Nothing is more heartbreaking than watching your child in pain. It is a helpless feeling that all parents have endured at one time or another. Headaches can be particularly challenging for a parent because there is little you can do besides give the child some Tylenol and hope it gets better. Studies estimate that between 7 and 18% percent of children suffer from migraines. Those are staggering numbers considering we routinely hear about many other pediatric disorders that are far less common. On the bright side, childhood migraines will often go away as your son or daughter ages. But what should you do if you suspect that your child suffers from migraines?

Migraines and the Classroom

Migraines can cause many problems for your child besides the obvious issues surrounding the pain. Migraines often cause students to do poorly in the classroom. These students miss significant amounts of class time and can have a difficult time keeping up with homework. Migraines lead to an estimated 2.75 million school absences every year. Even if they are in the classroom, the headaches can make it very difficult to concentrate on the subject at hand. For some students the fluorescent lights used in schools can trigger a migraine. Some children with severe migraines are forced to be home schooled because they miss so much class time.

What Does a Migraine Look Like?

So what do you look for if you suspect that your child has migraines? Migraines are very intense headaches that are sometimes preceded by an “aura”. This aura can be changes in vision or a funny feeling in the body. The headaches last from four hours to several days and are often accompanied by nausea, and sensitivity to light and sound. The migraine sufferer often seeks out a quiet, cool, dark room during a headache and curls up in a ball. These are the most common characteristics of migraines, but they can look different in certain individuals.

What Can You DO?

The first and most important thing to do if you suspect that your child has migraines is talk to your family doctor. Migraines can rarely be a result of a more serious condition, and your doctor can order some tests to rule these out. Once these potential causes have been eliminated, there are many treatment options. These include medications both to keep migraines from occurring as well as “abortive” drugs that can stop a migraine. These treatments are effective for many people; however, countless people still struggle with regular migraines.

Alternative Treatments

If you have tried everything your doctor has recommended and your child is still suffering from migraines there are other treatment options. Alternative treatments can often be helpful. Several recent studies have supported the use of acupuncture as a migraine treatment. It is gaining acceptance and many leaders in the field of migraine treatment frequently refer patients to acupuncturists. I am an acupuncturist specializing in migraine treatment and I have seen tremendous results with numerous patients. Children respond especially well and generally require far fewer treatments than adults. You may be wondering if chiropractic care is effective for migraines. Studies regarding migraines and chiropractic care have shown some positive results. Some people experience great relief with chiropractic adjustments while others report having their migraines triggered by the adjustments. The consensus in the migraine community is that it is worth trying and if it works for you, great! There are also techniques such as biofeedback and self-hypnosis which have shown promise in reducing migraine symptoms. Psychologists can train your child in how to effectively use these techniques. Regardless of the treatment option you choose, the important thing is to do something.

Identifying Migraine Triggers

Migraines do not happen spontaneously; they are initiated by outside factors called triggers. It is important to determine the factors that are triggering your child’s migraines. There are many sources of migraine triggers. Common triggers include food, lack of sleep, intense exercise, weather patterns, fluorescent lights, and strong smells. The majority of children with migraines that I treat in my clinic suffer from stress related migraines. I give my patients a pre-printed migraine log to record the factors that may be involved. For a complete list of triggers, buy a book on migraines or visit my website at www.paulsonacupuncture.com/resources.htm. Eliminating or avoiding these causative factors can have a huge impact on the number of migraines your child develops.