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The Headache and Neck Pain Clinic

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The Headache and Neck Pain Clinic

Evidence-based Chiropractic, Naturopathic, and Clinical Nutrition Medicine for the treatment of head

11/05/2026

Could blood sugar patterns help explain chronic migraine? 🤔

A fascinating new study found that people with chronic migraine showed greater blood sugar fluctuations and disrupted glucose regulation compared with healthy controls. Researchers also identified three distinct metabolic “phenotypes”, suggesting migraine may affect people differently at a biological level.

Why does this matter?
It supports the idea that migraine may involve an energy imbalance in the brain, which could help explain why triggers like fasting, skipped meals, or certain foods can provoke attacks for some people.

This research opens the door to more personalised approaches to migraine care, potentially including:
✔️ Tailored nutrition strategies
✔️ Better glucose stabilisation
✔️ More individualised treatment plans

Migraine is never “just a headache” — and research continues to uncover just how complex this neurological condition really is.

Nelson CA, Reavely KW, Jennings MR, Burger BJ, Kim AC, Sant DW, Bills KB. Glucose dysregulation and glycemic phenotyping in chronic migraine. Front Neurol. 2026 Jan 14;16:1719724. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2025.1719724. PMID: 41613184; PMCID: PMC12848927.

04/05/2026

Light sensitivity is one of the toughest parts of living with migraine—and new research sheds light (literally!) on how to make it better.

A recent study looked at how different types of white light affect people with migraine. The results were clear:
💡 Brighter light = more discomfort
💡 Blue-toned light made symptoms worse
💡 Green-enriched white light was the most comfortable
💡 This applies both during and between migraine attacks

The exciting part? This isn’t about sitting in a green room—it’s about adjusting everyday lighting to be more “migraine-friendly.”

Small environmental changes could make a big difference in reducing light sensitivity and improving daily life.

Fani M, Sharp N, Schwedt TJ. Reducing light sensitivity during and between migraine attacks: A prospective study investigating spectral tuning of white light. Cephalalgia. 2026 Apr;46(4):3331024261439257. doi: 10.1177/03331024261439257. Epub 2026 Apr 15. PMID: 41983992

27/04/2026

Chronic pain isn’t just about pain.

New research shows that people living with chronic widespread pain may also have a higher risk of heart disease ❤️

A large review of studies found:
• Nearly 2x higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease
• A consistent link between widespread pain and atherosclerosis
• Less clear evidence when it comes to cardiovascular-related death

This means chronic pain could be a sign of broader health risks—not just something to “manage” day-to-day.

Looking after your heart health matters, especially if you live with ongoing pain:
✔ Stay active within your limits
✔ Monitor blood pressure and cholesterol
✔ Speak with your healthcare provider about your overall risk

Pain is complex—and so is your health. Taking a whole-body approach makes a difference.

Rönnegård AS, Schillemans T, Äng B, Boersma K, Ärnlöv J, Tseli E. Chronic widespread pain and the risk of cardiovascular disease-a systematic review and meta-analysis. Pain. 2026 Apr 6. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003965. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41972388

20/04/2026

Migraine and hormones—what’s actually happening? 🤯

A new study has taken a closer look at when migraines are most likely to happen during the menstrual cycle—and the results may surprise you.
👉 The drop in estrogen after ovulation does NOT increase migraine risk
👉 The highest risk is still just before and during your period
👉 Migraine is also more common in the earlier part of the cycle (follicular phase)

This challenges a common belief that ovulation is a major trigger.

💡 What does this mean?
If you experience migraines, tracking your cycle can still be helpful—but the biggest trigger window is likely around your period, not ovulation.

Understanding your pattern = better management ✔️

van der Arend BWH, Bakker S, van Casteren DS, Verhagen IE, Pelzer N, de Boer I, Cannegieter SC, MaassenVanDenBrink A, Terwindt GM. Migraine attack incidence in relation to the post-ovulatory estrogen decline: A prospective cohort study. Cephalalgia. 2026 Apr;46(4):3331024261436415. doi: 10.1177/03331024261436415. Epub 2026 Apr 9. PMID: 41955170. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/03331024261436415?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed
(Photo: Image by freepik)

14/04/2026

💡 Why aren’t more people taking preventive medication for migraines?

This is a common thing we see every day in clinic.

A large study (OVERCOME US) found that even when people qualify for migraine prevention, most aren’t using it.
👉 Only about 1 in 10 people with migraine are on preventive medication
👉 Around 65% of eligible patients have never tried it

So what’s holding people back?
🧠 Common reasons include:
• Worry about side effects
• Not liking the idea of taking medication
• Feeling current treatments are “good enough”
• Stigma or difficulty accessing care

Here’s the surprising part: many of these same people still experience frequent and disabling migraines.

🔍 The takeaway?
There’s a big opportunity for better conversations, education, and support so people can make informed decisions about their care.

