Many chronic headaches and migraines originate from problems in the cervical spine, not the head itself. At Hometown Family Wellness Center, I frequently help patients who’ve tried everything for their headaches finally get relief by addressing the real culprit: their neck.
The Headache-Neck Connection Most People Miss
You feel the pain in your head, so you assume that’s where the problem is. It makes sense. But after 27 years treating patients in Freehold, I can tell you that assumption is wrong more often than people realize.
Your cervical spine—the seven vertebrae in your neck—has a direct relationship with headache pain. Nerves from the upper neck travel into your head and face. Muscles at the base of your skull attach to your cervical vertebrae. Blood vessels supplying your brain pass through and alongside your neck structures.
When something goes wrong in your cervical spine, headaches are often the result. These are called cervicogenic headaches, and they’re far more common than most people know.
What Are Cervicogenic Headaches?
Cervicogenic means “originating from the neck.” These headaches start with a problem in your cervical spine—a misaligned vertebra, a stiff joint, muscle tension, or nerve irritation—and refer pain into your head.
The pain typically starts at the base of your skull or in your neck and radiates forward. Many patients describe it wrapping over the top of their head or settling behind one eye. It’s usually one-sided, though which side can vary.
What distinguishes cervicogenic headaches:
- Pain that starts in the neck or base of skull and moves forward
- Headache triggered or worsened by neck movement or sustained postures
- Reduced range of motion in your neck
- Tenderness in the upper neck muscles and joints
- Pain that doesn’t fully respond to typical headache medications
If you’ve noticed your headaches seem connected to neck stiffness, long periods at your computer, or sleeping in an awkward position, your cervical spine likely plays a role.
How Neck Problems Trigger Migraines Too
The relationship between neck dysfunction and migraines is more complex, but it’s real. Research increasingly shows that cervical spine problems can both trigger migraines and make them worse.
Here’s what happens: irritation in the upper cervical spine activates what’s called the trigeminocervical complex. This is where sensory nerves from your neck converge with the trigeminal nerve—the main nerve involved in migraine pain. When your neck sends distress signals into this system, it can initiate or amplify the migraine cascade.
Many of my migraine patients notice their attacks often start with neck tension or stiffness. Others find that their migraines become more frequent during periods of increased neck problems. This isn’t coincidence. The systems are connected.
I wrote previously about understanding the difference between headaches and migraines. Knowing which you’re dealing with helps guide treatment, but either way, evaluating the cervical spine makes sense.
Common Neck Problems That Cause Head Pain
Several cervical spine issues commonly contribute to headaches:
Upper cervical misalignment involves the top two vertebrae (C1 and C2), which have a unique relationship with your skull. Even subtle misalignment here can irritate nerves and create headache patterns. These vertebrae don’t have discs between them and rely heavily on ligaments and muscles for stability—making them vulnerable to injury and dysfunction.
Facet joint dysfunction occurs when the small joints connecting your vertebrae become restricted or inflamed. The upper cervical facet joints in particular refer pain directly into the head.
Muscle tension and trigger points in the suboccipital muscles (at the base of your skull), upper trapezius, and levator scapulae create referred pain patterns into the head, temples, and behind the eyes. Chronic tension here perpetuates the headache cycle.
Disc problems in the cervical spine can irritate nerve roots and contribute to headaches, particularly when combined with neck pain and arm symptoms.
Forward head posture places enormous strain on cervical structures. For every inch your head sits forward of your shoulders, it effectively doubles the weight your neck must support. This chronic strain creates the muscle tension and joint dysfunction that drive headaches.
Why Medications Often Don’t Work Long-Term
If your headaches stem from cervical spine dysfunction, pain medications treat the symptom while ignoring the source. The underlying neck problem remains, so the headaches keep returning.
I see this pattern constantly. Patients who’ve taken ibuprofen or acetaminophen for years. Patients prescribed muscle relaxers that help temporarily. Patients who’ve tried prescription migraine medications with limited success.
