caret icon Back to all discussions

Cervical Disc Exercise

I've been going to a headache clinic in San Antonio, Texas since March 2013. I was referred by my Migraine Specialist to this Physical Therapist who has a 9 month program to help with migraines. So far so good. I'm in my 3rd month and I've been able to drastically reduce my migraines. For those really bad ones, I do the neck exercises and the symptoms reduce and in some cases to zero. It's not a quick fix, that's for sure. I've had to stay dedicated, which I must say is the hard part. I'm not very good at doing as I'm told LOL. I have Sporadic Hemiplegic Migraine and I've had it since a car accident in 2004. I was only diagnosed in 2009. I've seen every kind of doc known to man and have been diagnosed with so many different things. Stress is a HUGE trigger for me, as well as my menstrual cycle. So far I have not been able to get around the hormone trigger with this therapy, but I have no doubt that I will in the coming months. Each month my neck gets stronger and the disc irritates the nerves less and less. I love that I can do all of this without surgery. I was scheduled for Peripheral Nerve Stimulator but canceled after I started this treatment. I do not regret that decision at all. Besides, all the surgery does is mask the pain. This therapy actually corrects the problem at the source in my situation.

  1. Hi cocktaildizeaz,

    I'm so glad to hear you have found some relief from your migraine pain. Neck issues can trigger a migraine attack and using PT can be a wonderful complementary therapy to a migraine management plan.

    Great job on learning what your other triggers are and trying to avoid them. Of course there are some triggers we cannot avoid like hormones and changes in the barometric pressure.

    Here is some additional information on triggers you may find helpful; https://migraine.com/blog/migraine-management-essential-trigger-management/ and https://migraine.com/blog/migraines-have-triggers/.

    I'll keep my fingers crossed for your continued success. Keep us posted, won't you?
    Nancy

    Please read our rules before posting.