Headaches

Headaches take over your day. Some feel like a tight band around your head, while others pound behind your eyes. When pain keeps you from focusing at work or relaxing at home, you want an answer. At Hanson Chiropractic Center in Edmond, we look for the source of your headaches. Then we build a gentle plan around you.

Tension, neck, and migraine headaches

Doctors describe several headache types, and the first step is finding yours. Tension headaches are the most common. They feel like a dull ache, a tight band, or pressure behind your eyes. Tight muscles in the neck and shoulders often play a role. So do stress, poor sleep, and long hours at a screen with your head pushed forward.

Some headaches start in the neck itself. Stiff joints and tight muscles in the upper neck send pain to the back of your head, your temples, or behind your eyes. Doctors call these cervicogenic headaches. Migraines work differently. Throbbing pain on one side, nausea, and sensitivity to light often point to a migraine, and your doctor leads migraine care. Many people with migraines also carry neck and shoulder tension, and easing the tension is where we help.

Clues your headache starts in your neck

Pay attention to when the pain begins. Pain which starts at the base of your skull and moves forward is one clue. A stiff neck during a headache is another, and so is pain which gets worse with certain neck movements. Many people notice headaches after long hours at a desk or after sleeping in an awkward position. If this sounds like you, tell us at your visit.

Keep a headache log before you come in

A week or two of notes helps us spot patterns. Write down the time of day, what you were doing, and how long each headache lasted. Add any foods, stress, or poor sleep you noticed beforehand. A note on your phone works fine.

How we help

After your exam, our chiropractors match your care to what's driving your pain. We use gentle chiropractic adjustments to restore movement in stiff joints of the upper back and neck. There's no twisting and no forceful popping, and most patients find the visit calming.

Tight muscles at the base of your skull, neck, and shoulders feed tension headaches. So our massage therapist works to release them. Class IV laser therapy adds gentle warmth and supports healing in sore neck muscles.

Disc problems in the neck sometimes add to headaches. When a disc irritates a nerve, decompression therapy gently stretches your spine and gives the nerve more room. The care is non-surgical and drug-free.

Your first visit

You tell us when your headaches began, how often they come, and what makes them better or worse. Mention any recent accident, fall, or head injury. Then we examine your neck and upper back and check your movement and reflexes. We take digital x-rays when they help. Before you leave, we explain what we found and what we recommend.

Bring a list of your medications. Then fill out your new patient paperwork ahead of time to save a few minutes. Our team page shows who you'll meet.

Everyday habits which ease headaches

First, drink water through the day. Then take a short break from your screen every 30 minutes. Raise your screen to eye level so your head stays over your shoulders. A steady sleep schedule helps too, and so does a warm shower or heat on your neck when tension builds. We'll go over more at your visit.

When a headache needs urgent care

Most headaches aren't an emergency, but a few need a doctor right away. Call 911 or go to an emergency room for a sudden, severe headache unlike any you've had. Do the same if a headache comes with trouble speaking, a drooping face, or vision changes. Also go if you feel confused, or notice weakness or numbness on one side of your body. A headache with a fever and a stiff neck also needs emergency care. So does any headache after a blow to the head. Call your physician if your headaches change, wake you at night, or keep getting worse. New headaches after age 50 also deserve a doctor's visit.

Questions about headaches

Does chiropractic care help headaches?

Many people with headaches choose chiropractic care. One published review found manual therapy combined with exercise reduced pain in neck-related headaches. We start with an exam to find what's behind your headaches, then recommend a plan. Most plans pair gentle adjustments with massage or laser therapy.

Does a chiropractor help with migraines?

Your doctor leads migraine care, and we work alongside your doctor. Many people with migraines also have neck and shoulder tension, and easing the tension is where we help. Tell us which medications you take, and keep taking them as your doctor directs.

How do you get rid of a tension headache?

Rest, water, a break from screens, and gentle neck stretches help many people. Heat on the neck and shoulders loosens tight muscles. If tension headaches show up often, an exam finds the cause, whether the cause is posture, stiff neck joints, or tight muscles.

Do neck problems cause headaches?

Yes, often. Stiff joints and tight muscles in the upper neck send pain into the head. Pain starting at the base of the skull, a stiff neck, and pain which gets worse with neck movement all point to the neck. See our neck pain page for more.

Will the adjustment hurt?

Our methods avoid twisting and forceful popping, so most patients feel little or no pain. You lie comfortably while we apply gentle pressure, and you tell us right away if anything feels uncomfortable.

When should I go to the doctor for a headache?

Go right away for a sudden, severe headache. Go too for a headache with vision changes, trouble speaking, confusion, a fever with a stiff neck, or weakness on one side. Call your doctor if your headaches change or keep getting worse. The urgent care section above has the full list.

Last reviewed October 2026 by the chiropractors at Hanson Chiropractic Center. This page gives general information and does not replace advice from your physician. Individual results vary. Read about other concerns we help with on our Conditions We Treat page.