Chronic Migraines Resolved With Chiropractic Care: Sara's Story

Quick summary: A San Antonio mother of two who had suffered from severe migraines for over a decade, taking Imitrex injections and seeing two neurologists, experienced complete resolution of her migraines after three months of chiropractic care at Pura Vida Chiropractic. Her recovery began with a 30% reduction in migraine intensity after her very first visit.

A decade of suffering — and the medications that weren't working

When Sara walked into Pura Vida Chiropractic in San Antonio, she carried more than her purse. She carried ten years of severe, recurring migraines. Ten years of canceled plans. Ten years of dark rooms, throbbing pain, and missed moments with her two children.

She had done what most people are told to do. She had seen two different neurologists. She had been prescribed and was actively using Imitrex injections — the medication considered a frontline treatment for severe migraines. The injections gave her temporary relief, but they did not stop the migraines from returning. Like millions of Americans, she was managing her condition, not resolving it.

By the time Sara reached out, she was looking for something different. A second opinion that didn't end with another prescription.

What we found on exam

A migraine that has resisted years of medical management almost always has a structural and neurological component that hasn't been examined. In Sara's case, that's exactly what we found.

On the chiropractic exam, two specific findings stood out:

1. Sphenoid bone subluxation

The sphenoid is the small but central bone at the base of the skull. It articulates with multiple cranial bones and houses critical neurovascular structures. When the sphenoid loses its proper position — what we call a sphenoid subluxation — it can disrupt the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, alter cranial mechanics, and irritate structures that contribute to migraine activity. Sphenoid involvement in chronic migraines is well-documented in cranial chiropractic and osteopathic literature, but it is rarely evaluated in conventional medical migraine workups.

2. Loss of cervical curve on X-ray

Sara's cervical X-rays revealed a significant loss of the natural cervical lordosis — the gentle forward curve in the neck that distributes load through the upper spine and protects the brainstem and surrounding structures. A flattened or reversed cervical curve places mechanical strain on cervical nerves and the upper-cervical region, which is densely populated with structures involved in headache and migraine pathology.

Together, these findings explained what Sara had been experiencing — and they pointed to a treatment plan that addressed root causes rather than symptoms.

The treatment plan

We treated Sara using two techniques:

• Diversified spinal adjustments — manual, specific adjustments to restore proper motion to the cervical spine and address the loss of cervical curve. Diversified is the most widely-used and well-researched chiropractic adjusting technique.
• SOT (Sacro-Occipital Technique) cranial adjusting to the sphenoid — gentle, low-force corrections to restore normal sphenoid position and cranial mechanics. SOT cranial work is part of Dr. Foss's advanced certification through SORSI, an international organization dedicated to cranial, organ, pediatric, and prenatal chiropractic care.

The plan was conservative, structured, and built around regular visits over a 3-month window.

How Sara's recovery unfolded

Visit 1: ~30% reduction in migraine intensity

After her very first adjustment, Sara reported approximately a 30% reduction in the intensity of her migraines. This is consistent with what we often see when a sphenoid subluxation is addressed — patients often feel a release of pressure and a noticeable change after the very first cranial correction.

A 30% improvement after a single visit is not a placebo. It is the body responding to the removal of a structural stressor that has been present for years.

Weeks 2–8: Migraines decrease in frequency and severity

As we continued with adjustments and Sara's cervical curve began to improve, the pattern shifted. The migraines didn't just feel less severe — they began to occur less often. The intervals between migraines stretched from days to weeks.

Month 3: Complete resolution

By the end of three months of consistent care, Sara reported 100% resolution. No migraines. No need for Imitrex injections. No more dark rooms in the middle of the day.

For a woman who had spent ten years assuming this was simply her life, the change was profound.

Why chiropractic care can resolve migraines that medication cannot

Migraine medications work on the symptom — the pain signal itself, the vascular response, the neurotransmitters involved. They do not address whether your spine is positioned correctly. They do not check whether your sphenoid is articulating properly. They do not look at whether your cervical curve is intact.

When the underlying structural and neurological drivers of migraine remain unaddressed, the migraines remain.

When those drivers are corrected, the body often resolves the condition itself.

This isn't speculation. This is what we see in the practice every week, and what Sara now experiences in her daily life.

What Sara said about her experience

In her own words (paraphrased from her testimonial), Sara has shared that she is "no longer afraid of her own head" — that she can now plan her week without wondering when the next migraine will hit, and that she has been completely off Imitrex since finishing care.

Could chiropractic care help your migraines?

If you've been on migraine medication for years without resolution — or if you've seen multiple specialists without finding answers — there is value in having a chiropractic exam to identify whether structural factors are contributing.

Sphenoid subluxation, loss of cervical curve, and upper-cervical dysfunction are not unusual in chronic migraine patients. They are simply rarely evaluated in a conventional medical workup.

A chiropractic exam at Pura Vida Chiropractic includes:

• A detailed history covering migraine triggers, patterns, and prior treatments
• A neurological and orthopedic exam
• Cervical X-rays where indicated, to assess curvature and alignment
• A specific care plan based on what we find — not a generic protocol

If structural factors are present, we can address them with the same techniques that helped Sara.

Schedule a consultation

Pura Vida Chiropractic — 2318 NW Military Hwy, Ste 103, San Antonio, TX 78231 Phone: (210) 685-1994 Online booking: puravidachiropractic.setmore.com Languages: English & Spanish

Dr. Dan Foss, DC, has 23+ years of chiropractic experience across three continents and is Advanced Certified through SORSI in cranial, organ, pediatric, and prenatal chiropractic care.

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About this case study

This case study is published with Sara's written consent. Her first name has been used at her own preference; identifying details have been adjusted only where they were not relevant to the clinical story. Specific clinical findings, treatment protocol, and outcome timeline are reported as they occurred.

This case study describes one patient's response to chiropractic care. Individual results vary based on the underlying structural findings, length of time the condition has been present, and patient compliance with the recommended care plan. This is not a substitute for medical evaluation or treatment.