Migraine Tips from a Chiropractic Clinic
Most people treat a migraine as something that happens to their head. Dr. Tony Nicholas has spent two decades finding out that around 90 percent of the time, it started somewhere else entirely: the upper neck.
That single fact changes what you can do about it. Here is what he tells patients at Axis Health and Wellness in Centennial, and the warning signs that mean you skip the chiropractor and see a medical doctor first.
In this article
Where Migraines Usually Start
Around 90 percent of headaches and migraines begin in the upper neck. From there the pain radiates around the head, and very often settles behind one eye. Patients describe it as a band of tension wrapped around the skull.
The clinical name is a cervicogenic headache, meaning it comes from the cervical spine. Misalignments there press on the nerves feeding the head and neck, and the head is simply where you feel it. That is why an approach aimed at the neck often works when painkillers only take the edge off.
Five Tips That Actually Help
- Track where the pain starts, not just where it lands. If it begins at the base of your skull and wraps forward, that points at the neck. Bring that detail to your exam.
- Look at your head position. When your head sits forward of your shoulders, the neck muscles hold it up all day. Posture correction removes the load rather than managing it.
- Notice the trap spasm. A knot in the upper trap that keeps coming back is usually guarding a joint underneath. That is the pattern dry needling was kept in the practice for.
- Get imaging before treatment, not after. X-rays show what is actually going on inside instead of leaving anyone to guess at it.
- Give it a real trial, not one visit. If care is not producing results by the 8th to 12th visit, Dr. Tony will tell you and refer you out rather than book more.
One Result That Surprised the Doctor
SoftWave therapy was bought for knee and shoulder pain. Running the applicator over the upper cervical area turned out to help headaches too, which was not what anyone expected.
It is the same principle in a different place: stimulate blood flow and the body’s own repair response in tissue that has stopped healing. There is more on how it works on the SoftWave therapy page.
When a Headache Is Not a Chiropractic Case
Some headaches belong with a medical doctor first. Get evaluated before you book anything if a headache comes with:
- Slurred speech or trouble hearing
- Dizziness or faintness
- A headache that keeps getting steadily worse, or the worst one of your life
- Numbness spreading into your face
Once those are ruled out, a neck-based headache is very treatable. Chiropractic does well with them.
Migraine and Headache FAQs
Can a chiropractor help with migraines?
Around 90 percent of headaches and migraines start in the upper neck and radiate around the head or settle behind an eye. Those are cervicogenic headaches caused by misalignments in the cervical spine pressing on the nerves that feed the head and neck.
Because the source is mechanical, care aimed at the neck often helps. Dr. Tony Nicholas has found chiropractic works well for these headaches.
How do I know my headache is coming from my neck?
The usual signature is pain that starts at the base of the skull, wraps around the head, and often settles behind one eye, along with a band of tension around the skull. Tight, spasming upper traps and a neck that will not rotate fully point the same direction.
An exam and x-rays confirm it rather than leaving it to guesswork.
How many visits before my headaches improve?
It depends on how long the problem has been there. Acute cases usually start at two to three visits a week to get you out of pain, then drop to one or two a week if you want the structure corrected.
You are re-evaluated every week, and if care is not working by the 8th to 12th visit you get referred out instead of booked for more.
When should I see a medical doctor instead?
Get medical attention first if your headache comes with slurred speech, trouble hearing, dizziness, faintness, or numbness spreading into your face. A headache that is steadily worsening also needs a medical workup.
Once serious causes are excluded, chiropractic care is a reasonable place to start.
Find Out Where Your Headache Is Really Coming From
An exam and x-rays answer that in one visit instead of leaving you to guess. Your first visit, including exam and treatment, is $29.