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1502 W. University Drive #107 | Mckinney, Texas 75069
Many migraine sufferers have an idea of what events during their day may lead to a full-blown attack. It can be stressful to attempt to avoid certain foods or lifestyle behaviors in order to prevent a pounding migraine. Some common triggers include:
- Stress – Physical and/or emotional stress
- Menstruation – Hormone changes just before and during menstruation
- Food additives – Artificial sweeteners and preservatives
- Improper sleep – Too little or too much sleep
- Certain foods/Meal habits – Excess sodium intake, processed foods, and aged cheeses
While it may be a good idea in the short-term to avoid these aggravating factors, I ultimately want you to be able to enjoy your daily activities without having to worry about whether your next migraine is about to start. Most relief care are aimed at reducing or avoiding symptoms without truly examining the underlying cause. Here at Crowder Specific, we are dedicated to finding out if our solution is right for you.
Your spine is responsible for protecting your spinal cord. Your spinal cord is responsible for sending messages to and from your brain. When the top bone in your spine (atlas) misaligns, this creates pressure within your spinal cord. This pressure causes the messages going to and from your brain to be distorted. This may lead to chronic symptoms, such as head or facial pain and muscle spasm.
I hold the highest certification in the knee chest upper cervical technique, a chiropractic technique that is designed to gently re-align the atlas vertebra. Upper cervical is unique in that it is incredibly precise – this allows for no popping or twisting of the neck. Through realignment of the atlas, tension on the spinal cord is reduced. This allows for proper signals to travel to and from the brain. Having proper signals may lead to reduced symptoms.
Bernard et al. described a case report of a 16-year-old girl who presented with chronic headaches. She complained of having 2-3 hours duration 1-2 times per week. After 16 visits with 5 atlas corrections, her migraine frequency and duration decreased. She reported only having mild migraines 2-4 times per month. (4)
References
To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Crowder, call our McKinney office at 972-449-5845. You can also click the button below.
If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
If you suffer from migraines, you’re not alone. Over 12% of the population suffers from migraines, which adds up to approximately 38 million men, women, and children. Many chronic sufferers are able to identify certain foods or environmental factors that will likely trigger an episode. Here are five common factors that can trigger the onset of a migraine:
Being able to identify your possible migraine triggers may be helpful in reducing the frequency of episodes. More people are seeking out natural, non-invasive means of relieving migraines for many reasons, including concerns over the long-term effects of medications.
One thing that many migraine sufferers have in common, whether they know it or not, is a misalignment of the topmost vertebra in the neck, the atlas. When normal atlas alignment is compromised, it can affect various structures at the base of the skull, leading to compromised blood flow and nervous system function – both big players in the onset of migraines. At Crowder Specific Chiropractic, we perform a thorough assessment of each of our patients to determine if an atlas misalignment is at the root of their condition. If so, we are able to provide precise upper cervical adjustments to gently realign the atlas. This has helped many migraine sufferers to obtain relief that is long-lasting and completely natural.
References:
http://www.migraineresearchfoundation.org/fact-sheet.html
http://www.healthline.com/health/migraine/triggers
To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Crowder, call our McKinney office at 972-449-5845. You can also click the button below.
If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
Concussions have been in the limelight a lot recently. Generating awareness about concussions is something we’ve done at Crower Specific Chiropractic for some time now, and it seems like everyone else is catching on. A recent article in the New York Times reports that Ivy League football coaches have made a move to eliminate all tackling from practices during the regular season. This is being done because of concerns about trauma to the brain as well as other injuries. Reducing the number of opportunities that players have to sustain a concussion is at the heart of this important discussion.
It’s not just athletes who need to have an awareness of concussion symptoms – even a minor car accident or slip and fall can generate enough force to cause a mild concussion. Injuries to the head or neck that are bad enough to cause a concussion have also likely caused a misalignment to the vertebra that sits just beneath the skull, the atlas. The atlas vertebra protects the most vital part of the central nervous system apart from the brain itself – your brainstem. When the atlas shifts out of normal alignment, it disturbs normal nervous system function, blood flow, and circulation of cerebrospinal fluid. If your concussion symptoms, such as headaches, memory issues, sleep problems, or dizziness are lingering, then an atlas misalignment may be to blame.
Crowder Specific Chiropractic takes an extremely specific approach to atlas correction. As upper cervical experts, we approach each patient’s case individually, and our gentle adjustments are tailor-made for each individual. Our goal is for your atlas alignment to hold for as long as possible so you can achieve relief that is both natural and long lasting.
References:
To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Crowder, call our McKinney office at 972-449-5845. You can also click the button below.
