still getting migraines. That’s not a coincidence, and it’s not bad luck. It’s because nobody has looked for the root cause yet. That’s exactly what we do at Kosterman Chiropractic, and it’s why migraine patients from Cary, Apex, Morrisville, Holly Springs, and the greater Raleigh area find results here that they couldn’t find anywhere else.
Migraines are far more common than most people realize. They affect approximately 39 million people in the United States and over one billion people worldwide — making migraine one of the most prevalent neurological conditions on the planet. It’s the third most common illness in the world and a leading cause of disability. Despite how common they are, the majority of migraine sufferers are either undiagnosed, undertreated, or managed exclusively with medication without anyone ever investigating what’s actually driving the attacks. If you have migraines regularly — whether that’s once a week, once a month, or somewhere in between — that is not normal, and it is not something you simply have to accept and live with.
So what actually is a migraine and how do you know if that’s what you’re dealing with? A migraine is not just a really bad headache — it’s a neurological event with a very specific set of characteristics that distinguish it from tension headaches or other head pain. The pain of a migraine is typically intense and throbbing, almost always one-sided, and often centered behind one eye or at the temple. It’s frequently accompanied by nausea or vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound — to the point where a normally lit room feels unbearable and ordinary sounds feel like they’re drilling into your skull. Many migraine sufferers experience what’s called an aura before the headache hits — visual disturbances like flashing lights, zigzag lines, or blind spots that signal the migraine is coming. Migraines can last anywhere from four hours to three days, and during that time most patients are completely unable to function normally. If that description sounds like what you experience, you’re dealing with a migraine — and you deserve more than just a prescription to manage it.
What causes migraines? The honest answer is that the full picture is complex and not completely understood — migraines involve neurological changes, shifts in brain chemistry, and vascular changes that researchers are still working to fully explain. But what we know is that triggers play an enormous role — stress, hormonal fluctuations, poor sleep, certain foods and beverages, dehydration, weather changes, and strong sensory stimuli like bright lights and strong smells can all set off a migraine attack in susceptible individuals. And critically — cervical spine dysfunction is a significant and frequently overlooked contributing factor. The upper cervical spine has a direct neurological relationship with the trigeminal nerve and the brainstem structures involved in migraine generation. Subluxations and restricted joints in the upper neck create chronic neurological irritation that lowers the threshold for migraine attacks — meaning the brain becomes more reactive and more easily triggered. Address that underlying spinal dysfunction, and you change the neurological environment that the migraines are developing in.
This is why medications alone so often fall short for migraine patients. Topamax, gabapentin, triptans — these are valuable tools, and I would never tell a patient to stop their medication without working with their prescribing doctor. But medications are designed to manage the symptom or interrupt the attack — they are not designed to correct a cervical subluxation, restore proper spinal motion, or address the neurological irritation that is lowering the migraine threshold in the first place. At Kosterman Chiropractic in Cary, NC, our goal is to find the root cause of what’s driving your migraines, correct it specifically and directly, and give your nervous system the best possible environment to function without generating migraine attacks. For many patients, that means significantly reducing migraine frequency and severity. For some, it means getting off medication entirely. And it always means doing so without the side effects that come with long-term pharmaceutical management. We give our migraine patients something most of them haven’t had in a long time — genuine hope that things can actually get better.
$49 New Patient Special
Includes consultation, examination, x-Ray (if needed) & 1st chiropractic adjustment. This offer does not apply to federal beneficiaries, auto accident cases, workers’ compensation or if filing health insurance.
How Our Care Plan Works
1. Better
In the first phase of care, our priority is simple: help you feel better fast. We work to reduce pain, improve mobility, and support better sleep so your body can begin healing the right way. This is where we calm the irritation, begin restoring proper motion, and lay the foundation for lasting results — not just temporary relief.
2. Stronger
Once pain has decreased and mobility begins to return, we shift our focus to restoring proper function and stability. This phase is about correcting the underlying issues, rebuilding strength, and improving the way your spine and body move — so progress sticks. We work to help you return to the activities you love with confidence, not caution.
3. Healthier
It doesn’t make sense to get you better, just for it to all go bad again! We want you feeling and functioning your best for years to come. This phase ensures that you maintain all of the amazing progress you have made.
