When headaches keep coming back: where we start

When San Tan Valley patients come to us as a headache chiropractor, they usually describe recurring tension-type headaches or headaches that seem to start in the neck. At our Queen Creek clinic, we start by learning your headache pattern, then examine the neck, upper back, and posture. We do not diagnose migraine, but we listen to the whole story.

Most people do not search for help after one headache. They search after the third one that week, or the one that showed up at the same time every afternoon for a month. If that sounds familiar, this page explains the plain-language differences between common headache types, what to write down before a visit, and what we look at when you come in.

Tension-type, neck-related, and migraine headaches: plain-language differences

Headaches get lumped together, but people describe them in very different ways. The definitions below are general education. They are not a way to diagnose yourself, and many people have more than one kind.

Tension-type headache

A tension-type headache is usually described as a steady band of pressure or tightness around the forehead, the temples, or the back of the head. It tends to feel dull rather than pounding.

Neck-related (cervicogenic) headache

A cervicogenic headache is a headache that seems to start in the neck and spread toward the head. People often feel it on one side, beginning at the base of the skull and moving up toward the eye or temple, and they notice it changes with certain neck positions.

Migraine

A migraine is a type of headache that many people describe as throbbing, often on one side, sometimes with sensitivity to light or sound. Migraine is a diagnosis made by a medical provider, not by us.

"Headaches & Migraines" is listed among the conditions on our chiropractic services page. Whether chiropractic care fits your situation is something we sort out after an exam.

A one-week headache log: what to write down before your visit

A week of notes can tell us more than a long conversation from memory. You do not need an app. A note on your phone or a sheet of paper works. For each headache, jot down:

• When it started. The day and rough time.
• Where it started. Forehead, temples, behind the eyes, base of the skull, one side or both.
• What you were doing. Driving, working at a screen, yard work, or just waking up.
• Sleep the night before. Roughly how long, and whether you woke up stiff.
• Water. A rough sense of how much you had that day.
• Screen and drive time. Long stretches of either.

Bring the log to your first visit. Patterns that are invisible day to day often stand out on paper, such as headaches that line up with the afternoon commute or a long Saturday outside.

Sun glare, heat, and long drives: what San Tan Valley patients tell us

Living in San Tan Valley comes with a few things people mention again and again when they talk about headaches. These are things patients notice. We do not treat them as causes.

The first is glare. Many San Tan Valley residents drive to work in Chandler, Gilbert, or Phoenix, often heading straight into the morning sun and back into it in the evening. People describe squinting for most of the drive, gripping the wheel, and arriving with tight shoulders and a sore neck.

The second is the heat. Warm days often linger well into fall here, and the air stays dry. Patients tell us they notice more headaches on days spent outdoors, whether that is a youth soccer morning or an afternoon cleaning up the yard.

We hear these stories from all over San Tan Valley, including Morning Sun Farms, Pecan Creek, and Copper Basin. Whatever your neighborhood, the details of your day are useful to us.

What we look at: neck motion, upper back, and posture

A headache visit with us centers on the parts of the body that connect to the head. We ask about your headache history and review your log. Then we look at how your neck turns, tilts, and bends, and whether one direction feels tighter than another.

We also check the upper back and shoulders, since tightness there often travels upward. Posture comes into it too: how you sit at a desk, how you hold a phone, and how you sit behind the wheel. A brief note on screens: long screen time comes up often, and it is worth mentioning, but it is only one piece of the picture.

If your headaches tend to start near the temples or along the jaw, tell us. We look at the jaw area as part of the exam when the story points there.

Care options listed on our site

After the exam, we explain what we found and which options may fit. For headache patterns, those often include:

• Adjustments. Traditional manual adjustments or low-force instrument adjustments for the neck and upper back.
• Massage and trigger point work. Hands-on care from our licensed massage therapists, including trigger point therapy, through our massage therapy services.
• Electrical stimulation. Gentle pulses delivered through pads on the skin over tight muscles.
• Posture and corrective exercises. Simple exercises from our rehab team, explained so you know the purpose of each one.

We do not promise that headaches will stop. We do explain our reasoning, check in on how things are going, and adjust the plan with you.

FAQ

Can a chiropractor help with migraines?

Headaches and migraines are listed among the conditions we see. Whether chiropractic care is a good fit for your headaches is decided after an exam, and we do not diagnose migraine ourselves.

What is a neck-related (cervicogenic) headache?

It is a headache that seems to start in the neck and spread toward the head, often on one side. People frequently notice it changes with neck position or movement.

What should I bring to my first visit for headaches?

A one-week headache log is the most useful thing you can bring: when each headache started, where it started, and what you were doing. Notes about sleep, water, and screen or drive time help too.

Do heat and glare really matter for headaches?

Many San Tan Valley patients tell us they notice more headaches on hot, bright days or after long drives into the sun. We treat those details as useful context, not as a diagnosis.

Do you look at the jaw when headaches start near the temples?

Yes, when your story points that way. The jaw, neck, and upper back are closely connected, so we include the jaw area in the exam when it seems relevant.

Call or text to schedule

To set up a headache evaluation, call 480-677-2800 or text 602-831-2199. San Tan Valley patients are welcome at our Queen Creek clinic. Our doors are open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and Friday from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. You can find more about local care in our overview for San Tan Valley chiropractic patients, or reach us on our contact page.