Headaches and Migraines

The three headache types we treat most often at Valley Chiropractic are tension-type headaches, cervicogenic headaches, and migraines. Each one feels different, and knowing which type you have shapes the treatment plan. **Tension-type headaches** are the most common. They feel like a tight band across the forehead or a squeezing pressure around the whole head. Stress, poor posture at a desk, jaw clenching, and long drives are typical triggers. Many of our patients who commute from Tracy to the Bay Area describe this kind of headache after sitting in traffic on I-580. **Cervicogenic headaches** start in the neck and refer pain up into the head. The pain is usually one-sided and often reaches behind the eye or into the temple. These are strongly tied to joint restriction in the upper cervical spine, and they respond well to chiropractic adjustments. The National Institutes of Health notes that manual therapy for the neck can reduce both the frequency and intensity of these headaches. **Migraines** are a neurological condition, not just a bad headache. They usually involve throbbing pain, light and sound sensitivity, nausea, and sometimes visual aura. Migraines can be triggered by hormones, foods, sleep changes, weather, and, importantly, neck dysfunction. According to the American Chiropractic Association, spinal manipulation may be an effective option for migraine and tension headaches in many patients. A smaller group of patients has cluster headaches, sinus headaches, or headaches from past whiplash or concussion. If you were recently in a car wreck, our [whiplash treatment page](/services/whiplash-treatment) explains how crash injuries often show up as headaches days or weeks later. If you are not sure what type you have, read our companion article on [headaches versus migraines and when to see a chiropractor](/blog/headache-or-migraine-when-to-see-chiropractor), or come in for an exam. We will identify the pattern before we adjust anything.

Tracy patients tend to share a few very specific triggers that we see over and over in the clinic: long commutes, desk work, dehydration, poor sleep, and stress. Any one of these can spark a headache, and most patients deal with several at once. **Commute posture** is a big one. A lot of our patients drive from Tracy or Mountain House to Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, or San Jose. Sitting for 60 to 90 minutes each way with your hands on the wheel and your head pushed slightly forward loads the upper neck muscles. By Friday, those muscles are locked up and a cervicogenic headache is almost guaranteed. Our [lower back pain guide for Mountain House commuters](/blog/lower-back-pain-mountain-house-commuters) covers many of the same posture issues. **Desk and screen time** is the second big driver. Remote workers and warehouse office staff often keep monitors too low, which forces the head down. The suboccipital muscles at the base of the skull get overworked and refer pain into the forehead and temples. **Dehydration and heat** matter more than people think in the Central Valley. Summer temperatures in Tracy regularly hit triple digits, and even mild dehydration can trigger a migraine in someone prone to them. **Sleep and stress** round out the list. Grinding your teeth at night, sleeping on too many pillows, or waking up multiple times will all leave the neck stiff and headache-prone. The CDC reports that about one in three adults does not get enough sleep, and that shortage is directly linked to more frequent headaches. Food and hormone triggers are real too. Red wine, aged cheese, skipped meals, and menstrual cycles are classic migraine setups. When you come in, we help you build a trigger log so we can see patterns instead of guessing. Combined with hands-on care, that is often what breaks the cycle.

Chiropractic care helps headaches by addressing the mechanical and nerve-related causes that often sit underneath the pain: joint restriction in the upper neck, tight suboccipital muscles, poor posture, and irritation of the nerves that supply the head and face. When those problems are corrected, the headaches often become less frequent and less severe. Here is what a typical treatment plan looks like at our Tracy office: - **Cervical spine adjustments** to restore motion in the upper neck joints, which are heavily involved in cervicogenic headaches and many migraines. - **Soft tissue work** on the suboccipital muscles, upper traps, and jaw muscles to release trigger points that refer pain into the head. - **Posture and ergonomic coaching** so the headache does not come right back on Monday morning at your desk. - **Home exercises** like chin tucks, deep neck flexor work, and upper back mobility drills. - **Massage therapy** in some cases, which pairs well with adjustments. You can read more on our [massage therapy page](/services/massage-therapy). Research backs this up. A review in the peer-reviewed journal published through the National Library of Medicine found that spinal manipulation was as effective as a commonly prescribed migraine medication (amitriptyline) for reducing migraine frequency in some patients, without the medication side effects. The American Chiropractic Association also supports manipulation for tension and cervicogenic headaches. What chiropractic care does **not** do is cure every headache. If your headaches are driven mostly by hormones, food, or a neurological condition, we work alongside your medical doctor rather than instead of them. We are also careful with red flags. Sudden, severe, or new-onset headaches need medical evaluation first, which we cover in our [chiropractic emergencies FAQ](/faq/chiropractic-emergencies-when-to-seek-urgent-care-or-the-er-instead). For most mechanical headaches, though, patients start feeling a difference within the first two to four visits.

