The Stages of a Migraine Headache – Migraine Therapy

The symptoms sometimes last until a migraine goes away. So, what are these stages or phases?

The first stage is called the prodrome phase. About 60% of those with migraines suffer from this phase. The symptoms include the following:

 • Irritability or euphoria

 • Constipation or diarrhea

 • Altered mood

 • Depression

 • Extreme tiredness

 • Cravings for certain foods

 • Stiff muscles, particularly in the neck

The next stage someone may go through is the aura phase. This happens directly before a migraine starts. It comes on slowly and can last for about an hour. Approximately 1/3 of migraine patients will suffer from the aura phase. The symptoms are:

 • Visual disturbances, such as partial blindness, seeing zigzag lines, and blurriness

 • Pins and needles feeling

 • Numbness and tingling

 • Hallucinations

 • Loss of motor function

 • Dizziness

 • Difficulty speaking

The pain phase is next in the progression. This also comes on at a slow pace. If the person did not have an aura, they might have neck pain at this point. The head pain can be moderate to severe, being worsened by any type of activity. This can last 4–72 hours.

The postdrome phase is the final stage. This can feel in some ways like a hangover. The head pain may be gone, but the person is not free from the following symptoms:

 • Extreme tiredness

 • Mood changes

 • Weakness

 • Problems with thinking

 • Soreness where the migraine occurred

 • Gastrointestinal problems

Migraines do not have to disable a person’s life. If they are due to misalignment in the upper neck of only a ¼ of a millimeter, there is a way to find relief. Upper cervical chiropractors are trained to find these misalignments. They understand that this can affect the way the body and brain communicate with each other, leading to many health problems, including migraines. Once the vertebrae are realigned, the body can begin to heal, and migraines may be old news.