Headaches That Don't Start in Your Head
If you experience recurring headaches without an obvious cause, the source of the discomfort may not actually be in your head. Tension and irritation in the upper neck and the muscles at the base of the skull can sometimes refer pain upward, creating symptoms that feel like a traditional headache.
Could Your Neck Be Triggering Your Headaches?
Long hours spent working at a computer, looking down at a phone, or sitting at a desk can place added strain on the muscles at the top of your neck.
As those muscles become tight and overworked, discomfort can travel upward toward the head. You may notice symptoms such as:
- Pressure around the temples
- A tight, “headband-like” sensation
- Throbbing or aching
- Tension at the base of the skull
- Neck tightness that accompanies your headache
These symptoms may become especially noticeable after extended periods of screen time or desk work.
Why Do the Headaches Keep Coming Back?
Temporary relief may help take the edge off a headache, but if the tension in your neck continues, the same pattern can return.
Spending much of the day with your head tilted forward or downward can continually overload the upper-neck muscles. When those muscles remain irritated or overworked, they may continue referring discomfort toward the head.
That is why looking beyond the location of the headache itself can be important when trying to understand what may be contributing to recurring symptoms.
Addressing the Neck and Head Together
At Advance Center for Chiropractic, Acupuncture & Nutrition, Dr. Michael Luban takes a hands-on approach to evaluating the areas that may be contributing to your discomfort.
For patients whose headaches are associated with upper-neck tension, care may focus on improving how the neck moves and reducing the muscular tension that can contribute to recurring discomfort.
Rather than simply focusing on where you feel the pain, the goal is to look at the surrounding areas that may be placing additional stress on your head and neck.
Don’t Let Recurring Headaches Become Your Normal
If headaches seem to appear after long workdays, screen time, or periods of neck tension, it may be worth taking a closer look at your neck.
Dr. Michael Luban and the team at Advance Center for Chiropractic, Acupuncture & Nutrition help patients in Chicago and Northfield, IL find natural approaches to managing neck tension, headaches, and related discomfort.
Feel Better. Live Better. Take the Next Step.
Schedule an appointment with Dr. Luban today to learn whether tension in your neck may be contributing to your recurring headaches.
