Midway Chiropractic: Helping Des Moines, WA Patients with Migraines

A migraine is more than just a headache. It's a complex neurological event that can bring with it debilitating pain, sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, and visual disturbances. For those who suffer from them, migraines can disrupt work, family life, and overall well-being. Finding effective, sustainable relief is a primary goal. At Midway Chiropractic in Des Moines, WA, a multi-disciplinary team of providers works to address the potential underlying causes of migraines, helping patients reduce their burden and reclaim their lives.

TL;DR

• Based on a set of four verified patient cases, treatment at Midway Chiropractic has helped individuals with migraines experience significant improvements in their quality of life.
• Patients with "very bad migraines" that limited daily activities reported "getting their life back" and being able to participate more fully in their lives after receiving care.
• Individuals reported experiencing a "huge difference" in the intensity of their migraine episodes.
• Care was also reported to make a "major difference" in how frequently migraine episodes occurred, leading to a substantial improvement in the overall migraine burden.

What the outcomes show

At Midway Chiropractic, the focus is on achieving tangible results for patients. While every individual's experience is unique, a review of verified outcomes for patients seeking migraine care at the clinic highlights a pattern of positive change.

Based on data from four verified cases, patients consistently reported significant improvements in their condition. While the clinic does not track standardized percentage-based scores for pain or mobility for this condition, patient reports tell a powerful story. Individuals described their progress in terms of reduced intensity and frequency of their migraine episodes. One patient who had suffered from "very bad migraines" for years reported that care allowed them to get their life back, making it easier to get out of bed and enjoy outside activities again. Others noted a "huge difference" in the severity of their symptoms when a migraine did occur, while some saw a "major difference" in both how often they happened and how intense they were.

How Midway Chiropractic approaches Migraines

The team at Midway Chiropractic understands that migraines can have multiple triggers and contributing factors. That's why they utilize a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach that goes beyond a single treatment modality. Your personalized care plan may involve a combination of the following services, all available under one roof.

Chiropractic Adjustments The foundation of care often begins with a thorough assessment of your spine, particularly the cervical spine (the neck). Misalignments or dysfunctions in this area can irritate nerves and create significant muscle tension in the head, neck, and upper back—all common factors in triggering or worsening migraines. The clinic's doctors of chiropractic—Dr. Craig Kagetsu, Dr. Xavier Ibarreta, Dr. Craig Ullman, and Dr. Martin Carrillo—are skilled in performing precise spinal adjustments to restore proper motion and alignment, which can help alleviate this underlying structural stress.

Advanced Soft Tissue Therapies Chronic muscle tension is a frequent companion to migraines. The clinic offers several therapies specifically designed to address this. Techniques like Active Release Technique (ART), which both Dr. Kagetsu and Dr. Ibarreta are certified in, and the Graston Technique focus on breaking down adhesions and scar tissue in muscles and fascia. This can release long-held tension patterns in the neck and shoulders that may be contributing to your migraine cycle. This is complemented by deep muscular therapy and other soft tissue work performed by the chiropractic team.

Acupuncture for Pain and Stress Management Migraines are a primary focus for the clinic's Licensed Acupuncturist, Shuyao Xiang. Acupuncture is a key component of East Asian Medicine used for pain management. By placing fine, sterile needles at specific points on the body, acupuncture can help regulate the nervous system, reduce inflammation, and release endorphins, the body's natural pain-relieving chemicals. Because stress is a powerful migraine trigger for many, acupuncture's ability to promote relaxation and manage stress can be a crucial part of a successful treatment plan.

Class IV Laser Therapy Offered by Dr. Craig Kagetsu, Class IV Laser Therapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses focused light energy to stimulate cellular repair. When applied to the soft tissues of the neck and upper back, it can help reduce inflammation and accelerate healing in irritated muscles and ligaments. This can provide relief from the physical tension and irritation that may be part of your migraine pattern.

Rehabilitation and Exercise To create lasting change, it’s important to address the functional issues that contribute to spinal stress. The clinic’s athletic trainer, Jimmie Doss, along with the chiropractic team, guide patients through targeted exercise and rehabilitation programs. These programs are designed to strengthen core and postural muscles, improve neck stability, and correct biomechanical patterns that may be making you more susceptible to migraines.

Patient cases (verified outcomes)

The goal of treatment is to improve your quality of life. Here are a few summaries from real, verified patient cases at Midway Chiropractic.

