Do you have headaches or migraines?

A headache is more than one thing

A headache can come from the neck, the jaw, the way the head sits over the shoulders, or from something that has nothing to do with the spine. Without a look at those parts, it is hard to say where the pain is coming from. This is a guide to the issues we see most often. A visit is how we tell which one is yours.

Tension and neck-related headaches

Hours at a desk, a phone in the lap, and a head that sits forward of the shoulders are a common way this starts. The ache can sit behind the eyes, wrap the head, or settle at the base of the skull. The pain is real even when nobody can point to one injury. Care here looks at the structural pattern that keeps feeding it, not only the sore spot.

Migraines

A migraine is a different experience. Light and noise can be too much, and some people feel sick with it. A structural exam does not assume the migraine is coming from the neck. It looks at whether posture, alignment, and neck tension are part of the pattern, and it says so when they are not.

After an accident

A sudden stop, often from a car accident, can leave a headache that shows up later, with stiffness and trouble turning the head. These injuries tend to change how the neck lines up, and they are a reason people come in. Neck pain that travels with a headache is covered on the neck pain page.

Jaw and the base of the skull

Tightness through the jaw and the muscles where the head meets the neck often travels with a headache. The first job is to see whether that tightness is part of the neck pattern, so care is aimed at the right place.

When it is not the spine

Some headaches come from problems that need a different doctor. Those need to be sorted out, not guessed at. The exam is how we tell whether chiropractic care is the right next step.

Measured, then tracked

A thorough exam lets us see what is going on. We take objective measures of structure and function, including on-site X-rays, and we use those measures to track progress. The exam covers a wide set of metrics, so plan 90 to 120 minutes for the initial visit.

Peter Lenhart, Director of Rehab, helps patients improve structure and function with specialized exercises and angular tractions. More on the approach is on the CBP page.

Highly recommend visiting Dr. Eberle and Precision Chiropractic. I was experiencing migraines and chronic lower back pain. I felt significantly better after my first visit and am virtually pain free at this point. Dr. Eberle is obviously knowledgeable and thorough, it was a great experience with great results.Rob

Questions about headaches and migraines