About 15.3% of adults, or roughly 1 in 6, report having severe headaches over a three-month period. For women, it’s even higher at 1 in 5, and headaches remain one of the top five reasons people end up in the emergency room each year.
Most try to manage it with over-the-counter medication. After all, it’s convenient and cheap, but it only masks the symptoms. It doesn’t fix the problem.
We see that every day here at our Wheat Ridge clinic. And the truth is, the headache itself doesn’t start in the head at all. It starts in the neck, or in the tight muscles just below the base of your skull. When those areas are inflamed, they send pain signals upward.
That’s why we don’t guess. We test your neck, posture, and even nerve function then treat the real cause. It’s how we help you break the cycle, feel better, and finally get lasting relief.
Common Types of Headaches We Treat
Let me walk you through the most common types of headaches we see at the clinic and explain what’s actually happening beneath the surface.
Cervicogenic Headaches
These headaches don’t actually start in the head—they’re caused by referred pain from the cervical spine. When the joints in your upper neck (especially C1 to C3) become stiff, irritated, or misaligned, they can send pain signals into the back, side, or even front of your head. Often, the pain stays on one side and may come with neck stiffness, eye pressure, or sensitivity to light.
Cluster Headaches
Cluster headaches are intense and sharp. They typically strike on one side of the head, often around or behind the eye, and can occur in repeated bursts or “clusters” over a period of days or weeks. It often attacks the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensation from your face and head. Tension in the upper cervical spine and neck muscles can aggravate them and trigger flare-ups.
Post-Traumatic Headaches
These develop after a head or neck injury, like a concussion, whiplash, or even a minor car accident. The trauma affects how the cervical spine moves, how the brain processes pain, and how the muscles and nerves around the skull function. Symptoms often mimic tension headaches, but the underlying issue is usually mechanical.
Sinus Headaches
People often confuse sinus headaches with tension or cervicogenic types. True sinus headaches come from inflammation in the sinus cavities, usually from infection or chronic congestion. You’ll feel pressure across the forehead, cheeks, or between the eyes, and it tends to worsen when you bend forward.
Tension Headaches
This is the most common type we see and also the most overlooked. Tension headaches come from tight, overactive muscles in the neck, upper back, and base of the skull, especially the suboccipitals, upper trapezius, and levator scapulae. When these muscles stay tight too long, they create a dull, aching pressure that wraps around the head like a band.
How to Tell if It’s Headaches or Migraines
I get this question a lot—“How do I know if it’s just a headache or something more like a migraine?” The answer starts with knowing how your nervous system reacts.
A headache, especially one that starts in the neck or shoulders, is usually mechanical. It comes from tight muscles and joint dysfunction in the cervical spine. The pain is often dull or aching and tends to spread across the forehead, back of the head, or temples. It might build slowly and last for hours, but it usually doesn’t come with other symptoms.
A migraine is a different story. It’s a neurological event, not just tension or pressure. Migraines often include visual auras, light or sound sensitivity, nausea, and pulsating pain that stays mostly on one side. You might also feel wiped out afterwards, in what we call the postdrome phase.
How The Disc Chiropractic Treats Chronic Headaches
By the time most patients find their way to my office, they’ve already tried everything, yet the headaches keep coming back. At The Disc Chiropractic, we take a different approach by identifying the structural cause and correcting it. For lasting relief, these are the treatments I often recommend.
Chiropractic Adjustments
Using the Gonstead Technique, I make small, precise corrections to the upper cervical spine, guided by motion X-rays and a detailed exam. When segments like C1 or C2 are misaligned, they can affect nerve flow and muscle tone in ways that often lead to recurring headaches.
Soft Tissue Therapy
Tight muscles at the base of the skull are major contributors to tension and cervicogenic headaches. We use soft tissue techniques and tools like Rapid Release™ to relax these areas, break up adhesions, and calm down overactive muscle fibers. This helps restore balance, relieve pressure, and prevent those muscles from pulling your neck out of alignment.
Therapeutic Exercises and Posture Correction
The way you sit, stand, and move all day has a direct impact on how often headaches show up. We guide you through simple, targeted exercises that retrain posture, strengthen deep stabilizer muscles, and reduce mechanical stress on the spine.
FAQs About Headaches
Can a Chiropractor Help With Chronic Headaches?
Yes. If your headaches are caused by spinal misalignment, muscle tension, or nerve irritation, especially in the neck, chiropractic care can make a major difference. We focus on correcting the source of the problem, not just covering up symptoms.
Are Chiropractic Adjustments Safe for Headaches?
Absolutely. When done properly, chiropractic adjustments, especially those using the Gonstead Technique are precise and low-force, with little to no side effects after treatment.
What if my headaches are stress-related?
Stress often shows up in the body as tight shoulders, or clenching around the neck and jaw, all of which can trigger headaches. We work on reducing the physical tension that builds from stress, using soft tissue therapy.
Do I need a referral from my neurologist or PCP?
No referral is needed to start chiropractic care. If you’ve already seen a neurologist or primary care doctor, we’re happy to coordinate with them to make sure your care is complete and well-informed.
What causes cervicogenic headaches?
Cervicogenic headaches are caused by dysfunction in the upper cervical spine especially at C1, C2, or C3. When these joints become restricted or misaligned, they irritate nearby nerves and muscles, which refer pain into the head.
Take the First Steps for Headache Relief
If you’re tired of chasing short-term relief and want real answers for your chronic headaches, your Denver chiropractor, Dr. Al Simeone, is ready to help you get to the root of the problem.
Book your $97 First Visit today.
Includes a full consultation, movement assessment, and personalized care recommendations.
Call: 720-573-4910