MIGRAINES Treated With Trigger-Point Therapy: Angelie’s Story

Angelie lived with migraines for many years, experiencing 2-3 episodes monthly that could last for many days.

Physical unwanted effects included nausea and visual disturbances, which caused Angelie to retreat from the life span she loved, declining social invitations and professional opportunities in anticipation of just one more migraine.

She tried everything for treatment. Heavy doses of pain medication first. Then acupuncture, acupressure, diet modification, steroid and Botox treatments, biofeedback, and therapeutic massage.

A lot of those treatments provided short-term relief, but Angelie struggled to get the kind of permanent results, free of problematic unwanted effects, that could allow her to regain control of her life.

It wasn’t until a neurologist referred Angelie to physical therapist Claire Melebeck, PT, DPT, for trigger point therapy that Angelie escaped the cycle of migraine episodes that had plagued her for 30 years.

“I had instant results with relief,” Angelie said. Headache episodes were shorter, and, more important, these were less frequent. Soon Angelie counted around 12 consecutive pain-free days—an individual breakthrough. “I possibly could not remember having that lots of pain-free days in a row since 1974,” she said.

Her physical therapist wasn’t surprised. Claire had long used trigger-point therapy to take care of orthopedic conditions like shoulder impingement, patellofemoral pain, and iliotibial band syndrome, and she was confident the procedure could possibly be effective in treating the consequences of migraines, too.

“I was getting patients better faster and much more efficiently,” Claire said. “It had been not two or three 3 visits before they might feel a difference. It had been 10 minutes of the treatment, plus they would operate and say, ‘Wow, that’s different!'”

Because of trigger point therapy, today Angelie’s life is a lot unique of before. She’s working again, and she’s back again to making plans with relatives and buddies.

“It creates me feel just like I’m truly living my entire life again, rather than sitting in my own room sick,” Angelie said.

Physical therapists are movement experts who improve standard of living through hands-on care, patient education, and prescribed movement. It is possible to contact a physical therapist directly for an assessment. To discover a physical therapist locally, visit Look for a PT.