If you’ve ever had one of those headaches that starts at the back of your neck and slowly wraps around your head by the end of the day, you’re in good company. It’s one of the most common reasons people walk into our office.
Everyone gets a headache now and then. But if you’re getting them every week, or you’ve started keeping pain relievers in your car, your desk and your purse just to get through, it’s worth figuring out what’s going on.
A lot of headaches start in the neck
This surprises people. When the joints at the top of your neck get stiff and stop moving well, the muscles around them tighten up to protect them. Those tight muscles can irritate the nerves that run up into your head, and the pain shows up behind your eyes, across your forehead, or wrapped around your skull like a band.
What causes the stiffness in the first place? Usually it’s everyday stuff. Hours looking down at a phone or laptop. Sleeping on a pillow that’s too high or too flat. Clenching your jaw when you’re stressed. An old car accident or fall that never quite healed. None of it is dramatic, but it adds up.
Many of our headache patients tell us that once their neck is moving better, the headaches come less often and don’t hit as hard. Everyone’s different, so the first step is finding out whether your neck is actually part of the picture.
A few things you can try today
Pay attention to how you’re holding your phone, and bring it up to eye level instead of looking down. Get up and move every 30 minutes or so if you sit for work. Drink more water than you think you need, and don’t skip meals. And take a hard look at your pillow. If you wake up with a stiff neck, it’s probably not doing you any favors.
When it’s not a chiropractic headache
Some headaches need a medical doctor right away. If you get a sudden, severe headache that feels like the worst of your life, a headache with a fever and a stiff neck, confusion, weakness, numbness, trouble speaking, vision changes, or a headache after a hit to the head, get emergency care.
How we help
We start by talking through your headache history, then do a thorough exam of your neck and upper back, with X-rays if they’re needed. From there, care might include gentle adjustments, upper cervical care for the very top of the neck, massage for tight muscles, and simple changes to your desk and sleep setup. It’s the same approach we use for neck pain treatment, because so often the two go together. You can read more about our headache and migraine care.
If headaches are running your week, let’s take a look. We’re right off Eagle Road at Wainwright, on the Meridian and West Boise line. You don’t need a referral, and we take most insurance. Schedule your first visit or give us a call at (208) 939-0775.