What if the pounding in your head isn’t actually starting in your head at all?
It might sound counterintuitive, but for many people suffering from recurring headaches or even migraines, the true source of pain could be lurking just a few inches lower—in the neck.
At Mountain Movement Chiropractic, we’ve seen it countless times. One patient, let’s call her Sarah, came to us after battling severe migraines for nearly a decade. She had seen neurologists, tried multiple medications, adjusted her diet, and even kept a headache journal. Still, nothing seemed to break the cycle. Her headaches would creep in after long workdays at the computer or after waking up with a stiff neck, but no one had connected the dots.
During her first visit, we ran a detailed movement assessment and soft tissue evaluation. What we found was eye-opening: several deep fascial restrictions and joint fixations in her cervical spine—especially around the base of her skull. We began a tailored treatment plan combining myofascial therapy, precise chiropractic adjustments, and specific movement retraining through what we call The Day Method. Within a few weeks, her “migraines” had gone from weekly to nearly non-existent.
Sarah’s story is more common than most people realize.
While many chase headache symptoms with pills and temporary fixes, the real answer could lie in poor posture, muscle imbalances, restricted joints, and dysfunctional movement patterns in the neck and upper shoulders. These issues often go undetected by traditional approaches, but they’re exactly what we specialize in.
Understanding the Types of Headaches
When you’re battling persistent head pain, it can be hard to know exactly what kind of headache you’re dealing with—especially since many types share overlapping symptoms. Let’s take a quick look at the most common culprits:
Tension Headaches
These are by far the most widespread type of headache, often described as a dull, aching pain or pressure across the forehead, scalp, or back of the head. People often report feeling like there’s a tight band wrapped around their head. Tension headaches are frequently linked to stress, poor posture, and muscle tension—especially in the neck and shoulders.
Cervicogenic Headaches
Here’s where it gets interesting. Cervicogenic headaches don’t start in your head at all—they originate in the cervical spine (your neck). These headaches are often one-sided and may be triggered or worsened by certain neck movements or sustained postures. The pain can radiate from the neck to the back of the head, into the forehead, temple, or even behind the eyes.
Migraines
Migraines are more complex and intense. They’re typically marked by throbbing pain, sensitivity to light or sound, nausea, and sometimes visual disturbances (auras). While migraines are neurological in nature, emerging research and clinical experience are revealing that dysfunction in the neck—especially at the base of the skull—can act as a powerful trigger.
But Here’s the Overlap
Many patients (and even providers) confuse these three types of headaches because their symptoms can look and feel similar. For example, a cervicogenic headache can present with throbbing and eye pain, much like a migraine. And tension headaches are often blamed for what’s actually rooted in the neck’s musculoskeletal system.
That’s why people spend years chasing the wrong solution—treating the head, while the true root remains hidden in the neck and surrounding fascia.
So, What’s the Missing Link?
The neck. Specifically, the joints, muscles, fascia, and nerves that form a complex feedback system between your head and spine. If any part of that system is out of sync—from poor posture, repetitive strain, past injury, or muscle imbalance—it can set off a chain reaction of pain patterns that feel like a migraine or tension headache but are actually cervicogenic at the core.
The Neck-Headache Connection: What Most People Miss
If you’ve never had someone explain how your neck could be causing your headaches, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most overlooked connections in modern medicine—but once you understand the basic anatomy, it all starts to make sense.
Anatomy Made Simple: Why the Neck Matters So Much
Your cervical spine (neck) consists of seven vertebrae, muscles, nerves, and layers of fascia (connective tissue) that all work together like an intricate communication network. Running through this system are delicate nerve roots and blood vessels that connect directly to your brainstem and skull. When something in this structure becomes misaligned, restricted, or inflamed, the signal can travel upward—creating pressure, pain, or even migraine-like symptoms.
And here’s the kicker: your fascia—that dense webbing that surrounds every muscle and nerve—remembers how you move, sit, and even store past injuries. When the fascia becomes tight or stuck, it alters the way your muscles function and joints align. Over time, that tension climbs upward—right into your head.
Posture, Stress & Joint Dysfunction: A Perfect Storm for Pain
Let’s say you spend long hours at a desk, craning your neck toward a laptop. Or maybe you're a new parent constantly looking down at your baby. Over time, your head begins to shift forward, straining the muscles at the base of your skull and locking up the joints in your neck. That stress creates inflammation, restricts blood flow, and compresses nerves—leading to the kind of dull or throbbing headaches that are incredibly common, yet deeply misunderstood.