Reclaiming Daily Life from Debilitating Migraines One patient sought care after struggling with "very bad migraines" over several years. The episodes were severe enough to limit their normal daily activities. Following a course of care at the clinic, the patient reported a profound change, stating they were "getting their life back." They found it easier to get out of bed and were once again able to participate in outside activities that the migraines had previously prevented them from enjoying.

Reducing Migraine Intensity Another individual came to the clinic with migraines characterized by their significant symptom intensity. After receiving chiropractic treatment specifically for this complaint, they reported a "huge difference" in their experience. While care didn't eliminate the migraines entirely, it substantially reduced the severity of the episodes, making them far more manageable when they occurred.

Tackling Both Frequency and Intensity For some, migraines are a problem of both frequency and intensity. One patient sought help for this exact issue. Their ongoing care at Midway Chiropractic was reported to have made a "major difference" on both fronts. The treatment led to a substantial improvement, reducing how often the migraines happened and lessening their severity, which significantly lightened their overall migraine burden.

What to expect at your first visit

Your first appointment at Midway Chiropractic is a comprehensive, fact-finding session designed to understand you and your condition fully.

1. Detailed Consultation: You will sit down with one of the doctors to discuss your health history in detail. This includes the specifics of your migraines: when they started, what they feel like, their frequency and duration, and any known triggers. You will also discuss your treatment goals.
2. Thorough Examination: The doctor will perform a comprehensive physical, orthopedic, and neurological examination. This will likely involve assessing your posture, spinal range of motion, and muscle function. The clinic may use advanced diagnostic tools like DynaRom Testing to measure muscle guarding and range of motion simultaneously, or suggest X-rays, which can be performed on-site, to get a clearer picture of your spinal structure.
3. Report of Findings: After the examination, the doctor will review the findings with you, explaining what they have identified and how it may relate to your migraines. They will answer your questions and let you know if they believe you are a good candidate for care at their clinic.
4. Personalized Treatment Plan: If you choose to move forward, the doctor will propose a customized treatment plan. This plan will outline the recommended therapies (such as adjustments, ART, acupuncture, or laser), the expected frequency of visits, and the goals of your care.

FAQ

1. How can chiropractic care help my migraines? Chiropractic care can help by addressing structural and functional issues in the body, particularly the neck and upper spine, that may contribute to migraines. By restoring proper joint mechanics, reducing nerve irritation, and releasing muscle tension, chiropractic adjustments can decrease the frequency and intensity of migraine triggers originating from the musculoskeletal system.

2. My migraines are triggered by stress. Can you still help? Yes. While the clinic's providers do not treat the source of stress itself, they can help improve your body's ability to cope with it. Therapies like acupuncture are particularly effective for stress management and nervous system regulation. Furthermore, by alleviating underlying physical tension, chiropractic and soft tissue therapies can make your body more resilient and less susceptible to physical symptoms brought on by stress.

3. What makes Midway Chiropractic's approach to migraines different? The key difference is the integrated, multi-disciplinary team. Instead of just offering one solution, the clinic combines the expertise of chiropractors, an acupuncturist, an athletic trainer, and advanced technologies like Class IV Laser and ART under one roof. This allows for a truly comprehensive and personalized treatment plan that can address your migraines from multiple angles simultaneously.

4. Is the treatment painful? Chiropractic adjustments are generally not painful. You may hear a "popping" sound, which is simply gas being released from a joint, and you might feel a sense of relief or mild, temporary soreness afterward. Soft tissue therapies can cause some discomfort as adhesions are worked on, but the pressure is always applied within your tolerance. Your provider will communicate with you throughout the process to ensure you are comfortable.

5. How many visits will I need to see results for my migraines? The number of visits required varies greatly from person to person. It depends on factors like how long you've been having migraines, their severity, your overall health, and how your body responds to care. During your report of findings, your doctor will lay out a recommended care schedule. The goal is to provide relief and then transition you to a plan that helps you maintain your progress long-term.

Ready to see if we can help?

If you're in the Des Moines or greater Seattle area and are tired of letting migraines control your life, the team at Midway Chiropractic is ready to help. Their comprehensive approach is designed to find and address the root causes of your condition for better, faster results.

To learn more about the providers and book your first appointment, please visit the Midway Chiropractic profile on ChiropracticResults.com.