Headaches

Headaches are one of the top three reasons patients come in to see us. Most people have already been told to take something and wait it out, and for an occasional headache that usually works fine. But when they are showing up every week, or starting in your neck, or the medication that used to help has stopped helping, there is typically something going on mechanically that a pill is not going to reach.

At Daniels Chiropractic in Racine, we start by identifying what kind of headache you are having, because the treatment that helps a cervicogenic headache is not the treatment that helps a migraine. From there we use chiropractic care, myofascial release, dry needling, Class IV laser therapy, and targeted rehabilitation to address the source.

We serve patients from Racine, Caledonia, Mt. Pleasant, Sturtevant, and throughout Racine County. Dr. Stefany Cruz provides care in English and Spanish. Se habla español.

Daniels Chiropractic has taken care of Racine families since 1948. We are three generations of chiropractors and five providers, with more than 800 patient reviews and a 5.0 rating on Google. We have been voted Best of Racine 13 times since 2009, including each of the last five years.

When to Seek Immediate Medical Attention

Most headaches are not dangerous. A few are. Go to an emergency department or call 911 right away if you have:

• A sudden, severe headache that reaches maximum intensity within seconds, often described as the worst headache of your life
• Headache with fever and a stiff neck
• Headache with confusion, slurred speech, weakness, numbness, vision loss, or trouble walking
• Headache following a head injury, particularly with vomiting or drowsiness
• A headache that is clearly different from any you have had before, or a brand-new headache pattern beginning after age 50
• Headache that consistently worsens when you lie down, cough, strain, or bend over
• New headache during pregnancy, or with a history of cancer or a weakened immune system

These are uncommon, but they are the reason we take a thorough history. Part of our evaluation is simply confirming that your headache is one we should be treating, and referring you out promptly when it is not.

The Main Types of Headache

Getting the type right matters more than almost anything else we do. A fair number of people who come in convinced they have migraines turn out to have something else, and it works the other way as well.

Tension-Type Headache

The most common headache by a wide margin. Pressure or tightness on both sides of the head, often described as a band tightening around the skull or a weight sitting on top of it. Mild to moderate, not usually made worse by walking or climbing stairs, and typically without nausea. The muscles at the base of the skull and across the shoulders are often tender to the touch.

Cervicogenic Headache

A headache that originates in the neck and refers pain into the head. It usually stays on one side, starts at the base of the skull, and travels forward toward the temple or behind the eye. Neck movement or holding one position for a long stretch brings it on, and neck motion is often measurably restricted. This type is frequently misdiagnosed as migraine, and in our experience it is the one that responds best to what we do.

Migraine

Moderate to severe, often one-sided and throbbing, and made worse by ordinary activity. Nausea, light sensitivity, and sound sensitivity are common, and some people experience visual aura beforehand. Attacks can last from several hours to a few days. Migraine is a neurological condition rather than a muscular one, though neck involvement is common enough that many migraine sufferers do improve with manual care alongside their medical management.

Cluster Headache

Far less common, and unmistakable to those who have it. Severe, piercing pain behind or around one eye, usually with tearing, nasal congestion, or a drooping eyelid on the same side. Attacks come in bouts over weeks. Cluster headache needs medical management, and we will refer you.

Why Headaches Happen

Headaches stem from a wide range of sources, and most patients have more than one contributor working at the same time:

• Sustained forward-head postures, including desk and computer work, phone use, reading, sewing, and gardening
• Stress and the jaw clenching or teeth grinding that often comes with it
• Restricted motion in the upper cervical joints
• Poor sleep, or a sleeping position that leaves the neck strained
• Dehydration and skipped meals
• Eye strain and screen glare
• Past trauma such as whiplash or a significant fall
• Frequent use of over-the-counter pain relievers, which can create a rebound cycle of its own

That last one tends to surprise people. Taking pain relievers on more than roughly ten to fifteen days a month can produce what is called medication-overuse headache, where the treatment itself starts driving the problem. If your headaches have gotten more frequent while your medication use has climbed, that pattern is worth looking into. Please do not stop a prescribed medication on your own, though. That is a conversation to have with your physician.

Why the Neck Is So Often Involved

The nerves supplying the top three levels of your neck share a pathway in the brainstem with the nerve that supplies sensation to your face and head. Your nervous system cannot always distinguish between a signal arriving from an irritated joint at the base of your skull and one arriving from your forehead. The result is real pain felt in the head that is being generated in the neck.

This is why the muscles at the base of the skull are so frequently tender in headache patients, and why restoring normal motion to the upper cervical spine can change a headache pattern that medication has not touched. It is also why a headache that starts in the neck and travels forward is such a useful clue during the exam.

How We Treat Headaches in Racine

Care begins with an examination: your headache history and pattern, cervical range of motion, muscle and joint assessment, and orthopedic and neurological testing. What we recommend from there depends on what that exam finds, and we reassess as you progress. The tools below are what we draw from.