If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
Migraines are an extremely common condition, affecting a whopping 38 million men, women, and children in the U.S. alone. Also it tend to run in families – if one parent is a migraine sufferer, there is a 40% chance that their child will also have migraines. If both parents are affected, that chance grows to 90%! Some people may not realize how debilitating can be – they’re not just a really bad headache. Migraines are often accompanied by extreme sensitivity to light, sound, or smells, as well as nausea, vomiting, and visual disturbances.
A recent study showed a possible link between asthma and migraines. This link may be due to the common theme of inflammation, either of the airways in the case of asthma, or inside the blood vessels in the case of migraines. Overall, the presence of asthma in a person practically doubled their risk of having chronic migraines – 15 attacks or more on a monthly basis.
What is important to note about the possible correlation between asthma and migraines is the connection of both conditions to the proper function of the nervous system, which is responsible for the control of inflammatory responses in the body. Interferences in nervous system function can be caused by spinal misalignments, particularly at the level of the brainstem. The two bones that normally provide protection for the brainstem can misalign as a result of an injury or wear and tear on the spine. This can put abnormal pressure on the brainstem, disrupting nervous system function, which can be attributed to chronic sufferer.
Crowder Specific we take a natural approach to migraines. We look at the alignment of the vertebrae in the upper neck that protect the brainstem and are able to gently realign them when necessary. This allows normal neurological function as well as normal blood flow to be restored between the head, neck, and body. Vital information is carried via the brainstem, and those messages must be conveyed properly in order for the body to function normally and for you to be migraine free.
References:
Fact Sheet
http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/news/20151204/asthma-chronic-migraine-headaches
To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Crowder, call our McKinney office at 972-449-5845. You can also click the button below.
If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
The exact cause of migraines has stumped the medical field. As more research is being done, signs are increasingly pointing to migraines being a neurologically-based type of event. A series of chemical reactions in the body can trigger an overexcitement of nerves, in particular, the trigeminal nerve which is responsible for pain sensation in the face and head. This overexcitement can also spill over to other nerves as well as the meninges that cover the spinal cord and brain, which can lead to all of the symptoms of migraines.
As people who have suffered from a migraine will understand, a migraine is not just a run-of-the-mill headache. It is often accompanied by a host of other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and visual disturbances. Auras may precede the start of the migraine event, and can include blind spots, weakness, and visual hallucinations.
For many people with migraines, the treatment approach has been to try and stay on top of symptoms as they appear. This often means painkillers for the headache, and sometimes hours or days of isolation in a dark, quiet room. Since migraines are known to have their roots in the nervous system, a solution that has been helping many sufferers is ensuring that there is proper communication in the nervous system.
Communication over those pain pathways can be interfered with by a misalignment in the vertebrae of the spine, particularly of the upper bones in the neck due to their relationship with the brainstem. In his McKinney, TX practice, upper cervical chiropractor Dr. Terry Crowder has helped many migraine sufferers regain their quality of life by addressing the root cause of their condition. Dr. Crowder corrects specific misalignments of the top two vertebrae of the neck that, when misaligned, can disturb normal nervous system function leading to the development of migraines. Addressing the cause of migraines at their source allows for reduction of their frequency and duration without the need for medications.
References:
http://www.healthline.com/health/migraine-causes
http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/what-is-a-migraine-with-aura
To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Crowder, call our McKinney office at 972-449-5845. You can also click the button below.
If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
If you are one of more than 37 million Americans who suffer from migraines, you can understand how quickly your day can go from normal to terrible. Some studies estimate that 13% of adults in the U.S. experience, with 2 to 3 million chronic sufferers.
Looking at those numbers, it’s easy to see that more than just a run-of-the-mill headache. Migraines have implications beyond just a couple of hours needed to recover. They affect the personal and professional lives of those who experience them on a much deeper level.
Dr. Terry Crowder works with many patients in his McKinney, TX upper cervical chiropractic clinic, assisting them to regain their quality of life. Dr. Crowder focuses on an area of the spine and nervous system that is thought to be related to the cause, in particular, the brainstem. When the two vertebrae that are responsible for protecting the brainstem become misaligned, either through an injury or just daily wear and tear, normal brainstem function can be compromised. One of the results of this can be the type of nervous system dysfunction that leads to chronic sufferers.
When the alignment of the C1 (atlas) and C2 (axis) vertebrae is corrected, the body’s normal, natural healing process is restored. Often, the root cause of migraines lies in a misalignment in this area that Dr. Crowder is able to correct using gentle and specific chiropractic adjustments. Rather than living with migraines and treating the symptoms as they come up, why not get to the bottom of them so life can return to normal?
References:
http://migraine.com/migraine-statistics/
To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Crowder, call our McKinney office at 972-449-5845. You can also click the button below.
