Chronic migraine — defined as 15 or more headache days per month, with at least 8 meeting migraine criteria — is one of the most disabling neurological conditions patients bring to Mihlon Family Chiropractic Center. Preventive medications help some patients, but many arrive in Bayville still losing multiple days each month to headache.

The verified outcome

One patient in our records reported over 20 headache days per month at intake. Over a 12-week program combining upper-cervical chiropractic care, targeted soft-tissue work, sleep and hydration coaching, and posture correction, her headache burden dropped to 4–6 days per month, and her rescue medication use fell by more than half.

The evidence base

Recent research (including a 2019 randomized trial published in Chiropractic & Manual Therapies) shows that chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy can produce clinically meaningful reductions in migraine days for a subset of patients — particularly those with a cervical component to their headaches.

Our chronic migraine protocol

1. Full history and triggers audit — sleep, hormones, food, screens, posture
2. Cervical exam to identify segmental restriction contributing to headache
3. Structured trial of care — typically 8–10 visits over 6–8 weeks, with clear success criteria
4. Coordination with your neurologist when appropriate

Who is most likely to respond

Patients whose migraines are preceded by neck stiffness, whose headaches began after a whiplash or head injury, or whose exam shows clear upper-cervical restriction tend to respond best. If preventive medication alone has not gotten you to fewer than 4 headache days per month, a Bayville evaluation is worth considering.