Yes, chiropractic care can help many types of headaches and migraines, particularly those originating from tension, neck dysfunction, or spinal misalignment. At ChiroMed Crawfordsville, Dr. Jeff McIntyre, DC takes a thorough approach to identifying what’s actually causing your head pain and addressing it at the source.
Why Your Headache Might Be Coming From Your Neck
Most people assume headaches start in the head. That makes sense intuitively, but it’s often not the full picture. A significant percentage of chronic headaches actually originate from problems in the cervical spine (your neck) and the muscles surrounding it.
These are called cervicogenic headaches, and they’re more common than many people realize. The upper neck vertebrae share nerve pathways with the head, face, and scalp. When joints in this area become restricted or misaligned, or when the surrounding muscles tighten up, those nerves can refer pain upward into the skull.
The result? A headache that feels like it’s in your head but actually stems from your neck. Pain medications might dull the sensation temporarily, but they don’t fix the underlying mechanical problem. That’s why the headaches keep coming back.
Tension Headaches and Muscle Tightness
Tension-type headaches are the most common variety. According to the World Health Organization, episodic tension-type headaches affect more than 70% of some populations. They typically produce a dull, pressing sensation on both sides of the head, sometimes described as a tight band around the skull.
These headaches often trace back to muscle tension in the neck, shoulders, and upper back. Poor posture, stress, desk work, and even sleeping in an awkward position can trigger or worsen them. The suboccipital muscles at the base of your skull are frequent culprits. When these small but powerful muscles stay contracted, they can generate headache pain that persists for hours or days.
Chiropractic adjustments help restore normal joint motion in the cervical spine, which often allows those tight muscles to finally relax. Many patients notice their tension headaches become less frequent and less intense once their neck is moving properly again.
The Migraine Connection
Migraines are a different animal from tension headaches. They tend to be more severe, often affecting one side of the head, and frequently come with additional symptoms like nausea, light sensitivity, visual disturbances, or sound sensitivity. Some migraine sufferers experience auras before the pain hits.
The exact mechanisms behind migraines are still being studied, but we know the nervous system plays a central role. And here’s where chiropractic care enters the picture: spinal dysfunction can contribute to nervous system irritation that may lower your threshold for migraine episodes.
A 2019 systematic review and meta-analysis published in the journal Headache examined six randomized controlled trials and found that spinal manipulation reduced migraine days and pain intensity, though researchers noted results were preliminary and more large-scale studies are needed. While chiropractic care doesn’t cure migraines, many patients find that regular adjustments help reduce how often attacks occur and how severe they feel when they do happen.
At ChiroMed, we’ve worked with plenty of migraine patients over the years. Some respond remarkably well to care. Others see moderate improvement. We’re always honest about the fact that results vary, and migraines can be complex conditions with multiple contributing factors.
What Happens During Your First Visit
If you come to our Crawfordsville office with chronic headaches, Dr. Jeff won’t just crack your neck and send you home. The first step is figuring out what’s actually going on.
Your initial evaluation includes a detailed health history. When did the headaches start? How often do they occur? What makes them better or worse? Have you noticed any patterns or triggers? This information helps narrow down the type of headache you’re dealing with and whether chiropractic care is likely to help.
Next comes a physical examination focusing on your cervical spine, posture, and the muscles of your neck and upper back. Dr. McIntyre checks for restricted joints, muscle tension, postural imbalances, and neurological signs. Sometimes imaging is needed to rule out other issues or get a clearer picture of what’s happening structurally.
Only after this evaluation do we recommend a treatment approach. If your headaches appear connected to spinal dysfunction, chiropractic adjustments targeting the cervical spine are usually the starting point.
Beyond Adjustments: A Complete Approach
Spinal adjustments are effective, but they work even better as part of a broader strategy. At ChiroMed, we follow what we call the Three Pillars of Health: Alignment, Core Stability, and Healthy Intake. For headache patients, this framework shapes how we approach care.
