Headaches
When Your Head Hurts, the Problem Isn't Always in Your Head
Headaches can make it difficult to work, focus, exercise, or simply enjoy your day. Whether they happen occasionally or several times a week, recurring headaches shouldn't be considered "normal."While some headaches are caused by medical or neurological conditions, others are influenced by tension in the muscles and joints of the neck, shoulders, and upper back.
At Bilan Chiropractic, we look for the physical factors that may be contributing to your headaches. Our goal is to identify the source of your symptoms and determine whether conservative chiropractic care may be appropriate for you.
Does This Sound Familiar?
Headaches affect everyone differently. You may experience:- Pain at the base of the skull
- Tightness around the forehead or temples
- Neck pain before or during a headache
- Shoulder tension
- Headaches after long hours at a computer
- Pain that worsens with poor posture
- Recurring headaches without a clear cause
What Causes Headaches?
Not all headaches have the same cause.Some originate from the neck and surrounding muscles, while others are related to neurological, vascular, or medical conditions.
Common contributors include:
- Muscle tension
- Poor posture
- Cervicogenic headaches
- Stress
- Jaw dysfunction (TMJ)
- Whiplash injuries
- Prolonged computer use
- Repetitive neck strain
Why Your Neck May Be Part of the Problem
The muscles and joints in your upper neck communicate closely with the nerves that help process sensation from your head and face.When those muscles become tight or the joints lose normal motion, they can contribute to headaches in some people. That's one reason many headaches are accompanied by neck stiffness or shoulder tension.
Instead of looking only at where you feel pain, we evaluate how your neck, upper back, posture, and movement patterns may be working together.
Our Approach
Every headache is different, so treatment should be too.After your examination, we'll explain what we found and whether chiropractic care is appropriate for your condition.
Your care may include:
- Chiropractic adjustments when appropriate
- Gentle cervical mobilization
- Soft tissue therapy
- Stretching and mobility exercises
- Postural correction
- Ergonomic recommendations
- Home exercises to support long-term improvement
What to Expect
Your first visit begins with understanding your symptoms.We'll discuss when your headaches occur, where you feel pain, how often they happen, and whether you've noticed patterns or triggers.
Your examination may include:
- Posture evaluation
- Neck mobility testing
- Orthopedic and neurological testing
- Muscle assessment
- Functional movement evaluation
Why Patients Choose Bilan Chiropractic
Recurring headaches deserve more than temporary relief.Our approach is to understand why they're happening. By evaluating the neck, upper back, posture, and surrounding muscles, we often identify physical factors that may be contributing to ongoing headache symptoms.
Whether chiropractic care is appropriate or another type of care is needed, our goal is to give you clear answers and honest recommendations.
Can neck problems cause headaches?
A. Yes. Restricted movement, muscle tension, and joint dysfunction in the neck can contribute to certain types of headaches, including cervicogenic headaches and some tension headaches.
Are migraines and headaches the same thing?
A. No. Migraines are a neurological condition, while headaches can have many different causes. During your evaluation, we'll help determine whether your symptoms appear to have a musculoskeletal component or whether additional medical evaluation is appropriate.
Can poor posture cause headaches?
A. It can. Spending long hours looking down at a phone or working at a computer may increase stress on the muscles and joints of the neck, contributing to some headache symptoms.
Can chiropractic care help headaches?
A. Many people with tension-type or neck-related headaches find chiropractic care helpful. Whether it's appropriate depends on the cause of your symptoms, which is why a thorough evaluation comes first.
When should I seek emergency medical care for a headache?
A. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience a sudden, severe headache unlike any you've had before, a headache following significant trauma, or a headache accompanied by confusion, weakness, difficulty speaking, vision changes, seizures, or loss of consciousness.