How We Treat Migraines In Cary, NC
Comprehensive Consultation and Exam for Migraine Treatment in Cary, NC
When a migraine patient comes into Kosterman Chiropractic in Cary, NC, the consultation is where everything begins — and it’s where we immediately start doing something different than what most patients have experienced elsewhere. We sit down together in a quiet room, and I give you my complete and undivided attention. I want to know everything about your migraines — how often are they occurring, how long do they last, which side of the head, do you get an aura beforehand, what are your known triggers, what time of day do they typically hit, are they worse during the work week or on weekends, what medications are you taking and how well are they working, and how are the migraines affecting your daily life, your work, your relationships, and your ability to function. That level of detail matters enormously because migraine patterns tell us a great deal about what’s driving them before we’ve even laid a hand on you.
From there we move into a thorough hands-on examination with a specific focus on the areas most directly connected to migraine generation. I assess the upper cervical spine — C1, C2, and C3 — which have a direct neurological relationship with the trigeminal nerve and brainstem structures involved in migraine attacks. I palpate each spinal level to identify subluxations and restricted joints that are creating chronic neurological irritation in the system. I evaluate posture and forward head position — because the further the head drifts forward, the more tension is placed on the upper cervical structures that feed migraine patterns. I assess the suboccipital muscles at the base of the skull for trigger points and compression of the greater occipital nerve. A neurological examination follows to check sensation, reflexes, and muscle strength. And we take a focused set of cervical digital x-rays right here in our Cary, NC office to assess spinal alignment, disc spacing, and structural changes that give us the complete picture of what’s driving your migraines. For migraine sufferers throughout Cary, Apex, Morrisville, Holly Springs, and the Raleigh area who have never had their cervical spine evaluated as part of their migraine workup — this examination is often the missing piece they’ve been looking for.
Specific Chiropractic Care for Migraine Relief in Cary, NC
The connection between the cervical spine and migraines is one of the most important and most underutilized pieces of information in migraine management today — and it’s the foundation of our chiropractic approach to migraine treatment at Kosterman Chiropractic in Cary, NC. At the center of that connection is the subluxation. When vertebrae in the upper cervical spine — particularly C1, C2, and C3 — become misaligned or lose their proper motion, they create a state of chronic neurological irritation in one of the most sensitive areas of the nervous system. The upper cervical spine sits at the junction between the brainstem and the spinal cord, and the nerves in this region share pathways with the trigeminal nerve — the primary nerve involved in migraine generation. When those joints are subluxated and irritated, they lower the neurological threshold for migraine attacks, essentially making the brain more reactive and more easily triggered by the various stressors and stimuli that set migraines off. Correct the subluxation, restore proper motion, and you change the neurological environment — raising the threshold and reducing the frequency and severity of attacks.
Specific chiropractic adjustments to the upper cervical spine are the most direct and effective tool we have for addressing this neurological component of migraine generation — and the research supports this. Studies have shown that chiropractic adjustments produce meaningful reductions in migraine frequency, duration, and intensity for a significant percentage of migraine sufferers, with some patients achieving results comparable to commonly prescribed preventive medications — without the side effects. At Kosterman Chiropractic our adjustments for migraine patients are precise, gentle, and specifically targeted to the restricted cervical segments creating the neurological irritation driving the attacks. Combined with soft tissue work, corrective exercises, and lifestyle guidance, we give migraine patients in Cary, Apex, Morrisville, Holly Springs, and the Raleigh area a comprehensive approach that medications alone simply cannot provide. What makes chiropractic care superior to the conventional model for migraines is the same thing that makes it superior across the board — we are fixing the underlying cause rather than managing the symptom, and for many patients that makes all the difference.
Custom Therapeutic Exercise Plan
Exercise is an important but carefully managed component of migraine care at Kosterman Chiropractic in Cary, NC — carefully managed because for some migraine patients vigorous exercise can actually be a trigger, and the timing and type of exercise prescribed matter significantly. That said, the research is clear that regular appropriate exercise reduces migraine frequency over time, and building the right muscular foundation around the cervical spine is one of the most important things a migraine patient can do for long-term relief.
Here’s the muscular picture we almost universally see in migraine patients. The deep cervical flexors at the front of the neck — the small stabilizing muscles responsible for holding the head in proper alignment over the shoulders — are chronically weak and inhibited. The upper trapezius, suboccipital muscles, and levator scapulae are chronically overactive and tight. The result is forward head posture that places constant mechanical stress on the upper cervical structures most directly connected to migraine generation. When a subluxation is present in that region, it further inhibits the already weak stabilizing muscles and ramps up the tension in the already overactive ones — creating a vicious cycle of postural deterioration and neurological irritation that feeds migraine attacks.
