Commonly migraine headaches will be one-sided, thumping, throbbing headaches. They are accompanied often by visual disturbance and nausea, sensitivity to light, noise and smells. In some cases they can lead to numbness and loss of strength down one side of the body, along with poor concentration and coordination.
The causes for migraine are as varied as the presentations of them, from stress, sleep deprivation, food triggers, hormones and familial history.
Osteopathic treatment may help some migraine sufferers, most likely those where an inability to relax and neck dysfunction are strong causal factors.
Studies in 1995 of 218 patients with migraine found that Amitriptyline (a well-established effective drug for migraine) reduced headache scores by 24% at a four week follow-up while spinal manipulation reduced the score by 42%. (Source: JMPT, Boline DC, Kassam PhD et al, 1995)