A large share of headaches start in the neck. Those are the ones we can treat.
Treating the source, not the symptom
Headaches
Not all headaches are the same problem
Headache is a symptom with many different causes, and telling them apart is what determines whether treatment helps. A great many of the headaches we see here begin in the neck rather than the head.
The upper cervical joints and the suboccipital muscles at the base of the skull refer pain up over the scalp and often behind one eye. When those joints stop moving properly and the surrounding muscle tightens, the result is a headache that is genuinely produced by the neck. It is called a cervicogenic headache, and patients regularly describe it as a migraine because it can be severe and one-sided.
Tension-type headache, the band-like pressure around the head that builds through a working day, has a similar mechanical component in the neck and shoulders.
Seek emergency care immediately for
A sudden severe headache peaking within seconds
Headache with fever and neck stiffness
Headache after a head injury
Headache with confusion or difficulty speaking
Headache with weakness or vision loss
A new headache pattern after age 50
These need an emergency department now, not a chiropractic appointment.
A neck-origin headache usually stays on one side, starts at the base of the skull and spreads forward, gets worse with neck movement or after a long period in one position, and comes with neck stiffness and tenderness. Pressing on certain points in the neck often reproduces it, which is a useful diagnostic sign.
Migraine is a neurological condition. It more often brings nausea, marked sensitivity to light and sound, and sometimes visual disturbance beforehand. It can be triggered by sleep disruption, hormonal changes, certain foods, dehydration and stress. Migraine is managed medically, though neck dysfunction can act as one contributing trigger, and treating it sometimes reduces frequency.
How we treat it
For neck-origin and tension-type headache, treatment combines adjustment of the upper cervical joints with soft tissue work to the suboccipital and upper trapezius muscles. Both matter: the joint restriction and the muscle tightness maintain each other, and treating one without the other tends to relapse.
Alongside that, we look at what is producing the pattern in the first place. Monitor height, how long you sit without moving, how you sleep and how much water you drink through a working day all feature. So does jaw clenching, which is common and frequently missed.
Keeping a record helps
Note when each headache starts, how long it lasts, where it sits, what you were doing beforehand, what you had eaten and how you slept. Patterns show up in two or three weeks of notes that are invisible from memory, and they often point straight at the trigger.
One pattern worth naming, because it catches people out. Taking painkillers for headaches on most days of the month can itself produce a daily headache, a phenomenon known as medication overuse headache. It looks like the original problem getting worse, which leads to more medication, which sustains it.
If you are reaching for something most days, mention it. It changes the picture, and it is worth addressing with your doctor alongside any treatment we provide.
Booking
Call 918-615-3433 to book an examination for headaches in Tulsa.
The information on this site is general and is not medical advice. It does not replace a consultation with a licensed provider. Individual results vary.
FAQ
Common questions
Can a chiropractor help with migraines?
It depends on what is actually producing the headache. Many headaches that patients describe as migraines originate in the neck and respond well to treatment aimed there. True migraine is a neurological condition, and while neck treatment can reduce a contributing trigger, it is managed medically.
How do I tell the difference?
Neck-origin headaches usually affect one side, start at the base of the skull and spread forward, worsen with neck movement or sustained posture, and come with neck stiffness. Migraine more often involves nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and sometimes visual disturbance beforehand.
When is a headache an emergency?
A sudden severe headache that peaks within seconds, a headache with fever and a stiff neck, one following a head injury, or one with confusion, weakness, vision loss or difficulty speaking all need emergency care immediately.
Headaches most weeks?
Book an examination and we will find out whether your neck is producing them.