The medications aren’t failing because they’re bad medications. They’re failing because they’re not addressing why the headaches keep happening. When you correct the cervical spine dysfunction, many patients find they need far less medication—or none at all.
How I Evaluate Headache Patients
When headache patients come to Hometown Family Wellness Center, I start by understanding their headache pattern: where exactly the pain is, how often it occurs, what triggers it, what makes it better or worse, and how long they’ve been dealing with it.
Then I examine the cervical spine thoroughly. I assess range of motion in all directions. I palpate each vertebral segment for proper movement and alignment. I check the muscles of the neck and upper back for tension and trigger points. I perform orthopedic and neurological tests to identify which structures are involved.
This evaluation tells me whether cervical dysfunction is contributing to your headaches—and if so, which specific structures need attention. Not all headaches come from the neck, and proper diagnosis matters before starting treatment.
Chiropractic Treatment for Headaches
Chiropractic care addresses headaches by restoring proper function to the cervical spine. My approach typically includes:
Cervical adjustments target specific vertebrae that are misaligned or not moving properly. The upper cervical region often needs particular attention for headache patients. These adjustments are precise and gentle—not the aggressive twisting some people imagine.
Soft tissue therapy releases the tight muscles contributing to your headaches. The suboccipital muscles at the base of your skull frequently harbor trigger points that refer pain directly into your head.
Postural correction addresses the habits creating cervical strain. If forward head posture is part of your problem, we need to fix that or your headaches will return.
Therapeutic exercises strengthen the muscles supporting proper cervical alignment. I’ll teach you specific movements to do at home. The neck stretches and exercises I recommend can make a significant difference between visits.
Ergonomic recommendations help you modify your workstation, sleeping position, and daily habits to reduce cervical strain.
Results You Can Expect
Most patients with cervicogenic headaches notice improvement within the first few weeks of care. The headaches often become less frequent first, then less intense. Many patients report significant reduction in their reliance on pain medication.
Migraine patients sometimes see dramatic improvement, though results vary more depending on the complexity of their migraine triggers. What I consistently find: even when chiropractic care doesn’t eliminate migraines entirely, it often reduces their frequency and severity by addressing the cervical component.
Long-term results depend on addressing the factors that created your neck dysfunction in the first place. If posture and ergonomics don’t change, the problem tends to return. That’s why I emphasize education and home exercises alongside in-office treatment.
When Headaches Need Further Evaluation
Most headaches aren’t dangerous, but certain patterns warrant immediate medical attention:
- Sudden, severe headache unlike any you’ve experienced (“thunderclap” headache)
- Headache with fever, stiff neck, confusion, or rash
- Headache following head injury
- Progressive worsening over days or weeks
- Headache with vision changes, weakness, or difficulty speaking
- New headache pattern after age 50
If you experience any of these, seek emergency evaluation. For typical chronic headache patterns, starting with chiropractic assessment makes sense.
FAQs About Chiropractic Care for Headaches
How quickly will my headaches improve? Many patients notice changes within 2-4 weeks. Chronic headaches that have persisted for years may take longer to fully resolve as we retrain your posture and address accumulated dysfunction.
Is neck cracking safe? Chiropractic adjustments are very safe when performed by a licensed chiropractor. The “cracking” sound is simply gas releasing from the joint, similar to cracking your knuckles. I use techniques appropriate for each patient’s comfort level.
Can chiropractic cure my migraines? “Cure” is a strong word—migraines involve multiple factors. But addressing cervical spine dysfunction often reduces migraine frequency and intensity significantly. Many of my migraine patients experience meaningful improvement.
Ready to Address the Real Cause?
If you’re tired of headaches controlling your life and medications aren’t providing lasting relief, let’s find out if your neck is the problem. Schedule an evaluation at Hometown Family Wellness Center or call (732) 780-0044. I’ve helped countless patients in Freehold and throughout Monmouth County get lasting headache and migraine relief—and I’d like to help you too.
