Understanding your headaches and migraines

Headaches come in many forms, and the right care starts with understanding which kind you’re dealing with. Tension headaches often feel like a tight band of pressure around the head and are frequently linked to stress and tight muscles in the neck and shoulders. Cervicogenic headaches, or neck-related headaches, actually start in the joints and soft tissues of the neck and then radiate up into the head. Migraines are typically more intense, sometimes throbbing on one side, and can come with sensitivity to light, sound, or nausea. Many people live with a mix of these, which is why a careful, individual evaluation matters.

Why the neck and spine matter

The upper neck and spine are closely connected to how your head feels. When the joints in your neck are stiff or slightly out of alignment, or when the surrounding muscles are chronically tight, that irritation can trigger or worsen headaches and even contribute to migraine patterns. This is especially true for cervicogenic headaches, where the neck is the true source of the pain. By focusing on the mechanics of the spine, we’re able to target a cause that medication alone often leaves untouched.

How Briggs Chiropractic helps

Our approach is non-surgical, drug-free, and evidence-based. After Dr. Briggs, a board-certified chiropractic orthopedist, evaluates your neck and spine, we build a plan that may combine several of our in-house treatments:

  • Chiropractic adjustments and advanced spinal correction to restore healthy movement and relieve the joint irritation that fuels neck-related headaches.
  • Class IV laser therapy, a drug-free treatment that reduces inflammation and helps tissues heal faster.
  • One-on-one physical therapy and spinal rehabilitation, guided personally by one of our three highly trained therapists, to release muscle tension and rebuild strength and posture.
  • Intersegmental traction, therapeutic ultrasound, and massage to gently loosen tight muscles and ease the tension that so often sits behind chronic headaches.

For more than 26 years, families across Saugus and the North Shore have trusted Briggs Chiropractic & Physical Therapy for care that treats the whole person, not just the symptom. If headaches or migraines are wearing you down, we’d welcome the chance to help you feel better and get back to your life. Call us at 781-233-4122 to talk about your headaches and schedule a visit.