Tired of headaches that keep coming back?
A dull band tightening around your head by mid-afternoon. A deep ache that creeps up from the base of your skull. Pain relievers that work for a while and then stop being enough. Some headaches are felt in the head but begin in the neck, so our doctors start by examining your upper neck and how your head is balanced over your shoulders, with no twisting or cracking.
What are the common types of headache?
Headache is the name for pain anywhere in the head, and it comes in many forms. Tension-type headaches feel like a tight band or steady pressure on both sides. Cervicogenic headaches start in the neck and are felt at the back of the head, behind an eye or across the forehead, often on one side and often worse with certain neck movements. Others, such as cluster headaches and migraines, have patterns of their own, and a doctor can help sort out which you have.
Common signs include:
- A dull, tight band or pressure around the head
- Pain that starts at the base of the skull and moves forward
- Pain on one side of the head or behind one eye
- A stiff or sore neck, or less turning to one side
- Headaches that follow long hours at a screen or desk
- Tender shoulders and upper back
- Trouble concentrating, or feeling worn out by the pain
- Tight muscles in the neck, shoulders and base of the skull
- Long hours with the head tipped forward, at a phone, laptop or steering wheel
- Stress, poor sleep or clenching the jaw
- Eye strain, dehydration or skipped meals
- An old whiplash, fall or sports injury to the head or neck
What causes headaches?
Headaches have many sources, and more than one is often at work at the same time.
Nerves that carry signals from the upper neck and from the face and head meet in the same area of the brainstem, which is one reason a neck problem can be felt as head pain. Seek emergency care right away for a sudden, severe headache unlike any before, a headache with weakness, confusion, or a stiff neck and fever, or a headache after a blow to the head.
How upper cervical care can help
Because many headaches start in the neck, we start there too. Your visit includes a posture evaluation, muscle assessments and 3D imaging of the top of your spine, so we can see how the atlas (C1) and axis (C2) sit and how your head is balanced over your shoulders. If your pattern looks neck-related, that gives your care plan a clear starting point.
We correct what we find with light, gentle adjustments, done by hand or with an instrument. By helping the upper neck move and rest more naturally, we aim to ease the pull on the muscles and nerves around the base of the skull. Our goal is for your headaches to come less often and hurt less, and we support that change step by step.
Head position over shoulders
Our posture evaluation shows how far your head sits forward of your shoulders, which can load the muscles that hold it up and tighten the base of the skull.
Telling the types apart
Your history and exam help us see when a headache looks neck-related and when you should be seen by your medical doctor instead.
Finding the tight spots
Muscle assessments find where tightness gathers in the neck and upper back, so those tender areas are part of your plan and not left out.
Gentle for a sore neck
Gentle, precise adjustments suit a neck that is already tender, and they involve no twisting, cracking or popping.
What to expect
Day 1
Your first visit
A consultation with the doctor at the office you choose, a thorough exam, and 3D imaging of your cervical spine with our CBCT scanner. We also do a detailed posture evaluation with advanced software, neurological testing and muscle assessments.
Day 2
Your report of findings
The doctor goes over your history, your exam and posture results, your neurological findings and your 3D images with you, and explains a care plan made for you.
Ongoing
Gentle care, checked as you go
Gentle upper cervical adjustments with no twisting, cracking or popping, and regular progress checks so your plan follows how you are doing.
Why choose Apollo?
Specialized care
We focus on upper cervical chiropractic, a highly targeted and refined approach.
A plan made for you
Every patient is different. Your care plan is built around your own exam and your 3D imaging.
Gentle, with no cracking
Our methods are very gentle: no twisting, cracking or popping.
An experienced doctor
Dr. Kosta Tsakalos brings deep clinical experience and a caring, detail-oriented approach to every visit.
Every person is different, and results vary. Read what our patients say on our testimonials page.
Let us help you get started
If you are dealing with headaches, we are here to help. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Kosta Tsakalos and find out whether upper cervical chiropractic care is right for you.
Related conditions we help with
- Brain Fog
- Vertigo & Dizziness
- Post-Concussion Symptoms
- Ménière’s Disease
- Migraines
- Tinnitus
- Ear Infections
- TMJ / Jaw Pain
- See every condition
This page is general information. It is not a diagnosis or medical advice. If your symptoms are sudden or severe, please seek medical care right away.