Our exercise program for migraine patients at Kosterman Chiropractic focuses on breaking that cycle. Chin tucks are the foundational exercise — retraining and strengthening the deep cervical flexors to pull the head back over the shoulders and reduce the forward head position that loads the upper cervical spine. Suboccipital stretches gently release the compression at the skull-neck junction that contributes to occipital nerve irritation and migraine generation. Scapular squeezes and wall angels strengthen the mid-back and retrain the shoulders back into proper position, reducing the upper trapezius overactivation that contributes to both trigger points and postural deterioration. We also incorporate general aerobic exercise guidance — because regular moderate-intensity aerobic exercise has been shown to reduce migraine frequency through its effects on serotonin regulation, stress reduction, and overall neurological health. Every exercise plan is customized to the individual patient and delivered directly to their email with photos and instructional videos, and our YouTube page has additional migraine-specific exercise content available anytime.
Cervical Spinal Decompression for Migraine Treatment in Cary, NC
Cervical spinal decompression is a tool we use selectively but very effectively for migraine patients at Kosterman Chiropractic in Cary, NC — particularly those whose migraines are accompanied by neck pain, arm symptoms, or imaging findings that suggest disc involvement or significant compression in the upper cervical spine. Understanding why requires a quick look at the anatomy involved.
Between each of the seven cervical vertebrae sits a disc — a cushioning structure with a tough outer layer and a soft hydrated center that maintains spacing between the vertebrae and preserves the openings through which the cervical nerves exit the spine. When these discs degenerate, lose height, or bulge — from years of poor posture, old injuries, or sustained compressive load — that spacing collapses, the nerve openings narrow, and the neurological irritation in the upper cervical spine increases significantly. For migraine patients where this disc compression is contributing to the neurological environment driving their attacks, cervical spinal decompression provides a powerful adjunct to the adjustment and soft tissue work by directly addressing the disc and creating more space for the compressed nerves.
Our decompression table applies a gentle, precise pulling force to the cervical spine that creates a negative pressure — a vacuum effect — inside the disc. That vacuum draws bulged disc material back toward center, takes pressure off the irritated nerve roots, and simultaneously pulls water, oxygen, and nutrients back into the dehydrated disc through the pumping process called imbibition. Over a course of treatment, the discs rehydrate, the nerve compression reduces, and the neurological irritation feeding the migraine pattern diminishes. For migraine patients in Cary, Apex, Morrisville, Holly Springs, and the Raleigh area who have disc involvement contributing to their condition, this can be a genuinely transformative addition to their care plan.
Common Causes And Triggers of Migraines in Cary, NC
Stress
Stress is the most commonly reported migraine trigger we hear about from patients at Kosterman Chiropractic in Cary, NC — and it operates through several interconnected mechanisms that make migraines both more frequent and more severe. Psychological and emotional stress — work pressure, relationship tension, financial worry, and the general demands of modern life — activates the sympathetic nervous system and triggers a cascade of physiological changes. Cortisol and adrenaline levels spike, blood vessel tone changes, muscle tension increases throughout the neck and shoulders, and neurochemical shifts occur in the brain that lower the migraine threshold. The muscles of the upper neck and base of the skull tighten and guard in response to stress in exactly the pattern that compresses the greater occipital nerve and irritates the upper cervical joints — directly feeding migraine generation.
What makes stress particularly insidious as a migraine trigger is the rebound effect — many patients get their worst migraines not during the stressful period but immediately after it subsides, the so-called “let-down migraine” that hits on weekends or at the start of a vacation. At Kosterman Chiropractic we address the physical expression of stress on the spine through specific chiropractic adjustments that reduce neurological tension in the system, soft tissue work to release the chronically stressed muscles of the neck and upper back, and corrective exercises that build the postural resilience to handle stress with less physical impact. Regular chiropractic care also supports parasympathetic nervous system function — helping the body shift out of chronic fight-or-flight mode — which addresses the stress component at a fundamental neurological level and gives migraine patients in Cary, NC a powerful natural tool for managing one of their most significant triggers.
Changes in Sleep or Irregular Sleep Schedule
Sleep is one of the most powerful regulators of neurological function in the body — and for migraine sufferers the relationship between sleep and migraines runs in both directions. Poor sleep triggers migraines, and migraines disrupt sleep, creating a cycle that can be incredibly difficult to break without addressing both sides of it. The brain uses sleep to regulate neurotransmitters including serotonin and dopamine that play a central role in migraine generation — when sleep is insufficient, irregular, or poor-quality, those neurochemical systems become dysregulated and migraine threshold drops significantly. Both too little and too much sleep can trigger attacks, which is why maintaining a consistent sleep schedule is so critical for migraine management.
