Migraine attacks are a common symptom of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) that a majority of people with this condition experience. Current evidence suggests that it’s primarily caused by connective tissue abnormalities, such as weak collagen fibers, that are influenced by genetic factors. This can cause blood vessels in the brain to be more susceptible to inflammation and damage, which can trigger a migraine. On top of that, people with EDS may also have neck, jaw, and/or back pain. While no one can pinpoint what causes it, some researchers hypothesize that instability of the spine and the stress ..read more

A pulsing sensation starts in your temples and radiates through the bridge of your nose, making you feel like there’s an invisible vice grip pressing down on you. Every sound is amplified, every light is intensified, and it feels like no amount of pain relief will make it go away.  Sound familiar?  Everyone gets headaches, but how do you tell if it’s just a passing headache or the start of a migraine? Migraines are intense, throbbing headaches that can last anywhere from 4 to 72 hours and are often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, and other symptoms. B ..read more

Most people with migraine attacks are careful to avoid their triggers. Common triggers can include stress, hunger, caffeine, hormones, bright lights, and—gasp! Even chocolate!  Recent research has added low back pain to the list.  Both conditions can start out as dull, throbbing pain and quickly progress to an intensity that is unbearable. If you’ve ever experienced a migraine or low back pain, you know that the pain can reach a point where the only thing you can do is lie down in a dark room and hope relief comes quickly. The potential causes of migraine attacks and low back pain ar ..read more

Imagine waking up to a throbbing headache that doesn’t seem to go away. You try to eat your breakfast, but as you start to chew, a sharp pain shoots up your jaw. As the pain subsides, your jaw feels tight and overworked with an ominous clicking noise every time you move it. Leaving the feeling as if your jaw is locked up. Back pain and neck pain are common side effects of a migraine attack, but jaw pain can also trigger it. Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ or TMJD) affects the joints of the jaw and its corresponding muscles and nerves. A migraine is not believed to stem from disorders suc ..read more

Central sensitization describes adaptations that occur in the brain and the spinal cord in response to repeated stimulation on your skin. The increased responsiveness comes in two main forms: hyperalgesia or allodynia. These changes are often part of the course of chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Hyperalgesia means you feel even more pain than an already painful stimulus would create. If you have ever had a sunburn, you have likely experienced hyperalgesia when taking a hot shower after being in the sun. The sunburn was already painful but the increased se ..read more

Chronic pain comes in many different types, including fibromyalgia, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), joint pain, and headaches. By definition, chronic pain usually persists more than three months or many months and years. Oftentimes, it is more difficult to treat than acute pain because many factors influence the pain persistence (e.g. immune system, stress, poor mental health). Massage therapy is among one of several non-drug and non-invasive treatments for some types of chronic pain. While the effects tend to be short-lived (from a few hours to a week), it can help lower the symptoms o ..read more

CBD treatments are everywhere, from the local nail salon to high end spas, but why use topical CBD? Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of many components of the sativa strain of the cannabis plant, unlike THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the popular psychoactive component, it doesn’t give one the feeling of being “high.”  Studies which indicate the topical use of CBD may have many possible health benefits for both skin and muscle. CBD has been found to have the potential to help with eczema, acne, skin, pigmentation and even stimulate hair growth. Furthermore, positive results have been found in wound h ..read more

Pain is an unpleasant sensation, often referring to physical pain like carpal tunnel syndrome, gunshot wound, or a sunburn. Sometimes these types of pain can be acute pain or chronic pain. Some pain scientists include psychological factors, such as depression and hearbreak as part of the pain experience since these affect your hormones and immune system response, which also contribute to pain. Some manual therapists would blame trigger points, fascia, “energy,” or muscles and joints. But pain isn’t always an indication that there’s tissue damage, disease, or abnormalities in your body. Af ..read more

Cannabis has been a hot topic since its prohibition in 1937, but prior to that, humans had used cannabis as a medication since the end of the last Ice Age in Italy. Today we’re going to put politics and societal beliefs aside and discuss the known facts of the cannabidiol, or CBD, oil produced by the cannabis plant. Regardless as to where you stand on the recreational use of cannabis, CBD has become collectively accepted as a form of natural medication. The cannabis plant has hundreds of separate chemical entities over 60 of which are cannabinoids. The two most common cannabinoids are CBD and ..read more

Kyphoscoliosis is an extreme form of spine deformity where there is both an excessive rounding of the upper spine (kyphosis) and side-to-side curve in parts of the spine (scoliosis). Severe cases tend to have the back appear crooked or have the lower part of the spine curve inward, or even have one or more vertebrae rotated. Kyphoscoliosis can cause you to have a hunched over appearance and may lead to breathing difficulties—it may reduce lung and vital capacity down to 30%—and other health complications, such as: vertebral fractures higher risk of falls skin breakage/scabbing paraparesis or ..read more