Headaches and migraines treatment

Available at Lake Forest, San Diego, and Spring Valley

Many recurring headaches start in the neck, with pain beginning at the base of the skull and spreading over the head toward the temple. Chiropractic care may help these tension-type and neck-related headaches by easing neck tension, gently adjusting the neck and changing habits such as stomach sleeping and workstation setup.

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When to seek urgent care

Some headaches need emergency medical care rather than a chiropractor. Go to an emergency room or call 911 if you have:

  • A sudden, severe headache, the worst you have had
  • A headache with fever or a stiff neck
  • A headache with confusion, weakness, numbness or trouble speaking
  • A headache after a head injury

Get emergency care straight away.

When headaches keep coming back

Our chiropractors see many people with recurring headaches and migraines. They can interfere with work, sleep and daily life, especially when they return often or become more intense.

Headaches often build up from tension and posture rather than one single trigger. We focus on finding what is causing the problem, not just managing the pain. Care is gentle and precise, and the first step is a consultation to understand your symptoms.

Common causes

Two of the most common causes we find are an unsupportive workstation and sleeping on the stomach.

Keeping your head turned even slightly while you work or watch TV creates tension in the neck. Over hours, days and months that tension builds and contributes to headaches. Watching TV with your head turned on the couch or in bed adds up too.

Sleeping on your stomach with your head turned to one side all night is another major cause. Instead of resting, the neck stays tense and irritated through the night, and that sustained tension can lead to headaches.

How we find the source

Most of the headaches we treat come from the neck, with pain starting at the base of the skull and moving up and over toward the temple. These are called tension-type or cervicogenic headaches. Daily habits such as workstation setup and sleeping position are very often behind them.

We take a full history and ask about your workstation, whether your head is turned while you work or watch TV, and how you sleep. We can often reproduce the headache by pressing certain areas of the neck, which helps confirm the neck is the source. If your headaches have features that suggest another cause, we will refer you to your doctor.

How we treat neck-related headaches

We treat the neck to address the source of the headaches. At each visit your chiropractor works on the muscles on either side of the spine with trigger point therapy or active release techniques to ease tension, then makes a gentle adjustment. We also work with you on the daily habits that cause or sustain the problem.

Common changes include adjusting your workstation, changing how you watch TV and moving from stomach sleeping to sleeping on your side or back. Breaking a long-standing habit takes time, but it makes a real difference in how quickly neck-related headaches ease.

Symptoms and triggers

Headaches can feel like a dull ache, severe head pain, throbbing or pulsing, or pain on one side of the head. Some come with nausea, sensitivity to light or sound, or weakness. Migraines are a more severe kind of headache and can be debilitating.

Things that raise the risk of headaches or migraines include a family history, intense exertion, dehydration, some medications, certain foods and drinks, caffeine, alcohol, smoking, strong smells, changes in sleep, stress, bright lights, loud noise, eye, back or neck strain, poor posture, weather changes, hormone changes, head injuries and whiplash. Chiropractic care is aimed at the neck and posture-related part of that picture.

What your exam involves

Along with your history, your chiropractor checks how far and how smoothly your neck turns, tilts and bends, which joints in the neck and upper back are stiff or tender, and how tight the muscles are at the base of the skull and across the shoulders.

We also look at your posture while sitting and standing, check the nerves in your arms if you have any tingling, and ask about headache patterns: when they start, how long they last, where you feel them and what helps. A headache diary of a week or two can be useful to bring to your visit.

Self-care between visits

  • Set your screen at eye level and directly in front of you
  • Take a short break from the screen at least once an hour and roll your shoulders
  • Sleep on your side or back with a pillow that keeps your neck level
  • Drink water through the day and keep regular meals and sleep
  • Do the gentle neck stretches your chiropractor shows you
  • Ice the base of the skull for 10 to 15 minutes when the neck is sore

Patient case studies

Tension headaches from a three-monitor desk

Patient
A woman who worked at a desk with three monitors.
Symptoms
Tension-type headaches and neck pain.
Findings
Neck tension from turning her head to look at multiple monitors, propping her head up while watching TV and sleeping on her stomach since childhood.
Care
A regular care plan plus habit changes: swiveling her chair instead of turning her head toward each monitor, not propping her head up while watching TV and moving the TV out of the bedroom. Changing from stomach sleeping took the longest, but she eventually slept on her side or back.
Outcome
She stayed with her plan and her new habits, and her tension-type headaches and neck pain resolved.

Individual results vary.

Care that may be part of your plan

Your chiropractor recommends care after your exam. Some therapies are offered only at certain offices.

From the blog

Book a visit for headaches and migraines

Headaches and migraines is treated at all 3 Greenlight offices.

Your questions,
answered

About headaches and migraines care at Greenlight.

Who is a good candidate for chiropractic headache care?

Adults with recurring headaches linked to neck tension, posture or desk habits, including desk and remote workers, athletes and people under a lot of stress, may benefit from an evaluation.

Can a chiropractor help headaches and migraines?

Chiropractic care can help when headaches come from tension or irritation in the neck. We treat tension-type and cervicogenic headaches. If your exam suggests another cause, we will refer you to your doctor.

How many sessions are needed?

It depends on how long you have had the headaches and how quickly you change the habits behind them. People who follow their plan and make those changes tend to progress faster.

Is chiropractic treatment safe for migraines?

Care is gentle, and we ease muscle tension before each adjustment. Instrument-based options are available if you are nervous about neck adjustments.

Do I need a referral to see a chiropractor?

In most cases, no. You can book directly with any of our offices. Check your insurance plan, as some plans have their own rules.

How can I help prevent headaches?

Avoid keeping your head turned for long periods at your desk or while watching TV, stop sleeping on your stomach and set up your workstation so you face your screens straight on.

What can I do at home?

Icing the neck a few times a day may help calm inflammation. Changing your sleeping position, adjusting your workstation and taking regular breaks also support your progress between visits.

What happens if headaches are ignored?

Neck-related headaches can become more frequent and harder to change over time, leading to ongoing pain, more reliance on medication and a lower quality of life. A sudden, severe headache, or a headache with fever, confusion or weakness or after a head injury, needs emergency care.

What is a cervicogenic headache?

A cervicogenic headache is pain felt in the head that starts in the neck. It often begins at the base of the skull on one side and spreads over the head, and it may be brought on by neck movement or a sustained posture.

Should I keep a headache diary?

It helps. Writing down when headaches start, how long they last, what you were doing and what helped gives your chiropractor a clearer picture of your triggers.

Can I keep taking my headache medication?

Yes. Do not change any medication without talking to the doctor who prescribed it. Chiropractic care can be part of your care alongside your medical treatment.