At Kosterman Chiropractic in Cary, NC, we address the sleep-migraine connection from multiple angles. Chiropractic adjustments reduce the chronic pain and neurological irritation that interfere with sleep quality — many migraine patients report significant improvement in their sleep simply from getting the cervical spine properly aligned and reducing the constant low-grade tension in the nervous system. We also provide guidance on sleep positioning — stomach sleeping in particular forces the neck into sustained rotation that stresses the upper cervical joints all night and can be a significant contributor to morning migraines. Side sleeping with a supportive cervical pillow that keeps the head properly aligned is our standard recommendation for migraine patients. Combined with consistent sleep timing, limiting screen exposure before bed, and the stress management strategies we discussed, addressing sleep hygiene is one of the highest-yield lifestyle interventions available to migraine sufferers in the Cary, Apex, Morrisville, Holly Springs, and Raleigh area.
Hormones
Hormonal fluctuations are one of the most significant and most frustrating migraine triggers — particularly for women, who experience migraines at roughly three times the rate of men, largely because of the powerful influence of estrogen on neurological function and migraine threshold. Estrogen affects the sensitivity of the trigeminal nerve system and the vascular tone of the blood vessels in the brain, and fluctuations in estrogen levels — whether from the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, perimenopause, or hormonal contraceptives — can dramatically alter migraine frequency and severity. Many women experience their worst migraines in the days immediately before or during their period when estrogen drops sharply — a pattern so consistent it has its own name, menstrual migraine.
While chiropractic care doesn’t directly regulate hormone levels, it supports the body’s ability to manage hormonal fluctuations more effectively through its effects on the nervous system. The nervous system is the master regulator of all hormonal function in the body, and a spine free of subluxations allows that regulatory system to function at its best. Specific chiropractic adjustments at Kosterman Chiropractic remove the neurological interference that compromises the body’s ability to respond and adapt to hormonal changes, giving the system the best possible foundation for managing the neurochemical shifts that drive hormonally triggered migraines. We also work with patients on lifestyle factors that support hormonal balance — consistent sleep, regular exercise, an anti-inflammatory diet, and stress management — all of which meaningfully influence hormonal regulation and migraine frequency for our patients in Cary, NC and the surrounding areas.
Caffeine and Alcohol
Caffeine and alcohol are two of the most commonly identified dietary migraine triggers — and they operate through very different mechanisms that are worth understanding. Caffeine has a complicated relationship with migraines. In small amounts it can actually help abort a migraine attack — which is why caffeine is an ingredient in some migraine medications like Excedrin. But regular high caffeine intake causes the blood vessels to adapt to its presence, and when caffeine is suddenly withdrawn, those vessels dilate sharply — a process that directly triggers migraine attacks. This is the classic weekend migraine that many regular coffee drinkers experience when they sleep in and delay their morning coffee. The lesson is not necessarily to eliminate caffeine but to keep consumption consistent and moderate, avoiding the peaks and crashes that trigger attacks.
Alcohol — particularly red wine, beer, and dark spirits — is a well-established migraine trigger for many sufferers, and it operates through several mechanisms simultaneously. Alcohol causes vasodilation, promotes dehydration, disrupts sleep quality, and contains compounds like tyramine, histamine, and sulfites that are known neurological triggers for susceptible individuals. For migraine patients at Kosterman Chiropractic in Cary, NC, we recommend tracking alcohol consumption as part of a broader migraine diary to identify whether it’s a consistent trigger and which types of alcohol are most problematic. Reducing or eliminating identified triggers while addressing the underlying cervical and neurological factors driving migraine susceptibility through chiropractic care gives patients the most comprehensive and effective approach to reducing attack frequency.
Changes in the Weather
Weather-related migraines are one of the triggers patients most commonly feel powerless about — because unlike diet or sleep you can’t control the weather. But understanding why weather changes trigger migraines helps patients anticipate and prepare for them more effectively. The most significant weather-related triggers are changes in barometric pressure — the atmospheric pressure that shifts before storms, cold fronts, and weather system changes. The brain and the structures surrounding it are sensitive to pressure changes, and rapid shifts in barometric pressure appear to affect intracranial pressure and trigger the vascular and neurological changes that generate migraine attacks. Bright sunlight and glare, extreme heat, high humidity, and strong winds are also commonly reported triggers.