If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
Migraines are an extremely common condition, affecting over 10% of the population, including children. Nearly one in every four households in the U.S. has someone who suffers with migraines. For a condition so common, migraines are not very well understood, and most treatment options are geared towards trying to minimize an attack once it has already begun.
There are some lifestyle changes that are recommended for people that may prove to be helpful. Migraines can be debilitating, so creating routines that allow a person to recognize potential triggers is important. Some recommended lifestyle habits include:
Finally, an often overlooked but very important step towards the relief is to ensure that there are no obstructions to blood flow and nervous system communications between the brain and body. Dr. Crowder, a migraine expert in McKinney, TX, focuses on detecting specific misalignments of the atlas and axis vertebrae – the uppermost bones in the neck that sit just beneath the skull. A misalignment in this area could very well be the root cause of migraines since those bones can directly impact both blood flow and nervous system function. Dr. Crowder gently works to realign the vertebrae, and as the healing process takes place, many patients find that their are fewer, less severe, or may even go away altogether.
Reference Site:
http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/features/manage-migraines-headaches
To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Crowder, call our McKinney office at 972-449-5845. You can also click the button below.
If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
It’s the heat of summer here in Texas, and the heat can certainly play a big role in the development of headaches or migraines for many people.
There are a few major reasons why summertime headaches can be more frequent or more intense:
Regardless of the season or cause of your headaches or migraines, getting to the cause of their occurrence is important to understand how to prevent them from returning in the future. Sometimes it’s as simple as upping your water intake on an especially hot day. Other times, there is an underlying spinal cause to headaches and migraines that lies in the upper two bones in the neck, just underneath the skull.
In McKinney, TX, headache expert Dr. Terry Crowder helps people get lasting relief from their headaches without the need for pharmaceutical or other invasive interventions. As an upper cervical specific chiropractor, Dr. Crowder focuses on making sure the vertebra at the top of the neck are aligned properly and not causing any interference to nervous system function. Even a very small misalignment in this area of the spine can cause a disruption of blood flow and nervous system impairment that can easily cause a headache or migraine. Dr. Crowder’s methods are safe, gentle, effective, and above all, a lasting solution.
REFERENCE SITE:
http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/tools-254342-5.html
To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Crowder, call our McKinney office at 972-449-5845. You can also click the button below.
If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
Migraines can be a debilitating condition that contributes to significant losses in productivity and quality of life. Migraine is the most common neurological condition in the developed world, with a prevalence greater than diabetes, epilepsy, and asthma combined.1
It is interesting to read about people in the limelight, such as professional athletes and musicians, who have battled with migraines. At times, detrimental impacts on their performance, or prevented them from performing at all. Here are a few examples:2
One thing all of these people may have in common is a specific spinal misalignment that is often found to be the underlying cause of migraines, no matter which type. In McKinney, TX, migraine expert Dr. Terry Crowder looks for these specific misalignments in the upper part of the neck, at the C1 or C2 vertebrae. These two vertebrae, when out of alignment, can contribute to lack of proper blood flow and nervous system dysfunction. In a study of 100 migraine patients under upper cervical chiropractic care, some attained relief in as little as one adjustment.3 Using precise adjustments only when necessary, Dr. Crowder is able to assist migraine sufferers in reclaiming their quality of life in a completely natural manner.
REFERENCES:
To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Crowder, call our McKinney office at 972-449-5845. You can also click the button below.
If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
Anyone who suffers from chronic headaches understands how much it impacts daily life. Migraines and other headache types can be difficult to classify or diagnose, and the stress of not knowing when the next episode might occur can also be very debilitating. Treatment options can be confusing and may not provide the relief that so many migraine sufferers are seeking out.
While the exact cause of migraines has not been precisely pinpointed, there are certain known facts about migraines that can help explain their origin.1-2
In a study of 101 patients who suffered with a variety of headache types as well as migraines, 87 of them had a prior injury to the upper neck.3 Even minor incidences that a person may not view as an injury can sometimes have the potential to create an upper cervical misalignment, or subluxation, due to the biomechanical instability of that area of the spine.
Upper cervical chiropractors are experts in the area of the upper neck, and chiropractors such as Dr. Crowder are helping migraine sufferers in McKinney Texas regain their quality of life. Dr. Crowder utilizes a highly specialized method of analysis in order to determine if and how those top two bones in the neck have deviated from normal anatomical alignment. Once that is established, an adjustment is made and the healing process is allowed to begin. Proper blood flow and neurological function is restored to the brain stem, thus providing relief to migraine sufferers.
REFERENCES:
To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Crowder, call our McKinney office at 972-449-5845. You can also click the button below.
If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
