I've always been a bit of a wimp when it comes to headaches. But, until recently, I had never had a migraine. Just a few weeks ago I found myself dealing with the most painful headache I've ever had. I found a position -- half-sitting, half-laying down -- on the couch that was somewhat comfortable. I covered my eyes with a damp washcloth. And I just stayed put. I tried to turn the TV on so I'd at least have something to listen to, but if it was loud enough to hear it at all, it felt like it was booming in my ears. Even though the blinds were closed, every time I took that washcloth off my eyes, the light felt blinding. And every time I moved, I felt sick to my stomach. It was awful. I seriously sympathize with anyone who has migraines regularly.

A few months ago I wrote about natural treatments for migraines. (Maybe writing that post and saying I never had a migraine jinxed me... ya think?) Revolution Health has more ideas for managing migraines:

• OTC pain relievers may provide some relief; your doctor can also prescribe medications to help.
• Caffeine can constrict blood vessels and relieve some of the pressure, but don't go overboard -- too much caffeine can be a trigger for migraine headaches.
• Avoid foods containing tyramine. Tyramine is found in aged or fermented foods including some cheeses and wine.
• Visit a chiropractor. Some chiropractors believe that migraines are caused by a misalignment of the spine and that adjustments can minimize migraine frequency.
• Include magnesium-rich foods in your diet.
  
• Get a massage -- massage therapy has helped some migraine sufferers reduce the frequency of their headaches.

Source

Fitzness Fiends is a section devoted to you, the reader! We all have learned so much on our path to becoming more fit, and now it's time to learn from and inspire each other! Fitzness Fiends are constantly working to better themselves. Some are perfect, some are not. All have health on the mind. Please send Fitz your answers to these questions with a photo of yourself. Time for you to be the motivator!

Name: Dr James Stoxen DC

Age: 45

Occupation: Chiropractic Physician

How often do you exercise? 3 - 5 days a week

What type of exercise do you do? Plyometrics, weights, and cardio, "Foot to head training". I own a private training center and train after all the patients have left or early in the morning before they get there.

Source

In university, I worked as an office assistant for a Chiropractic clinic. Perks of the job included free adjustments, an offer I never took up. I sometimes wonder if that was foolish of me but at the time I had no back aches or pains so I really didn't see a point. Now, almost a decade later, I still haven't seen a chiropractor, but I've been considering it.

Not so fast, according to researchers from Australia -- You'll recover from your back pain quicker with exercise and mild pain killers. In an extensive study, it was shown patients who received spinal manipulation or strong anti-inflammatory drugs didn't feel any better than those who took over-the-counter pain killers. These findings raised a few eyebrows because both anti-inflammatory drugs and spinal manipulation are controversial.

Still, I don't think this study properly addressed the long-term effects of treatments -- rather, it was more concerned with who felt better fastest. What do you think? Do you see your chiropractor regularly?

Source