The headache started sometime around mid-morning. By lunch, it had settled in behind your eyes. Now it’s late afternoon, and you’re sitting in traffic on Westnedge Avenue—that bottle of ibuprofen in your bag calling your name—wondering how much longer you can push through before calling it a day.
Sound familiar?
If you’re one of the millions who deal with frequent headaches or migraines, you know how completely they can derail your day. Work suffers. Plans get cancelled. Life happens around you while you’re just trying to survive until the pain passes.
The Neck-Headache Connection
Here’s what many people don’t realize: the majority of headaches we see in our Portage clinic have a spinal component. Your cervical spine has a direct relationship with head pain, and it’s more significant than most people think.
The upper cervical vertebrae, particularly where your skull meets your spine, house a complex network of nerves. When these vertebrae lose their proper alignment or develop restricted movement, they can irritate the surrounding nerves and trigger headaches. Sometimes the pain is dull and constant. Other times it’s sharp and debilitating.
Dr. Nick Alfieri explains it this way: “Your neck wasn’t designed for the way we use it today. Constantly looking down at phones, working at computers for hours, even the way we sleep can create problems in the upper cervical spine. Over time, these issues compound, and headaches become a regular occurrence.”
Muscle tension plays a role too. The muscles at the base of your skull and throughout your neck and shoulders can become chronically tight, creating tension headaches. But here’s the thing: that muscle tension often develops because of underlying spinal dysfunction. Treat the spine, and the muscles finally get a chance to relax.
Not All Headaches Are Created Equal
Tension headaches feel different from migraines, which feel different from cervicogenic headaches (those originating from the neck). The type you experience matters because it helps us understand what’s happening in your body.
Tension headaches typically create a band-like pressure around your head. Migraines often come with nausea, light sensitivity, and intense, throbbing pain on one side. Cervicogenic headaches usually start at the base of your skull and radiate forward.
The good news? All of these types can potentially benefit from chiropractic care.
Our Approach to Relief
At Alfieri Chiropractic Clinic, we start by taking a detailed history of your headaches. When do they occur? What seems to trigger them? How long have you been dealing with them? This information helps us identify patterns and potential causes.
Then we perform a thorough examination of your cervical spine, checking for misalignments, restricted movement, and muscle tension. We also evaluate your posture and may discuss lifestyle factors like stress, sleep habits, and workspace ergonomics.
Treatment typically includes precise spinal adjustments to restore proper alignment and movement to your neck. We also incorporate soft tissue therapy and may recommend specific exercises you can do at home.
Many patients are surprised by how much better they feel after just a few visits. While everyone’s situation is unique, reducing headache frequency and intensity is an achievable goal for most people.
Take Control of Your Headaches Today
You don’t have to accept chronic headaches as part of your life. Whether you’re trying to focus during a presentation at work or simply want to enjoy an evening walk through the Portage Nature Preserve without pain, relief is possible.
Our team understands how frustrating and limiting headaches can be. We’re here to help you identify what’s causing your pain and develop a treatment plan that works for long-term results. Contact Alfieri Chiropractic Clinic today to book an appointment with Dr. Joe or Dr. Nick.