This past Sunday was the last game of our season.  I skated hard and got a migraine an hour or so after the game.  This was the first migraine I’ve had since starting chiropractic care.  Prior to the game, I did notice my neck was rather tense, despite my efforts to keep it loose.  My last adjustment before Sunday was probably 7-9 days prior.  I spent the next few days in bed with the flu.  (Sunday night really sucked).  Monday-Tuesday I had a fever.  We’re thinking the extra tension in the neck could be a result of the oncoming illness.

I got adjusted today.  Will keep you posted.

I recently met a young chiropractor who suggested he may be able to help me with my migraine problem. He gave me an evaluation, and we discussed what was out of whack, which he referred to as subluxations, and the impact these subluxations have on my overall well being. One of the areas he focused on was my neck; from my traps to the base of my skull. Since I don’t remember all of the terms, I can’t get into detail about all of the adjustments he made. He did tell me I need to make my neck stronger and I needed to spend more time stretching it. So I’ve been focusing on keep my head straight and stretching as often as possible.

Since my first adjustment I’ve only had one hockey game. I did not get a migraine after, and if there was a game that would induce a migraine it was that one (I was one of six skaters on my team). The chiropractor asked me to push myself a little harder than I’ve been to see if I get a migraine or not. So I’m not claiming to be out of the woods yet but I’m interested in seeing how this goes.

I’ve been doing Crossfit for a month or so now. Crossfit is a strength and conditioning program that combines Olympic lifts, plyometrics, sprints and various other exercises in a high-intense interval training style. About an hour after completing an extremely intense workout on Friday, I got a migraine, just like I do after hockey. This is the first time in over 10 years I got a migraine after doing anything other than hockey. Connections between crossfit and hockey? Physical exertion? Hydration? Nourishment?

I think I may not have been hydrated well enough for such a rigorous workout. Further, I might not have eaten enough. Let’s just say I suck at life and I’m not sure what this does to my compression headache (from my helmet) theory.

This has plagued me for a while now.  I seem to get migraines after playing ice hockey.  The game is as non-contact as it can get.  I haven’t had any concussions, or head injuries or have any other medical problems that I can use to make a connection.  I am very fit, participate in intense physical activity many times a week, and have a good, balanced diet.  I’ve been getting migraines pretty consistently over the last couple years following a hockey game.  When I was younger I would get them randomly, then they went away for a few years.  It’s the same pattern every time, about an hour or two after playing, I start getting dark spots in my vision so I can’t read, see faces, etc.  When that goes away, my hand usually starts to tingle or go numb, then after that goes away I get the worst pain in my head/eyeballs.  It usually lasts for a couple hours as long as I can get to sleep.

I’ve been to my doctor and to a neurologist who both said “Yeah you get migraines.”  I’ve been prescribed ketophroferen which seems to help.  I choose to take it reactively instead of proactively; I’m not a big pill taker.  I wasn’t satisfied with the doctors, if you don’t want to get them, then don’t play attitude and I don’t like taking pills, so I’m trying to figure out if something is triggering them outside of physical exertion.

First thing the neurologist thought was dehydration.  I obliged and started drinking more during the game.  (On a normal day, I drink more than a gallon of water anyway.)  I thought it may be an electrolyte problem, so I always started the game with a gatorade and finished with water.  This seemed to work for me because I went for months without a migraine, but I just started getting them again.

Other factors outside dehydration I’ve considered are: wearing a helmet (too tight?), the temperature change from the cold rink to the warmer locker room, the lights, diet (regardless of how good I think mine is), the motion/speed of the game, deviated septum (got one).

I found information about a study linking migraines to law enforcement officers who wore helmets.  I’ve always complained that my helmet was a bit too tight, even on the largest adjustment.  I think the next step might be to find a looser fitting helmet.  I found a post on some hockey forum where other guys have complained of this same migraine problem.

I’m playing tonight so I will try to loosen the helmet if possible.

UPDATE:  I loosened up my helmet before the game last night.  It still felt a little tight around the temples, but no where near as tight as before.  I did not get a migraine.

It looks like Verizon Wireless is having some sort of DNS issue with mobile web service. 4 out of 5 requests to any URL result in a “Requested content cannot be resolved” error. Using an IP seems to work with not problem. If it wasn’t so late I would call them.

UPDATE: As of yesterday morning the issue seems to be resolved.

I never seem to have time to customize this blog.  So after some minor tweaks to the theme I’m going to eventually get working on adding a gallery.  Halloween is coming up and I’m sure we’ll be carving more pumpkins.  :-O

UPDATE: not that there is much there, but check out my Gallery link to the right.

After a long break, I’ve decided to get this site back online. First.  It’s going to be a bit before I settle into this new server.  Stand by.