Headaches & migraines
Headache & Migraine Chiropractor in La Jolla
Fewer headache days, starting at the neck.
Many chronic headaches start in the neck — and those respond remarkably well to chiropractic care. If you're treating recurring headaches with painkillers and dark rooms, it's worth finding out whether your neck is the actual source.
Types I treat
Not all headaches are the same headache.
The exam sorts out which kind you're having — because tension headaches, cervicogenic headaches, and migraines each respond to different care.
Tension-type headaches
The band of pressure around the head, usually building through the day. Tight suboccipital muscles and upper-trap tension are the usual suspects — very treatable with hands-on work.
Cervicogenic headaches
Headaches that are actually referred pain from the upper neck joints. The tell: pain that starts at the base of the skull, often one-sided, and worse with neck positions.
Migraines
For many migraine patients, neck dysfunction is a trigger — and reducing that trigger reduces frequency. I'm honest about this: chiropractic manages migraine triggers; it doesn't cure migraines.
Screen & posture headaches
End-of-workday headaches after hours at a screen usually trace to tech-neck loading. Desk-worker care →
Post-accident headaches
Headaches after whiplash are common and deserve early attention. Auto accident care →
The jaw connection
TMJ tension and headaches travel together. Soft tissue work around the jaw and upper neck often helps both.
How I treat it
Treat the neck, quiet the head.
Care targets the upper cervical joints and the muscles that refer pain into the head — plus the habits that keep loading them.
Upper cervical adjustments
Gentle, specific adjustments to the top of the neck — where most head-referred pain originates. Always modified to your comfort.
Suboccipital & jaw release
Precise soft tissue work on the small muscles at the skull base and around the jaw — the most common headache generators I find.
Cupping & upper-back work
Releasing the upper traps and shoulders that hike up under stress and screen time, feeding tension upward.
Trigger management
Posture strategy, screen setup, and simple daily movement that lowers your headache threshold — so results hold between visits.
What to expect
Your first visit, step by step.
Every new patient starts with a 50-minute New Patient Exam ($150) — so treatment is based on what your body actually shows, not assumptions.
Conversation first
We start by talking — your history, your goals, what makes it better or worse. You'll never feel rushed through this part.
Physical & movement exam
I assess how you move, not just where it hurts — because the cause and the symptom are often in different places.
Same-day treatment
When it's appropriate, you'll receive your first hands-on treatment during this visit — most patients do.
A clear plan
You leave knowing what's going on, how many visits to expect, and what to do between them. Honest timelines, no open-ended care plans.
Common questions
Headaches, answered.
Yes — chiropractic care is well-supported for tension-type and cervicogenic headaches, the two most common chronic headache types. Both often originate in the neck, and treating the upper cervical joints and surrounding muscles typically reduces both frequency and intensity.
For many migraine sufferers, yes — as part of a broader plan. Neck dysfunction is a common migraine trigger, and reducing it often means fewer and milder episodes. I'm straightforward about what chiropractic can and can't do for migraines, and I work alongside your physician's plan, not instead of it.
Clues include pain that starts at the base of the skull, one-sided pain that doesn't switch sides, headaches triggered by neck positions or long screen sessions, and a neck that feels stiff alongside the headache. The exam at your first visit tests this directly.
Most patients with neck-driven headaches notice a change within 4–6 visits. Long-standing patterns take longer to change fully — you'll get an honest timeline at your first exam.
Ready when you are
Imagine a week without one.
Book a New Patient Exam online — let's find out whether your neck is the source.
Related: Neck Pain · Posture & Desk Pain · Auto Accident Care · Treatments & Pricing