If you live with migraines, you’re not alone—and there may be more options available than you think, including evidence-based non-pharmacologic options

Ailani J, Okonkwo R, Johnston E, Hochstetler H, Martinez B, Zagar A, Nicholson RA, Vargas BB, Muenzel EJ, Lipton RB. Reasons for patient reluctance to take preventive medications for migraine: Results of the OVERCOME (US) study. Headache. 2026;66(4):846-858. doi: 10.1111/head.70014

07/04/2026

Did you know trauma and migraines may be closely linked? 🤯

A new systematic review has found that people with PTSD are much more likely to experience migraines than those without it.

Here’s what the research shows:
✨ Migraine is more common in people with PTSD
✨ The risk can be up to 4x higher
✨ This link shows up across many different groups—not just specific populations

👉 What does this mean?
Migraines aren’t just physical—they can also be influenced by past stress and trauma.
This is why looking at the whole person matters when managing migraines.

💬 If you or someone you know struggles with migraines, it may be worth considering the role of stress or trauma as part of the bigger picture.

Nitsche L, Helbach J, Stubenrauch S, Lakeberg M, Bantel C, Hoffmann F. The association between posttraumatic stress disorder and migraine: A systematic review. Headache. 2026;66(4):963-975. doi: 10.1111/head.70058

31/03/2026

🧠 New research insight: Migraine & ADHD connection
A recent study, Maternal migraine and offspring ADHD: triangulating the evidence, looked at whether migraines during pregnancy could cause ADHD in children.
Here’s what they found 👇
➡️ Kids of mums with migraine showed higher ADHD traits
➡️ BUT… there was no strong evidence that migraine in pregnancy directly causes ADHD
➡️ The link is more likely due to shared genetics 🧬
💡 What does this mean?
Migraine and ADHD often occur together—but it’s likely because of overlapping biology, not something that happens during pregnancy.
This helps shift the conversation away from blame and towards better understanding and support ❤️

25/03/2026

🧠 Migraine & Memory: What’s Really Going On?
If you’ve ever experienced “brain fog” with migraines—you’re not imagining it.
New research looking at multiple studies found something interesting:
👉 Your short-term memory is usually OK
👉 But your working memory (your ability to think, focus, and juggle information) can be affected
💡 That means it’s not about forgetting things…
It’s more about your brain having a harder time processing and keeping up.
This helps explain why migraines can make you feel:
• Slower mentally
• Easily overwhelmed
• Less focused or sharp
The takeaway?
Migraines don’t cause a full memory problem—but they can temporarily affect how efficiently your brain works.
✔️ Understanding this can help you better manage expectations
✔️ And be a bit kinder to yourself

Image by rawpixel.com on Freepik

16/03/2026

Gut microbiota, probiotics, and migraine: a clinical review and meta-analysis

Did you know your gut health may influence your migraines?

A new clinical review and meta-analysis found that people with migraine often have differences in their gut microbiome — the trillions of bacteria that live in your digestive system.

Researchers also found that probiotics may help reduce how often migraines occur, although more research is needed to confirm the full benefits.

This supports what we’re learning about the gut-brain connection. Your gut can influence inflammation, nervous system signalling, and pain sensitivity — all of which play a role in migraine.

Supporting gut health through nutrition, lifestyle, and personalised care may be an important part of managing migraines.

If you experience migraines, addressing overall health — including gut health — may help improve outcomes.

Full study: https://www.jofph.com/articles/10.22514/jofph.2025.043

09/03/2026

Manual therapy and exercise targeted to the neck and orofacial regions for patients with orofacial pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Did you know your neck could be contributing to jaw pain?
A new systematic review and meta-analysis found that manual therapy and exercise targeting the neck can significantly reduce pain and tenderness in people with orofacial pain, including TMJ disorders.

Key takeaways:
✔ Treating the neck helped reduce jaw and facial pain
✔ Combining manual therapy with exercise showed the best results
✔ Exercise alone was less consistently effective
✔ Highlights the strong connection between the neck and jaw

This reinforces an important principle: treating the source of pain isn’t always just about the painful area itself. The neck and jaw work closely together, and addressing both can improve outcomes.

If you suffer from jaw pain, headaches, or TMJ symptoms, a comprehensive assessment—including the neck—may help identify contributing factors and guide effective treatment.

Study: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/09638288.2025.2539469?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed

02/03/2026

Manual therapy with exercise for neck pain
📢 New Research on Neck Pain Treatment!
A high-quality Cochrane review looked at whether manual therapy combined with exercise helps adults with neck pain.
👩‍⚕️ What did they find?
✔️ When compared to no treatment, people doing manual therapy + exercise saw greater relief from neck pain, better function, and improved quality of life.
✔️ When compared to a sham/placebo, there was improved function.
✔️ Side effects like soreness or headache were mild and uncommon.
🧪 What it means:
This combined approach may help people with neck pain, especially compared to doing nothing.
Full study at: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD011225.pub2/abstract

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Level 17, 190 Queen Street
Melbourne, VIC
3000

Opening Hours

Tuesday	1pm - 7pm
Thursday	2pm - 7pm

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http://www.headacheneckpainclinic.com.au/

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