Most headaches aren’t a mystery you have to live with, they’re a pattern with a mechanical cause that’s usually findable.
The Neck-Headache Connection
The upper cervical spine, jaw, and the muscles at the base of the skull share nerve pathways that refer pain directly into the head. When one of those areas loses normal motion, whether from posture, an old injury, or chronic tension, headaches are often the result, not a separate problem.
Tension-Type Headaches
Usually tied to sustained muscle tightness across the shoulders, neck, and scalp, often worsened by desk posture or stress.
Cervicogenic Headaches
Originate specifically from restricted joints in the upper neck (C0 to C3), frequently mistaken for a “regular” headache since the pain is felt in the head rather than the neck itself.
How Dr. Devine Evaluates Headaches
The exam focuses heavily on upper cervical mobility, jaw tension, and posture, since these three areas account for the majority of structurally-driven headaches seen in the office.
Treatment Approach
Adjustments targeting the upper cervical spine, paired with soft tissue work for the suboccipital muscles and jaw, aim at the mechanical driver rather than just easing pain temporarily.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can chiropractic care actually help migraines, not just tension headaches?
Many migraine patients have a cervicogenic component contributing to frequency or intensity, even if the migraine itself has other triggers. Addressing that component can reduce how often episodes occur for some patients, though it’s not a guaranteed fix for migraines with other underlying causes.
How is this different from taking pain medication?
Medication manages the symptom after it starts. This approach is aimed at reducing how often the underlying trigger, usually a joint restriction or muscle tension pattern, gets activated in the first place.