These patterns can also form after a car accident, sports injury, or even something as simple as sleeping with your neck in a poor position.
What Is a Cervicogenic Headache (and Why Is It So Misdiagnosed)?
A cervicogenic headache is a type of head pain that originates in the cervical spine, but is often felt in the head, forehead, temples, or behind the eyes. The pain may increase when you move your neck or maintain certain postures, and it's typically one-sided—but not always.
Because cervicogenic headaches often mimic the symptoms of migraines or tension headaches, they’re frequently misdiagnosed. Patients are prescribed medications, undergo scans, and still get no answers—because the root isn’t in the brain, it’s in the biomechanics of the neck.
The Tech Neck Epidemic: Why Modern Life Is Fueling More Headaches
We live in a world where we spend hours hunched over smartphones, tablets, and laptops. The average head weighs around 10-12 pounds—but when you tilt it forward just 15 degrees, the pressure on your neck more than doubles. At 60 degrees (hello, texting), your neck is supporting the equivalent of 60 pounds.
That constant strain overstimulates the muscles at the base of the skull and creates the perfect environment for cervicogenic headaches to thrive. It’s no wonder so many patients walk through our doors saying, “I don’t know why, but my headaches are worse after a long day at the computer.”
Signs Your Headache May Be Coming from Your Neck
If you’ve been chasing relief from headaches with no real answers, your neck might be the missing piece of the puzzle. Cervicogenic headaches—those that originate in the neck—can look and feel like migraines or tension headaches, but they come with a few telltale signs. Here’s what to watch for:
Stiffness or Pain at the Base of the Skull or Upper Neck
That dull ache or tightness you feel at the base of your skull? It’s not just from sleeping wrong. When the muscles in the upper neck (like the suboccipitals) become overworked or restricted, they can pull on sensitive connective tissue and nerves—causing pain that radiates into the head. Many patients describe it as a “knot” or “pressure” they just can’t seem to stretch out.
Headaches Triggered by Certain Movements or Posture
Do your headaches flare up after a long day at the computer, scrolling on your phone, or looking down for extended periods? Movements like turning your head, tilting it to one side, or even holding certain positions for too long can aggravate joints and tissues in the neck—setting off a headache like clockwork. If this sounds familiar, your cervical spine is likely involved.
Pain That Radiates to the Forehead, Temples, or Behind the Eyes
This is one of the most misleading symptoms. Many patients think they have a migraine when in reality, their headache is being referred from a dysfunction in the upper neck. When nerves in the cervical spine are compressed or irritated, they can send pain signals upward—causing discomfort around the temples, forehead, or even behind the eyes.
You Feel Relief After Stretching, Massage, or Chiropractic Adjustments
Here’s a major clue: If you’ve ever noticed your headache improve after a neck stretch, foam rolling, massage, or a chiropractic visit, chances are the issue is rooted in your neck. That’s because when the underlying restriction is addressed—whether it's in the fascia, muscles, or joints—pressure is relieved, circulation improves, and your nervous system resets.
At Mountain Movement Chiropractic, we specialize in this exact kind of neck pain and headache relief. Through advanced movement mapping, myofascial therapy, and precision adjustments, we help restore function where it’s been lost—and the results speak for themselves.
You Don’t Have to Live with Headaches
If you’ve been told your headaches are just a part of life—or worse, if you’ve started to believe that yourself—it’s time to shift that mindset. Chronic headaches are not normal. They’re a signal that something deeper is going on in your body—and more often than not, that “something” starts in the neck.
You don’t have to keep relying on temporary fixes or medications that mask the symptoms without addressing the cause. Whether it’s postural stress, tight fascia, joint restrictions, or movement imbalances, these issues can be corrected with the right care.
At Mountain Movement Chiropractic, we don’t just treat headaches—we uncover their root. Through our comprehensive evaluations and unique approach—including The Day Method and our integrative therapies—we help patients reclaim control over their health, movement, and mindset.
Ready to Discover the Real Source of Your Headaches?
Let’s uncover the hidden root of your pain—so you can live, move, and think clearly again.
We’re here to guide you every step of the way.
📍 Mountain Movement Chiropractic & Natural Health
1901 Laurens Road Suite E
Greenville, SC 29607
📞 (864) 448-2073 🌐 mountainmovementcenter.com
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