Yes, for the right kind of headache. Seeing a chiropractor for headaches works best for tension headaches and headaches that start in the neck, and most people notice a change within two or three visits. Migraines are less predictable. Some people get relief, many don’t, and medication and avoiding triggers are usually the better first line.
Which headaches can a chiropractor help with?
Tension headaches respond best. Most people know the feeling: tightness at the base of the skull or across the forehead, like a headband that’s a bit too tight and slowly squeezes harder through the day.
Headaches that start in the neck (cervicogenic headaches) also respond well. These often follow a neck injury or a concussion that involved the neck. The neck muscles tighten up to protect the area, the upper neck joints get stiff, and that stiffness refers pain into the head.
For both types, getting the tension out of the neck muscles and getting the upper neck moving again often brings a lot of relief. The research is most encouraging for these headaches, especially when hands-on care is combined with exercise.
What about migraines?
Migraines are tricky. Some patients find care helps if they come in as a migraine is starting. Others find it doesn’t help at all, especially with migraine with aura. There isn’t enough high-quality research to say much either way.
If you’ve tried the usual medical route and you’re still struggling, chiropractic care is reasonable to try as one more tool. We’re very conservative with migraine patients. We take a detailed history and do a more thorough workup to rule out anything more serious before we treat, because we don’t want to make things worse.
Who gets tension headaches?
At our Kanata clinic, it’s mostly desk workers, people under a lot of stress, jaw clenchers and people recovering from a concussion that involved the neck.
The trigger is often a stretch of bad sleep, a long weekend hunched over a good book or a hard push at work. The tension builds, and you become more sensitive to headaches until one shows up.
What treatment looks like at Highlands
Treatment starts with a lot of soft tissue work. Dr. Stephanie Bonneau and I both use muscle release therapy, Dr. Bonneau also offers instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (scraping), and I offer dry needling/acupuncture. All of it helps the neck and upper back muscles relax and move more easily.
For the joints, we use either mobilization (gentle, slower movements) or manipulation (the quick adjustment). Both get good results, so it often comes down to what you prefer, as long as there are no risk factors that rule one out. For what it’s worth, Dr. Bonneau and I both prefer mobilization on our own necks.
For exercises, we focus on getting your shoulder blades moving better and strengthening your upper back. Many of the muscles that affect the neck anchor there, so this is a good long-term fix.
Most people notice a change within two or three visits. Getting to a stable place usually takes six to eight visits, sometimes ten, depending on your job and lifestyle. Some people do well with a monthly maintenance visit after that, especially if their work keeps putting the tension back.
Many patients also see one of our RMTs. Massage relaxes everything, and our RMTs can spend time on the jaw, face and scalp, which helps a lot for clenchers.
When headache treatment isn’t working
If a headache isn’t improving after two or three visits, or it’s getting worse, I stop and look for another cause. Most tight muscles calm down in that time. More visits are the wrong answer when nothing is changing, and nobody should be told it’ll be fixed by adjustment number twelve.
I once treated a patient with a headache that came on out of nowhere and had no red flags. He felt better after each visit, but it kept coming back within a day. That weekend a rash appeared. It was shingles, and he went to the hospital for antiviral medication. Nobody could have known earlier, but it shows why we keep reassessing.
The flip side is stopping too soon. If you quit as soon as the headache eases, it often comes back quickly.
When a headache needs emergency care
My number one rule with any headache is to make sure it isn’t something dangerous. A tight muscle can hurt a lot, but it won’t kill you. Fewer than 1% of the headaches we see turn out to be something more serious, but we always check.
Go to emergency right away if your headache:
Comes on suddenly and is the worst you’ve ever had, especially on one side
Comes with a drooping face, loss of balance or coordination, slurred speech or trouble understanding speech
See your doctor before starting treatment if your headache comes with chills, unexplained weight loss or other symptoms that make you feel unwell overall.
FAQ
How many chiropractic visits does it take to help a tension headache?
Most people notice a change within two or three visits, and six to eight visits usually gets things stable. If nothing has changed after three visits, we’ll look for another cause.
Is it safe to see a chiropractor for headaches?
For most people, yes. We screen every headache patient for warning signs first, and you can choose gentle mobilization over manipulation if you prefer.
Can massage help with headaches?
Yes, especially tension headaches. Massage works well alongside chiropractic care, and our RMTs can treat the jaw, face and scalp as well as the neck and shoulders.
If tension headaches keep getting in the way of your work or sleep, book an assessment with Dr. Josh Kiely or Dr. Stephanie Bonneau at our Kanata clinic.
