Need help!!

Hi everyone, I suffer from migraines and now it has gone worse that I’ll have one every weekend which usually lasts for two days. I am due to have the massage therapy done from Physiomobility, a nearby clinic in Richmond Hill. I recently read a blog that massage therapy can help to improve migraines and treat various health issues for thousands of years. Can anyone tell me if this has been your experience, I would really be grateful for some feedback. Thank you.

Massage (and other alternative therapies) do help some migraine patients. Like any treatment though, results vary. I found it helpful for my neck, but not my constant headache or episodic migraines. With the chronic pain I tend to tense my entire body, starting with my neck.

Unfortunately treating the neck symptoms doesn't help my head (although for some folks the neck is a cause and/or trigger for head pain). I do better with very light injury rehab type massage (like myofascial release) vs. anything rougher like deep tissue.

Typically a medical massage place that accepts insurance and deals with patients with injuries or chronic pain will be the best fit. If after a bit of feedback the massage therapist doesn't seem like a good fit or is causing you pain, definitely try another one, as the therapist has a lot to do with any potential results. Best wishes.

Hi,

First of all, like everything else, massage can certainly help a little bit. Some people have good results, some don't, but it is definitely worth trying. I've had Chronic Intractable migraine/ New Daily Persistent Headache since age 17, now 35.

I have seen several massage therapists over the years and it does help. I find that the muscles in my neck and shoulders tense up due to the pain. Massage does help with that. It does not get rid of the headache, but it decreases the pain some.

You said that you usually get headaches on the weekend that last a few days. I'm just throwing this out there, but it could be a "let down Migraine." Basically, it happens after a stressful event or you do everything to prevent a migraine, get the work done, and the headache hits afterwards. I usually do everything I can to prevent a bad one at a big event and get sick afterwards. Maybe this is what is happening? If this is the case, maybe getting a massage during the week could help reduce the weekend migraines? I'm just throwing this out there.

Please let us know how things go.

Pain free days,
sailingm

Honestly, it all depends on the quality of the massage therapist. You need to find one that does deep tissue therapeutic massage. I have found a few who really understand the underlying physiology. Relaxing the scalene muscles (along the side of the neck) and the occipitals (on the back of the neck) makes a real difference. If the therapist you see doesn't help you, try some others. Good luck!

Cranal Sacral Therapy and Bowen Thrapy have been less painful for me.