Chiropractic Adjustment and Joint Mobilization

Restoring normal motion to the cervical and upper thoracic spine is the foundation of headache care here. We use three approaches, hands only, table assisted, and instrument assisted, and we pick between them together with you. Cervical manipulation has among the strongest evidence of any conservative treatment for cervicogenic headache.

Myofascial Release and Trigger Point Work

The suboccipital muscles at the base of the skull, the upper trapezius, and the muscles along the side of the neck develop trigger points that refer pain directly into predictable areas of the head. Releasing them by hand or with instruments often changes symptoms within the session.

Dry Needling

Dry needling places a very thin monofilament needle directly into those trigger points. For headache patients, the suboccipitals and upper trapezius are the most common targets, and the response is frequently rapid. Dr. Marissa Kaul is certified in dry needling.

Class IV Laser Therapy

Class IV laser therapy delivers light energy into the tissue, where cells convert it into chemical energy that accelerates healing, much the way plants use light for photosynthesis. It reduces pain and inflammation in the irritated soft tissue of the neck and shoulders.

Electrotherapy

Light electrical pulses delivered through electrodes over the neck and shoulders decrease pain and ease muscle spasm. Comfortable to receive, and often paired with a hot or cold pack.

Rehabilitative Exercise

Once symptoms settle, strengthening is what keeps them from returning. Deep neck flexor endurance, scapular strength, and mobility work address the postural loads that generate headaches in the first place. You will learn the exercises with a certified member of our team, with video and instructions available through an app so you can continue at home.

“I’ve been part of Daniels Chiropractic for many years. It’s my “Go-To” for most of my health challenges. From an annoying headache or sinus pressure to intense back, joint and female challenges. The Doctors listen and work to find what the body needs to heal itself. Their state of the art therapy tools and supplemental recommendations provide a well-rounded health journey. The added bonus is the fun and personal staff that makes you feel welcomed and noticed. Thank you, Daniels Chiro team!”

— Sylvia V., Google review

What You Can Do at Home

• Raise your monitor. The top of the screen should sit at roughly eye level. Looking down for eight hours a day loads the base of your skull continuously.
• Break up sustained positions. Standing and moving for a minute or two every half hour matters more than achieving any particular posture.
• Watch your phone position. Bring it up toward your face rather than dropping your head toward it.
• Track your headaches. Note the day, time, duration, and what preceded it. Patterns emerge quickly and it makes your exam far more useful.
• Count your medication days. More than ten to fifteen days a month of pain relievers can perpetuate the cycle.
• Hydrate and eat regularly. Dehydration and skipped meals are among the most common and most fixable triggers.
• Check your pillow. Your neck should be supported in a neutral position, not propped up or hanging.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a chiropractor help with headaches?

Yes, particularly with tension-type and cervicogenic headaches, where restricted neck motion and muscle trigger points are driving the pain. Research also supports chiropractic care as part of migraine management, with studies showing reduced attack frequency. The first step is a proper exam to establish which type of headache you are having.

How do I know if my headache is coming from my neck?

Common signs include pain that starts at the base of the skull and travels forward, staying on one side, worsening with sustained neck positions or particular movements, and accompanied by reduced neck range of motion. Tenderness at the base of the skull is another strong clue. The exam confirms it.

Is it safe to have my neck adjusted if I get headaches?

For the large majority of patients, yes. Cervical manipulation is a well-studied treatment for headache with a strong safety record. We screen every patient with a history and examination first, and we adjust our approach or refer out when anything in that screening warrants it, including moving to gentler instrument-assisted techniques when those are the better fit.

Could my medication be making my headaches worse?

It can. Using over-the-counter or prescription pain relievers on more than roughly ten to fifteen days per month can lead to medication-overuse headache, where the headaches become more frequent as the medication becomes less effective. If that describes your pattern, please mention it. It changes the plan, and it should be coordinated with your physician.

Do I need imaging for my headaches?

Usually not. Most headaches are diagnosed through history and physical examination. Imaging becomes appropriate when the exam turns up red flags or findings suggesting something structural, and we will tell you plainly and refer if that is the case.

Sources

1. Trager RJ, Daniels CJ, Hawk C, et al. Chiropractic Management of Adults with Cervicogenic or Tension-Type Headaches: Development of a Clinical Practice Guideline. J Integr Complement Med. 2026. PMID: 41685545
2. Koonalinthip N, Koonalintip P, Stonsaovapak C. The Comparative Efficacy of Treatments for Cervicogenic Headache: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials. Eur J Pain. 2026;30(2):e70219. PMID: 41569783
3. Dunning J, Butts R, Zacharko N, et al. Spinal manipulation and perineural electrical dry needling in patients with cervicogenic headache: a multicenter randomized clinical trial. Spine J. 2021;21(2):284-295. PMID: 33065273

About the Author
John Daniels, DC, CCSP, is a chiropractor and owner of Daniels Chiropractic in Racine, Wisconsin. A Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician, he treats headaches, neck pain, and other musculoskeletal conditions using chiropractic care, dry needling, and Class IV laser therapy. Daniels Chiropractic is located at 2609 Rapids Drive, Racine, WI 53404. Se habla español.

This page is for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for individual medical evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment.