Stop Migraine Pain Naturally with Chiropractic Care – Soft Touch ChiropracticBy Dr. Masoud Shamaeizadeh, DC
Soft Touch Chiropractic – Porter Ranch / Northridge, California A woman walks into a healthcare office with a familiar complaint: “I keep getting headaches.” Migraine may immediately come to mind—and for good reason. Migraine is a common neurological disorder and is considerably more common in women than men. But there is an important point that should not be overlooked: Not every recurring headache is a migraine. Headaches can have many different causes and contributing factors. Some originate primarily from migraine mechanisms, while others may be related to tension-type headache, the cervical spine, muscles and joints of the neck, posture, stress, or other medical conditions. For patients experiencing both headaches and neck pain, identifying the correct headache type is particularly important. At Soft Touch Chiropractic in Porter Ranch, this is one reason we believe headache evaluation should look beyond simply asking: “Where does your head hurt?” We should also ask: “What may be contributing to the headache?” 🧠 Migraine vs. Other Types of Headaches Migraine is a neurological disorder, not simply a severe headache. Common migraine symptoms may include:
That is one reason headache diagnosis should be individualized. 😣 What About Tension-Type Headaches?Tension-type headache is another common primary headache disorder. People often describe it as:
However, symptoms can overlap. That is why self-diagnosing every headache as either “migraine” or “tension” can be misleading. 🦴 There Is Another Important Possibility: Cervicogenic HeadacheOne headache category that deserves particular attention when someone also has neck problems is cervicogenic headache. A cervicogenic headache is a secondary headache, meaning the headache originates from another physical problem. In this case, the source is within the cervical—or neck—region. The American Migraine Foundation explains that cervicogenic headache is referred pain perceived in the head from a source in the neck. 👉 Learn more about cervicogenic headache from the American Migraine Foundation Possible characteristics can include:
Having neck pain does not automatically mean you have a cervicogenic headache. People with migraine and other headache disorders can also experience significant neck pain and muscle tension. A proper evaluation is therefore important. 🔍 The Neck Shouldn't Be Ignored Imagine a patient experiencing: Headaches + Neck Stiffness + Tight Upper Trapezius Muscles + Reduced Neck Motion + Poor Posture Should we automatically conclude that the headache originates from the neck? No. But should the neck and musculoskeletal system be evaluated? Absolutely. A physical examination may include assessment of:
It is to determine whether the neck may be contributing to the overall headache pattern. 👩 Why Are Migraines More Common in Women?Migraine is significantly more common in women, particularly after puberty. Hormonal changes—including fluctuations in estrogen—are believed to contribute to migraine patterns in many women. Menstrual cycles, pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause may influence migraine frequency or severity in susceptible individuals. But there is another important lesson: Being a woman with a headache does not automatically make every headache hormonal or migraine-related. A woman can have migraine. She can have tension-type headaches. She can have a cervicogenic headache. She can even experience more than one headache disorder. That is why individualized assessment matters. 💻 Could Posture and Muscle Tension Be Contributing?Modern life places tremendous demands on the neck. Consider how many hours people spend:
If a patient has headaches together with neck stiffness, restricted cervical movement, muscle tenderness, or headaches aggravated by neck movement, evaluating the cervical region may provide useful clinical information. 👉 Read our guide to neck pain and neck spasms 🙌 Can Chiropractic Care Help Certain Headaches?Chiropractic care should not be presented as a cure for every headache or migraine. Different headache disorders require different approaches. However, for some patients whose headaches involve a musculoskeletal or cervical component, conservative care may focus on improving:
At Soft Touch Chiropractic, we don't want to simply ask: “How do we make the headache go away?” We also want to ask: “Could something in the neck, muscles, joints, posture, or movement pattern be contributing to this person's symptoms?” ⚠️ Improvement With Neck Treatment Is Useful Information—but Not Proof of DiagnosisThis is another important distinction. Suppose someone's headaches improve after addressing neck mobility, muscle tension, posture, or other musculoskeletal factors. That improvement suggests the neck may have been contributing to the patient's symptoms. But improvement alone does not prove that a previous migraine diagnosis was incorrect. Migraine and neck pain can coexist. Someone can also have more than one headache type. This is why the goal should be accurate evaluation rather than simply changing one label for another. When a Headache Needs Immediate Medical Attention Most headaches are not medical emergencies, but certain symptoms require prompt evaluation. Seek urgent medical care for:
⭐ The Most Important Question Isn't “Migraine or Not?”The better question is: “What is driving or contributing to this patient's headache?” For one woman, the primary problem may truly be migraine. For another, it may be tension-type headache. For someone else, cervical dysfunction may be an important contributor. And sometimes multiple factors are occurring at the same time. Women deserve individualized headache evaluation—not assumptions based simply on gender, hormones, or symptoms alone. 📍 Headaches With Neck Pain? Consider Having Your Neck EvaluatedIf you experience recurring headaches along with:
At Soft Touch Chiropractic, we evaluate neck mobility, posture, muscle tension, joint function, and other musculoskeletal factors that may be associated with a patient's headache pattern. 👉 Learn more about our approach to neck pain and headaches 👉 Learn more about Soft Touch Chiropractic 👉 Contact Soft Touch Chiropractic Soft Touch Chiropractic Dr. Masoud Shamaeizadeh, DC Porter Ranch / Northridge, California 📞 818-831-0100 This article is for educational purposes and is not intended to diagnose a headache disorder or replace evaluation by an appropriate healthcare professional. 
|
|
rel=”author”>Masoud Shamaeizadeh