Alignment Through Adjustments
Chiropractic adjustments restore proper motion and positioning to vertebrae that have become restricted or misaligned. In the upper cervical spine, even small improvements in joint function can significantly reduce nerve irritation contributing to headaches.
Many headache sufferers also have issues in their mid-back (thoracic spine) that affect neck posture. Slouching through the upper back forces the head forward, straining neck muscles and joints. Addressing the thoracic spine often helps the cervical spine function better.
Muscle Work and Rehabilitation
Tight muscles don’t always release on their own just because the joints are moving better. Massage therapy helps relax stubborn muscle tension in the neck, shoulders, and upper back. For some patients, E-Stim therapy provides additional relief by reducing muscle spasm and promoting blood flow.
Functional rehabilitation exercises strengthen the muscles that support good posture, making it easier to maintain the improvements gained through adjustments. Patients who commit to their rehab exercises typically see longer-lasting results.
Lifestyle Factors That Matter
We also look at what might be triggering or perpetuating your headaches outside the office. Desk ergonomics, sleep position, hydration, stress levels, and screen time all play a role for many patients. Sometimes small changes in daily habits make a noticeable difference.
For migraine patients specifically, identifying and avoiding personal triggers can be as important as any treatment we provide. Common culprits include certain foods, alcohol, irregular sleep schedules, hormonal fluctuations, and environmental factors like strong smells or flickering lights.
How Long Before You Feel Better?
This depends on several factors: how long you’ve been dealing with headaches, how frequently they occur, what’s causing them, and how your body responds to care.
Some patients notice improvement within the first few visits. The headaches become less intense, don’t last as long, or happen less often. Others need more time before they see meaningful changes. Chronic headache patterns that have developed over years generally take longer to shift than recent-onset problems.
We typically recommend an initial course of treatment and then reassess. If you’re not responding as expected, we adjust the approach or discuss other options. Our goal is helping you actually get better, not keeping you coming in forever without results.
When Headaches Require Medical Attention
Most headaches, even severe ones, aren’t dangerous. But certain warning signs indicate you should seek medical evaluation rather than chiropractic care:
- Sudden, severe headache unlike anything you’ve experienced before (sometimes called a “thunderclap” headache)
- Headache accompanied by fever, stiff neck, confusion, seizures, or vision changes
- Headache following a head injury
- Progressively worsening headaches over days or weeks
- Headaches with numbness, weakness, or difficulty speaking
These symptoms can indicate serious conditions requiring immediate medical attention. When in doubt, get checked out by your physician or urgent care first.
For the more common chronic headache patterns that don’t involve these red flags, chiropractic evaluation makes sense as a starting point or as an addition to whatever you’re already doing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often will I need adjustments for my headaches? Initial treatment often involves visits once or twice per week for several weeks. As you improve, frequency decreases. Some patients eventually transition to periodic maintenance visits, while others do well without ongoing care once their issue resolves.
Will the adjustments hurt? Cervical adjustments are generally quick and not painful. You may hear a popping sound, which is simply gas releasing from the joint. Some patients feel immediate relief, while others notice gradual improvement over subsequent days.
Can children receive chiropractic care for headaches? Yes. Techniques are modified for younger patients. Pediatric headaches can sometimes relate to postural issues, especially with increased screen time. Dr. Jeff evaluates each young patient individually to determine if chiropractic care is appropriate.
What if my headaches don’t improve with chiropractic care? If you’re not responding to treatment, we’ll discuss it honestly. Sometimes headaches have causes that don’t respond to spinal care, and other interventions may be needed. We’re happy to coordinate with your primary care physician or refer to a neurologist if warranted.
Find Out What’s Behind Your Headaches
Living with chronic headaches or migraines affects your work, your relationships, and your ability to enjoy daily life. If you’ve been managing symptoms with pain relievers without addressing the cause, there may be a better path forward.
At ChiroMed Crawfordsville, we help Montgomery County patients identify what’s driving their head pain and develop a plan to address it. Call (765) 362-1500 to schedule your evaluation, and let’s figure out what it takes to get you feeling like yourself again.
