Headaches, everyone has had one at some point in their life, right, right. If you have a headache very infrequently and at random, this information isn’t necessarily for you. If you have a headache daily, weekly, a few times per week, or more, and it controls or is starting to control the quality of your life, this could be life-changing information!
It’s reported that 96% of people have had a headache, and this condition is one of the top reasons why people miss work and/or seek medical care. Having regular headaches isn’t normal. If you think they are, then this information should be helpful for you. Also, if you feel a headache is a regular part of life, then you have probably been through the usual medical route for chronic headaches, and that goes as follows: Over-the-counter pain relievers, then prescription medications or a combination of drugs, then physical therapy and lifestyle/diet change, and finally, possible nerve blocks and Botox injections. Can these treatments be highly effective for some and ineffective for others? The one common thread in all of this is whether we are really getting to the root cause of the problem. Do you have to take your medication daily to prevent the headaches? Do you have to keep getting the Botox injections? If so, then these are more of a band-aid than an actual fix. Also, focusing on a medication or injection infers that the cause of the problem is always the same when in actuality headaches can be caused by poor posture, dehydration, a pinched nerve in the neck, hormonal issues, muscle tension or imbalance, nervous system overload, blood sugar instability, poor sleep, eye strain/vision issues or a previous injury to name a few. In most cases, the headache symptom is actually a warning sign that something else is wrong and that something else is usually one or a few of the above-mentioned issues.
How Our Care Plan Works
1. I Feel Heard & Not Crazy
Many patients tell us this is the first time they’ve felt truly listened to. During your consultation and exam, we slow things down, ask the right questions, and create space for your full story—without rushing, dismissing, or minimizing your experience.
2. You Did More Than The Last 10 Doctors Combined
It’s because we slow down and look deeper. Every exam and X-ray is intentional, detailed, and designed to uncover the root cause—not just manage symptoms.
3. Wow, It Is Already Working
We use X-rays before and after treatment to measure real change. By comparing them, patients can see how their spine responds, helping to build confidence in the adjustments and in the body’s natural ability to heal.
4. I Finally Feel Normal Again
After struggling with chronic pain, headaches, or nerve issues, many patients tell us, “I finally feel normal again.” Our precise adjustments and thorough care help restore balance to the spine and nervous system, allowing the body to function the way it was meant to.
How We Treat Headaches In Rochester Hills, MI
Now that we have covered the traditional treatments and some types of headaches, there is one overall tie-in for all of this: the nervous system. The nervous system consists of the brain, spinal cord, and all the nerves that radiate out from the spinal cord. It controls and regulates every process in the body, so we must always consider the nervous system’s function or dysfunction when treating a headache.
What we see in our office typically is the worst of the worst situations where a person has been struggling with headaches for years, is on a cocktail of medications just to get through the day (barely), and has seen 10-20 different doctors or treatments with minimal to fair success.
Comprehensive Consultation and Exam
What we do in our office is first listen to your story, ask questions to uncover its underlying parts, and start putting together why the headaches keep coming. A lot of the time, the consultation is more important than the physical exam! We do a physical exam and check your posture-these things give us more clues.
3-D Digital X-rays
This is the most important piece! We take detailed 3-D X-rays and measure down to about the thickness of your fingernail. This precise analysis gives us the angles we need to gently and specifically correct the misalignment.
Upper Cervical Care in Rochester Hills, MI
We have been Metro-Detroit’s Premier Upper Cervical Chiropractic office for 25 years now. Upper Cervical Chiropractic, specifically NUCCA and Orthospinology, is what we use to help eliminate your headaches. Our technique focuses on the top 2 bones of the spine, their alignment, and whether that area is pinching the brainstem, impeding cerebrospinal fluid flow, or affecting blood flow in and out of the brain. If we find it misaligned, this is the root cause of your headaches, and it needs to be fixed. How we fix this is with a gentle, specific adjustment, without any popping, twisting, or cracking! The key overall goal in fixing this misalignment is to keep you stable and in place for long periods of time so the nervous system can heal and return to normal function. We wish we could say it will only take a few adjustments to accomplish this, but in most cases, it can take 3-6 months to achieve stability and long-term relief.
