Migraines Bring Down Basketball Star Dwyane Wade

Whether you’re a basketball fan or not, news of Miami Heat’s star player Dwyane Wade’s game-ending migraine has probably crossed your path.  Wade has battled with migraines his entire life, and specialists have not been able to provide any insight as to why his migraines keep on coming back.1 If you suffer with migraines, Wade’s story sounds very familiar. You might know what precautions to take, what your triggers are, and what might help take the edge off the pain, but no real explanation has ever been offered as to why these migraine attacks keep occurring.

Part of the problem is that the cause of migraines is poorly understood.   According to the Mayo Clinic, migraines may be caused by changes in the brainstem and its interactions with the trigeminal nerve, a major pain pathway.2 In Stow, Ohio, migraine expert Dr. Geoff Besso works with the relationship between the spine and the nervous system, specifically in the area of the brainstem.  He finds that many patients with migraines see relief under upper cervical chiropractic care because of its specific goal – to realign the bones that protect the brainstem in order to remove any pressure in that area.

When the C1 (atlas) and C2 (axis) vertebrae shift out of alignment, brainstem function can be compromised.  Dr. Besso’s approach uses a very specialized method of analysis to determine if a misalignment in this area of the neck can be the root cause of a person’s migraines.  Once this is measured, a very gentle adjustment is applied to correct the alignment and restore normal brainstem function.  If Miami Heat’s Dwayne Wade was lucky enough to be from Ohio, he might finally get the answer he’s been seeking to his chronic migraines.  Upper cervical chiropractic care has been shown to reduce both the frequency and severity of migraines, sometimes in as little as one adjustment.3

References

1. https://heatzone.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2015/11/03/dwyane-wade-exits-with-migraine-concerned-issue-might-linger/
2. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-headache/basics/causes/con-20026358
3. Elster EL. Upper cervical chiropractic care for a patient with chronic migraine headaches with an appendix summarizing an additional 100 headache cases. J Vert Sublux Res 2003;AUG(3):1-10.

About the Author

Dr. Geoff Besso, DC, DCCJP

Besso Clinic of Chiropractic

Dr. Geoff Besso graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Clemson University. Following his bachelor’s degree he enrolled at the prestigious Life University in Atlanta, Georgia. After a four year intensive program, he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Doctor of Chiropractic degree in 2002. He became an upper cervical chiropractor in Stow in 2005. Dr. Besso and his wife, Amy Besso, DC, opened their practice in Stow, Ohio, in 2005 and have been blessed to help thousands of patients with conditions ranging from Fibromyalgia to Migraine Headaches to Meniere’s Disease.