Headaches can affect your focus, energy and entire day.
Headaches and migraines can have many different triggers and causes. Neck tension, joint restriction, posture, stress, sleep, dehydration and other factors may all play a role. At The Reserve Chiropractic & HBOT in Newcastle, Oklahoma, we start by looking at the pattern of your symptoms and whether the neck or upper back may be contributing.
Start with a clear first step.
Consultation, careful examination, any needed X-rays, one complete chiropractic treatment and recommendations to get you well.
Not every headache has the same cause.
The goal is not simply to chase the pain. It is to understand the pattern, possible triggers and whether tension or movement in the neck and upper back may be contributing.
Some headaches feel like pressure or tightness around the head and neck. Others are one-sided, throbbing or associated with nausea, light sensitivity or visual changes. Frequency, duration, triggers and accompanying symptoms all matter when deciding what kind of evaluation or care is appropriate.
A careful exam can help determine whether chiropractic care may be appropriate, especially when headaches appear to be associated with neck tension, restricted motion or a cervicogenic pattern.
What may be contributing to your headaches?
These are common possibilities, not a diagnosis. Your exam helps narrow down what is most relevant to your symptoms.
Joint irritation
Restricted or irritated joints in the upper neck can contribute to some headache patterns, especially headaches that seem to begin near the base of the skull.
Muscle tension
Muscles in the neck, shoulders and upper back may tighten with stress, prolonged posture or repetitive activity and can contribute to tension-type headaches.
Disc involvement
Migraine is a neurologic condition and can involve throbbing pain, nausea, sensory sensitivity and other symptoms. It is different from a simple tension headache.
Nerve irritation
Poor sleep, dehydration, skipped meals, stress and environmental triggers can influence headache frequency or intensity for some people.
Movement limitations
Limited neck and upper-back mobility may increase strain around the muscles and joints that can contribute to certain headache patterns.
Work + lifestyle stress
Long screen time, driving, repetitive work and sustained posture can all increase neck and shoulder tension and may aggravate headaches in some people.
What kind of care may help?
Treatment depends on what your exam shows. We keep the plan focused on what makes sense for your presentation rather than automatically putting everyone through the same protocol.
Some headaches need prompt medical evaluation.
Chiropractic care is not appropriate for every headache pattern. Seek urgent medical attention for new, severe or rapidly changing symptoms.
- A sudden, severe headache that peaks quickly
- Headache with weakness, facial drooping or speech difficulty
- New confusion, fainting or loss of coordination
- Headache after a significant head injury
- Headache with fever, severe neck stiffness or unexplained illness
- New vision loss, persistent vomiting or symptoms that feel dramatically different from your usual headaches
Headache and migraine care in Newcastle, Oklahoma.
The Reserve Chiropractic & HBOT serves patients from Newcastle, Blanchard, Tuttle and surrounding communities who are looking for conservative, personalized care when headaches may be connected to neck tension, posture, restricted motion or other musculoskeletal factors.
2908 NW 32nd Street Suite B
Newcastle, OK 73065
Call or text: (405) 928-9791
A few common questions.
Chiropractic care may help some people with certain headache patterns, especially when neck tension, restricted motion or cervicogenic factors are contributing. The first step is determining whether your symptoms are appropriate for chiropractic care.
Spinal decompression is generally not a primary headache treatment. It may only be relevant if a separate cervical disc or nerve problem is also present and contributing to your symptoms.
Not everyone with headaches needs imaging. Dr. Conner can determine whether your presentation is appropriate for chiropractic evaluation or whether medical imaging or referral should be considered.
Migraine is a neurologic condition that may include throbbing pain, nausea, light or sound sensitivity and sometimes visual or sensory symptoms. Tension-type and cervicogenic headaches often have different patterns and triggers.
You do not have to guess what kind of care you need.
Start with an evaluation. We can help you understand whether your headache pattern may have a musculoskeletal component and what the next step should be.