Headache and Migraine Relief in Yakima, WA

Many recurring headaches originate in the neck rather than the head. Kroner Chiropractic evaluates and treats headaches and migraines in Yakima, Washington by addressing the cervical joint restriction and muscle tension that can trigger or worsen head pain. Treatment is drug-free and typically combines adjustments, soft tissue therapy, and corrective exercise.

When the headache starts in your neck

If you get headaches several times a week, you have probably built a routine around them: medication in your bag, a dark room when it gets bad, plans you quietly cancel.

What often goes unexamined is where the headache is actually coming from. A significant share of recurring headaches are cervicogenic, meaning they originate in the neck. The nerves supplying the upper neck share pathways with those supplying the head and face, so irritation in the upper cervical spine can be perceived as pain in the head.

When that is what is happening, medication treats the symptom while the source keeps producing it.

Types of headaches we evaluate

• Tension headaches, typically a band of pressure around the head
• Cervicogenic headaches, starting at the base of the skull and radiating forward
• Migraines, often one-sided with sensitivity to light or sound and sometimes nausea
• Headaches following a car accident or head injury
• Headaches associated with desk work and posture
• Headaches accompanied by neck stiffness

We want to be precise about migraines. Migraine is a neurological condition and chiropractic care does not cure it. What we can address is neck dysfunction that acts as a trigger or an aggravating factor, and for patients whose migraines have a cervical component, treating the neck can reduce how often attacks occur or how severe they are. That is a different claim from a cure, and we will not make the larger one.

How we treat

Your evaluation looks at your headache pattern, what triggers it, your neck range of motion, muscle tension, and posture, with imaging when indicated.

Treatment may combine:

• Adjustments to restricted upper cervical joints
• Soft tissue therapy for the neck, upper back, and jaw muscles
• Therapeutic modalities
• Corrective exercises for posture and deep neck strength
• Identifying and modifying daily contributors

Many patients find keeping a simple headache log useful in the first few weeks, noting when headaches occur and what preceded them. Patterns become visible quickly.

When you need medical evaluation instead

Some headaches require immediate medical attention rather than chiropractic care.

Seek medical care right away for a sudden severe headache unlike any you have had before, a headache with fever and a stiff neck, a headache following a significant head injury, or a headache accompanied by confusion, vision loss, weakness, or difficulty speaking.

If anything in your history or examination suggests your headaches need medical workup, we will tell you and refer you.

Common Questions

Can a chiropractor help with migraines?

Chiropractic care does not cure migraine, which is a neurological condition. For patients whose migraines are triggered or worsened by neck dysfunction, treating the cervical spine may reduce frequency or severity. Whether that applies to you depends on what the examination finds.

How do I know if my headache is coming from my neck?

Headaches originating in the neck often start at the base of the skull and radiate forward, tend to be worse on one side, and are frequently accompanied by neck stiffness or reduced range of motion. An examination can identify whether the cervical spine is involved.

How many visits before my headaches improve?

Many patients notice a change within the first several visits, though it depends on your headache type, how long you have had them, and what is driving them. We reassess as we go rather than committing you to an open-ended plan.

Do I have to stop taking my headache medication?

No. We do not advise stopping any prescribed medication. That is a conversation between you and the physician who prescribed it. Some patients find they need medication less often as treatment progresses, and that is a decision to make with their prescriber.

Can neck adjustments trigger a headache?

Some patients experience mild soreness or a temporary headache after their first adjustment, which typically resolves within a day. Tell us if it happens and we will adjust our approach.

What kind of headache needs a doctor rather than a chiropractor?

Get medical attention immediately for a sudden severe headache unlike any you have had before, a headache with fever and stiff neck, a headache after a head injury, or one with confusion, vision changes, weakness, or difficulty speaking.