Case-series · July 29, 2026
NUCCA Chiropractic Care for Chronic Migraines: A Retrospective Case Series from a San Diego Clinic
Abstract
Background: Chronic migraines represent a significant public health challenge, impacting quality of life and productivity. While various treatments exist, a subset of patients seeks alternative or complementary therapies. This case series explores the outcomes of NUCCA chiropractic care for individuals suffering from chronic migraines. Methods: This retrospective case series analyzed data from three de-identified patients presenting with chronic migraines to Intouch Chiropractic in San Diego, CA. All included cases had verified outcome data within the clinic's records. Treatment primarily involved NUCCA chiropractic care. Key outcomes, including migraine frequency and severity reduction, were recorded based on patient reporting. Results: All three patients in this case series reported significant resolution of their chronic migraine symptoms following the initiation of NUCCA chiropractic care. One patient achieved nearly one year migraine-free, while two others reported complete migraine relief within two weeks. The improvements were consistently observed across all included cases. Conclusion: The findings suggest that NUCCA chiropractic care may offer a beneficial intervention for individuals experiencing chronic migraines, potentially leading to substantial symptom reduction or resolution. Further prospective studies with larger cohorts and standardized outcome measures are warranted to corroborate these preliminary observations.
Methods
This study was designed as a retrospective case series to evaluate the outcomes of NUCCA chiropractic care in patients presenting with chronic migraines at Intouch Chiropractic in San Diego, CA. The clinic, utilizing techniques including NUCCA Chiropractic, Spinal Decompression, MLS Laser Therapy, Class 4 Laser Therapy, Shockwave Therapy, Knee Rehabilitation, and Neuropathy Treatment, is staffed by Dr. Devin Young (DC, DCCJP) and Dr. Jeanett Tapia (DC, MEd, ACP). Inclusion criteria for this series stipulated that patients must have presented with a chief complaint of chronic migraines, received NUCCA chiropractic care, and had their outcomes internally verified and documented within the clinic's patient records. Three de-identified patient cases meeting these criteria were selected for analysis. No age range, gender, or specific baseline quantitative metrics were consistently tracked or available across all cases for standardized comparison. Outcome metrics primarily focused on patient-reported resolution or significant reduction in migraine frequency and severity. The timeframe to achieving these outcomes was also noted. Due to the retrospective nature of this study, treatment protocols were based on the treating chiropractors' clinical judgment for each individual case, though all cases received NUCCA care. Data extraction involved reviewing de-identified patient charts to collect information on chief complaints, reported baseline status, post-treatment status, timeframes to improvement, and key reported outcomes. The primary limitation of this methodology is its retrospective design and reliance on patient self-reported data, which may be subject to recall bias. Furthermore, the small sample size (n=3) and the lack of a control group limit the generalizability and inferential power of the findings. Quantitative pain reduction and mobility improvement percentages were not systematically tracked in the clinic's records for these specific cases, precluding their inclusion in the aggregate outcomes.
Discussion
The consistent positive outcomes observed in this retrospective case series suggest that NUCCA chiropractic care may offer a significant therapeutic benefit for individuals suffering from chronic migraines. All three de-identified patients reported either substantial reduction or complete resolution of migraine symptoms, with two cases achieving relief within two weeks and one case experiencing nearly a year of migraine-freeness. These results are encouraging, particularly for patients with long-standing or treatment-refractory migraines, such as the individual in Case 2 who had experienced chronic migraines for a decade despite previous chiropractic interventions. The rapid improvements noted in Cases 2 and 3 within a two-week timeframe could imply a direct and immediate impact of NUCCA adjustments on the physiological mechanisms underlying migraine presentation. While the exact biomechanical and neurological pathways through which precise upper cervical correction influences migraine pathology are still being elucidated, theories often point to the modulation of central nervous system function, normalization of cerebrospinal fluid dynamics, reduction of dural tension, or alleviation of brainstem compression. From a clinical perspective, these outcomes compare favorably to general expectations for chronic migraine treatment, where achieving complete and sustained relief can be challenging, and many patients continue to manage residual symptoms despite conventional therapies. The observed responses in this series suggest that NUCCA care could be a valuable addition to the multimodal management of chronic migraines, particularly when other treatments have yielded limited success. The consistent positive trend across these cases warrants further investigation into the efficacy of NUCCA, potentially as a primary or adjunctive therapy for chronic migraine sufferers. Improved quality of life and reduced reliance on pharmaceutical interventions could be significant clinical implications.
Limitations
This retrospective case series has several important limitations. Firstly, its retrospective design inherently relies on existing patient records, which may not always capture comprehensive or standardized data, leading to missing information such as specific quantitative pain scales or detailed migraine frequency logs. Secondly, the study is limited to a single chiropractic clinic, Intouch Chiropractic, which restricts the generalizability of these findings to a broader patient population or other clinical settings. The techniques employed, particularly NUCCA Chiropractic, are specialized, and results may not be transferable to general chiropractic care. Thirdly, the reliance on patient self-reported outcomes introduces potential for recall bias or subjective perception, as objective measures were not consistently tracked. Fourthly, the absence of a control group prevents direct comparison of outcomes with no intervention or alternative treatments, making it impossible to definitively attribute improvements solely to NUCCA care. Lastly, the small sample size (n=3) profoundly limits the statistical power and the ability to draw robust conclusions, and the observed improvements could be influenced by a selection bias inherent in retrospective case reporting.