While we can’t control the weather, we can control how well prepared the nervous system is to handle environmental stressors without tipping into a migraine attack. A cervical spine that is properly aligned and free of subluxations — maintained through regular chiropractic care at Kosterman Chiropractic in Cary, NC — is a nervous system that is more resilient and less reactive to environmental triggers including barometric pressure changes. Staying well hydrated during weather changes, avoiding other known triggers when bad weather is forecast, and maintaining consistent sleep and stress management during high-risk weather periods all help reduce the likelihood that a pressure change triggers a full migraine attack. Patients who maintain regular chiropractic care consistently report that their weather-related migraines become less frequent and less severe over time as their neurological threshold improves.
Diet and Dehydration
Diet is one of the most powerful and most modifiable migraine triggers — and at Kosterman Chiropractic in Cary, NC, we take it seriously as part of our comprehensive migraine management approach. The relationship between diet and migraines operates through multiple pathways — certain foods and food additives contain compounds that directly affect neurological function and vascular tone, while poor overall diet quality and chronic dehydration create the systemic inflammation and neurochemical imbalances that lower migraine threshold across the board.
The foods most commonly associated with migraine triggering include aged cheeses, processed and cured meats, foods containing MSG, artificial sweeteners, particularly aspartame, alcohol, especially red wine and beer, and foods high in tyramine or histamine. Caffeine and chocolate are also commonly reported, though they affect individuals differently. On the other side of the equation, the foods that support migraine prevention are those that reduce inflammation and support stable neurochemistry — leafy green vegetables, fatty fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium-rich foods like nuts and seeds, and a generally whole-food, anti-inflammatory diet that avoids the processed and chemically laden foods that drive systemic inflammation. Dehydration deserves particular emphasis — even mild dehydration causes neurological changes that significantly increase migraine susceptibility, and most migraine patients are chronically under-hydrated without realizing it. We recommend a minimum of half your body weight in ounces of water daily as a baseline for migraine patients. At Kosterman Chiropractic we also offer in-office food sensitivity testing using a simple finger-prick that identifies your specific dietary triggers — giving you personalized data rather than a generic list of foods to avoid.
Light and Smell
Sensitivity to light — photophobia — and sensitivity to smell — osmophobia — are two of the most distinctive and debilitating features of a migraine attack, and they serve as important diagnostic markers that distinguish migraines from other headache types. During a migraine, the brain’s sensory processing systems become hyperactivated — the trigeminal nerve system that processes sensory input from the face and head goes into a state of central sensitization where normal stimuli are amplified into painful or unbearable experiences. Ordinary indoor lighting feels blinding. Normal conversation volumes feel like shouting. Everyday smells — perfume, food cooking, cleaning products — become intensely nauseating and can immediately worsen or prolong the attack.
What’s important to understand is that while light and smell sensitivity are dramatic symptoms during a migraine attack, they can also serve as triggers that initiate one in susceptible individuals. Prolonged exposure to bright or flickering lights, computer screen glare, fluorescent lighting, and strong odors can lower the neurological threshold enough to set off an attack in someone whose migraine system is already primed. Reducing exposure to known sensory triggers — wearing polarized sunglasses in bright light, using screen filters or blue-light-blocking glasses, avoiding strong fragrances — helps reduce trigger exposure. But the most effective strategy is raising the neurological threshold through consistent chiropractic care at Kosterman Chiropractic in Cary, NC, so that the brain is less reactive to sensory stimuli in the first place. A nervous system that is properly calibrated and free of the upper cervical irritation that primes migraine generation is a nervous system that can handle normal sensory input without tipping into an attack.
Medication Overuse
This is one of the most important and least-discussed aspects of migraine management — and it’s a conversation I have regularly with migraine patients at Kosterman Chiropractic in Cary, NC. Medication overuse headache — also called rebound headache — is a condition where the very medications taken to treat migraines actually cause more migraines when used too frequently. It affects a significant percentage of chronic migraine sufferers and is one of the most common reasons migraines become more frequent and more difficult to treat over time. Triptans, over-the-counter pain relievers, and ergotamine medications are all associated with rebound headaches when used more than ten to fifteen days per month. The brain essentially adapts to the regular presence of the medication and generates a headache when it’s withdrawn — creating a dependency cycle that progressively worsens the underlying condition.