Yes, chiropractic neck adjustments are generally safe for people with migraines when performed by a licensed chiropractor after a proper exam. Serious complications are very rare, and for most migraine patients the benefits of care outweigh the small risks. Before we adjust anyone, we take a full history and do a physical exam. We ask about migraine patterns, aura, medications, blood pressure, past neck injuries, and any red flag symptoms like sudden vision changes, speech problems, or the worst headache of your life. Those warning signs point to conditions that need medical care first, not chiropractic. We also screen for vascular risk factors before doing any upper cervical work. Once you are cleared, we choose a technique that matches your comfort level. Not every patient gets the same style of adjustment. Some prefer traditional manual adjustments. Others do better with low-force instrument adjusting, drop-table technique, or mobilization. Our [chiropractic techniques page](/services/chiropractic-techniques) walks through the different options. The research on safety is reassuring. According to information published through the NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, serious adverse events from cervical spine manipulation are estimated to occur in roughly 1 in a million to 1 in several million treatments. The most common side effect is temporary soreness or stiffness in the neck for a day or two, similar to what you feel after a workout. One important note for migraine patients: during an active migraine attack, aggressive manipulation can feel like too much. We usually shift to gentler soft tissue work, light mobilization, and trigger point release during a flare-up, then do more corrective adjustments once the attack calms down. If you are pregnant and dealing with migraines, care is still safe, but the techniques change. Our [prenatal chiropractic page](/services/prenatal-chiropractic) explains how we modify care during pregnancy. When in doubt, call the office. We will talk you through what to expect before you ever get on the table.

Most headache patients start noticing changes within 2 to 4 visits, and a typical first phase of care runs about 6 to 12 visits over 4 to 8 weeks. The exact number depends on how long you have had the headaches, what is causing them, and how consistent you are with home care between visits. Here is how we usually structure it at Valley Chiropractic: **Weeks 1 to 2 (relief phase):** Visits are more frequent, often 2 times per week. The goal is to calm the acute pain, restore motion in the upper neck, and release the muscles that are actively spasming. Many tension and cervicogenic headache patients see their headache days drop noticeably during this phase. **Weeks 3 to 6 (corrective phase):** Visits usually drop to once a week. We work on posture, deep neck flexor strength, and any contributing issues in the mid-back or shoulders. Migraine patients often start seeing longer gaps between attacks in this window. **Ongoing (maintenance):** Once headaches are under control, many patients come in every 3 to 6 weeks for a tune-up, especially if they have a stressful job, a long commute, or a history of whiplash. Our [how often should I see a chiropractor FAQ](/faq/how-often-should-i-see-a-chiropractor) goes deeper on maintenance schedules. A few things speed recovery up: doing your home exercises, drinking enough water, sleeping on a supportive pillow, and keeping a simple headache diary so we can track triggers. A few things slow it down: skipping visits during the relief phase, going right back to poor desk setup, and grinding through 60-hour work weeks with no breaks. If you have not seen meaningful improvement by visit 6 to 8, we will reassess. Sometimes that means imaging, sometimes it means a referral to a neurologist, and sometimes it means switching techniques. We do not keep doing the same thing if it is not working.

Go to the ER, not the chiropractor, if your headache is sudden, severe, or comes with neurological warning signs. Chiropractic care is a great option for common recurring headaches, but certain symptoms mean something more serious could be happening and need immediate medical evaluation. Call 911 or go to the emergency room right away if you have: - A **thunderclap headache** that reaches maximum intensity within seconds or a minute - The **"worst headache of your life"** or a headache that feels completely different from your usual pattern - Headache with **fever, stiff neck, and confusion** (possible meningitis) - Headache with **weakness, numbness, or drooping** on one side of the face or body - **Slurred speech, trouble understanding words, or vision loss** - Headache after a **head injury or car accident**, especially with vomiting or loss of consciousness - **New severe headache in someone over 50** or in a pregnant patient - Headache with **seizures** These signs can point to stroke, brain bleed, infection, or high blood pressure emergencies. According to the CDC, stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability in the United States, and time to treatment is critical. Do not wait it out and do not drive yourself. For a car accident headache that shows up in the hours or days after the crash without the red flags above, we can absolutely help. Post-crash headaches are often whiplash-related. Our [auto accident injury page](/services/auto-accident-injury) explains the process, and our [chiropractic emergencies FAQ](/faq/chiropractic-emergencies-when-to-seek-urgent-care-or-the-er-instead) has a fuller list of when to go straight to urgent care or the ER. For everyday tension headaches, cervicogenic headaches, migraines with a known pattern, or headaches tied to posture and stress, our Tracy office is a good next step. If you are unsure, call us. We would rather send you for imaging or a medical workup than miss something serious.