Treating Migraine Headaches

In Virginia Beach, VA

According to the World Health Organization, over 20 million people suffer from migraine headaches every day. The Migraine Research Foundation has found that in the United States, one out of every four households has a migraine sufferer. Ranking in the top 20 of the world’s most debilitating illnesses, someone is hospitalized every 10 seconds in the US due to this terribly painful condition.

When someone is hospitalized for a migraine headache, large doses of prescription medications are administered to reduce their suffering. This same medication, in smaller doses, is often taken at home by people who suffer from chronic headaches. Medications serve to lessen the severity of the pain associated with migraines, but they do not address its causes, and therefore fail to prevent future attacks.

TMD (TMJ) and Migraine Headaches

 An overlooked but common contributing cause of migraine headaches is temporomandibular joint disorder, TMJ or TMD. TMD is a misalignment of the upper and lower levels of your jaw that causes excess strain on your muscles and can result in severe discomfort. It may cause severe tension headaches and may trigger migraine headaches.

If you suffer from frequent, severe headaches but have been unable to get relief, it is important to investigate the role of TMD in your headaches. Sometimes it can be hard to distinguish the types of headaches, and your intense headaches may actually be tension or sinus headaches related to your TMD. Other times, TMD may lead to constriction of blood vessels or pinch nerves, triggering your migraine headaches. Treating TMD can be an important part of a treatment strategy that reduces the frequency of your headaches or stops them altogether.

Treating the Disorder, not Just the Symptoms

To treat TMD, Dr. Folck first needs to determine the proper alignment of your jaw. To do this, a TENS unit is used to relax the muscles in your jaw allowing Dr. Folck to align your bite in its most optimal position. Of course, your bite will return to its misaligned position as soon as the muscles contract, but having assessed your proper bite position, Dr. Folck can customize a treatment option to permanently relieve the tension and treat the underlying problem behind your migraine headaches.

Treating TMD is done by correcting your bite and realigning your jaw. To do this, Dr. Folck may utilize an orthotic (mouth splint) or restorative dentistry. The method most suited to your needs will depend on the nature of your TMD and the degree to which your jaw needs realigned. Through these procedures, Dr. Folck has been able to help thousands of people throughout Virginia reduce both the instances and severity of their headaches.