Beyond rebound headaches, the long-term overuse of pain medications carries significant risks — liver stress from acetaminophen, gastrointestinal damage from NSAIDs, cardiovascular effects, and for stronger medications the risk of dependency. This is precisely why finding and addressing the root cause of migraines through chiropractic care is so valuable — it offers a path to reducing medication reliance rather than increasing it. At Kosterman Chiropractic we work with patients to identify and correct the cervical and neurological factors driving their migraines, reduce trigger exposure through dietary and lifestyle guidance, and build the neurological resilience that allows the brain to function without generating migraine attacks. For patients who have been caught in the medication overuse cycle, this approach offers a genuine exit strategy — and for migraine sufferers throughout Cary, Apex, Morrisville, Holly Springs, and the Raleigh area that can be genuinely life-changing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can going to a chiropractor help with migraines?
Yes — and for migraines that have a cervical spine component, which research suggests is a significant percentage of all migraine cases, chiropractic care at Kosterman Chiropractic in Cary, NC can produce meaningful reductions in frequency, duration, and severity. We address the neurological irritation in the upper cervical spine that lowers the migraine threshold — something no medication is designed to do.
Can your neck being out of alignment cause migraines?
Absolutely — the upper cervical spine has a direct neurological relationship with the trigeminal nerve and brainstem structures involved in migraine generation, and subluxations at C1, C2, and C3 create chronic neurological irritation that lowers the migraine threshold and makes attacks more frequent and more severe. Correcting those subluxations through specific chiropractic adjustments at Kosterman Chiropractic is one of the most effective things a migraine sufferer can do.
Are migraines bad for the brain?
Research suggests that frequent migraines — particularly those with aura — may be associated with small changes in brain structure over time, which is one of many reasons that finding and addressing the root cause of migraine attacks rather than simply managing them with medication is so important. At Kosterman Chiropractic in Cary, NC, our goal is to reduce migraine frequency significantly so patients spend less time in the neurological state that a migraine creates.
What is the quickest way to get rid of a migraine?
During an active migraine attack, the most effective immediate strategies are retreating to a dark, quiet room, applying a cold pack to the base of the skull or forehead, staying hydrated, and taking prescribed migraine medication if you have it. Getting regular chiropractic care at Kosterman Chiropractic in Cary, NC between attacks is the most effective strategy for reducing how often you need to answer this question in the first place.
How do you permanently cure a migraine?
There is no guaranteed permanent cure for migraines — but significant and lasting reduction in frequency and severity is absolutely achievable for most patients. At Kosterman Chiropractic in Cary, NC, we focus on correcting the cervical spine dysfunction contributing to migraine generation, identifying and reducing trigger exposure, and building the neurological resilience that allows many patients to go from chronic debilitating migraines to occasional manageable ones — or in some cases none at all.
What is the most effective treatment for migraines?
The most effective approach combines addressing the underlying neurological and cervical spine factors through chiropractic care, identifying and managing dietary and lifestyle triggers, optimizing sleep and stress management, and using medication strategically when needed rather than as a daily crutch. At Kosterman Chiropractic in Cary, NC we provide that comprehensive, integrated approach for migraine patients throughout the Cary, Apex, Morrisville, Holly Springs, and Raleigh area.
Does exercise help with migraines?
Regular moderate-intensity aerobic exercise has been shown to reduce migraine frequency through its effects on serotonin regulation, stress reduction, and overall neurological health — though vigorous exercise can trigger attacks in some patients, so the type and intensity matter. At Kosterman Chiropractic we provide specific exercise guidance tailored to each migraine patient’s individual triggers and physical condition.
What is the best preventative medication for migraines?
That’s a conversation best had with your prescribing physician or neurologist — options include topiramate, valproate, beta-blockers, certain antidepressants, and the newer CGRP antagonists. What I will say is that at Kosterman Chiropractic in Cary, NC, many of our migraine patients have been able to reduce or eliminate their preventive medication as their migraine frequency decreases through chiropractic care — always in coordination with their prescribing doctor.
What food to avoid during a migraine?
During an active migraine attack, avoid caffeine if you’re not a regular consumer, strongly scented or processed foods, alcohol, and anything with MSG or artificial additives that you know are personal triggers. Staying well hydrated with plain water is one of the most important things you can do during an attack — and at Kosterman Chiropractic in Cary, NC, our food sensitivity testing can help you identify your specific dietary triggers, so you can avoid them proactively.
$49 New Patient Special
Includes consultation, examination, x-Ray (if needed) & 1st chiropractic adjustment. This offer does not apply to federal beneficiaries, auto accident cases, workers’ compensation or if filing health insurance.