Frequency Specific Microcurrent
We also use frequency-specific microcurrent (FSM) to accelerate healing. Frequency-specific microcurrent helps reduce headache symptoms by reducing inflammation in surrounding tissues and limiting the production of inflammatory chemicals (cytokines) such as Interleukin-6 and Substance P. At the same time, FSM also calms muscle tension, decreases nerve sensitivity, and rebalances electrical signals in the nervous system. Another vital reason for frequency-specific microcurrent is its ability to balance the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. This can improve vagal tone, which is critical for stress reduction and may prevent stress-induced headaches.
Spinal Remodeling
The last piece of the treatment typically helps to improve spinal posture, especially in the neck. The majority of us are now either looking at a computer screen or phone/tablet screen all day long and have developed “tech neck” or a cervical kyphosis. The strain on the neck and accompanying forward head posture adds significant weight, which will no doubt contribute to headaches and neck pain. We teach you daily exercises that not only help fix your “tech neck” but also reduce your headaches and neck pain.
The combination of specific upper cervical adjustments, frequency-specific microcurrent, and postural exercises is the main 3 components to fixing the root cause of your headaches.
Common Types of Headaches We Treat in Rochester Hills, MI
Tension Headache
The most common type of headache is a tension headache, characterized by a tight band or pressure in the head and neck. The pain is typically mild to moderate and doesn’t worsen with activity. Nausea is not associated with this type of headache. The headache comes on gradually and can last a few hours to a few days. Treatment for tension headaches can range from OTC meds if not frequent to reducing stress. If they become chronic, fixing your posture and checking for a structural misalignment in the neck and upper back can work wonders.
Sinus Headache
A sinus headache is also common and causes facial pain/pressure from inflamed sinuses, often due to colds or allergies. The symptoms are a dull ache or throbbing in the cheeks, forehead, or behind the eyes, and pain can worsen with sudden head movement or bending over. Treatment for this type of headache can include an antibiotic if an infection is present or by controlling your allergy symptoms. Chiropractic adjustments can play a factor in this if a neck misalignment is present. A spinal misalignment can block drainage from the head and increase sinus pressure, worsening headaches. Getting adjusted also helps strengthen the immune system.
Cluster Headache
Cluster headaches are headaches that occur on only one side of the head. The pain is a “boring” pain in the eye, with high-intensity pain. This type of head is usually accompanied by autonomic dysfunction on the same side, such as tearing of the eye, a runny nose, a pupil becoming larger or smaller, and eyelid drooping. These attacks can last between 15 minutes and 3 hours, but not longer, and can occur daily or every other day. There are no specific causes known for cluster headaches, but our experience has shown a strong correlation with a misaligned cranio-cervical junction. Specific upper cervical adjustments can help get to the root cause of this type of headache.
Concussion/Whiplash Headache
With either a concussion or whiplash headache, they are caused by sudden back and forth movement and inflammation of joints, muscles, and pinched nerves. The cascade triggered by the sudden force and inflamed tissues irritates the cranial nerves, causing the headache. The treatments that work best for these types of headaches are massage and chiropractic adjustments, which restore proper alignment and calm the muscles.
Cervicogenic Headache
Cervicogenic headaches are headaches that start in the neck and radiate into the head. Arthritis in the neck, bulging/herniated discs, and misalignment are the root causes of these headaches and respond very well to chiropractic treatments.
Check Out Our Location Near You
441 S Livernois Rd #205, Rochester Hills, MI 48307
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a chiropractor in the Metro-Detroit area good for headaches?
Chiropractors in general are great at helping with headaches; upper cervical chiropractors can be the better choice due to their intimate knowledge of the neck, head, and brain. The specific adjustments typically last longer and are more effective for long-term fixes.
When should you see a chiropractor for headaches?
If you are having persistent headaches, you should be evaluated by a chiropractor.
Is a massage or chiropractor better for headaches?
The answer is that both work better together for headaches. The chiropractor corrects spinal misalignments and helps reduce nervous system tension, and the massage therapist helps ease muscle tension.
Can getting your neck adjusted help with headaches?
Yes, getting your neck adjusted can help with headaches. Correcting misalignments, restoring proper nerve function, and restoring proper spinal fluid and blood flow are essential for reducing headaches.
What is a natural way to relieve tension headaches?
Icing the neck, taking a cold shower, or dunking the head into ice water can help reduce tension headaches. Regular postural exercises can help relieve tension headaches. Therapeutic massage can help reduce muscle tension throughout the body. Upper cervical chiropractic adjustments can help relieve pressure on pinched nerves in the neck.
