Stop Planning Your Day Around Head Pain
Nine out of ten Americans say they suffer from headaches. Some get them now and then, while others live with constant, painful headaches that can even cause nausea. About 95 percent of headaches are tension, migraine, or cluster headaches. These types are not caused by a disease. They often trace back to something in the body that isn’t working or sitting the way it should. At Fike Chiropractic in Tulsa, OK , we work to find that source instead of just masking the pain.
Request an AppointmentThe Most Common Types of Headaches
Knowing which kind of headache you have helps point toward the right plan. Most patients we see fall into one of these groups:
- Tension headaches: a dull, tight, squeezing ache across the forehead, temples, or the back of the head, often with sore neck and shoulder muscles.
- Migraines: intense, often one-sided pain that can come with nausea, light or sound sensitivity, or visual changes.
- Cluster headaches: severe pain centered around one eye that comes in repeated bouts over days or weeks.
What Can Be Behind Your Headaches
Because these headaches aren’t tied to a disease, the cause is often mechanical or lifestyle related. Common contributors include:
- Stiff or misaligned joints in the upper back and neck
- Tight muscles in the neck, shoulders, and jaw
- Long hours at a desk or looking down at a phone
- Poor sleep posture or an unsupportive pillow
- Stress, dehydration, and diet-related triggers
If your head pain comes with stiffness at the base of the skull, you may also want to read about neck pain care, since the two often go hand in hand.
How We Approach Headache and Migraine Care
Your first visit starts with a conversation about when your headaches began, how often they come, and what seems to set them off. We then examine your posture, spinal motion, and the muscles of your neck and shoulders to look for patterns that match your symptoms.
From there, your plan may include chiropractic care to restore healthy joint motion, along with guidance on posture, ergonomics, and daily habits that you can use at home and at work. Our goal is to reduce how often your headaches show up, how strong they feel, and how much they get in the way of your life.
When to Seek Emergency Care
Some headaches need immediate medical attention. Go to the emergency room if you have a sudden, severe “worst headache of your life,” or if a headache comes with fever and a stiff neck, confusion, weakness, numbness, vision loss, or trouble speaking.
Headache and Migraine Questions We Hear Often
Can a chiropractor help with migraines?
Many people with migraines and tension headaches turn to chiropractic care because their symptoms are linked to neck and upper back problems. At Fike Chiropractic, we evaluate your spine and posture to see whether joint or muscle issues may be contributing, then build a plan around what we find.
What causes tension headaches?
Tension headaches are commonly tied to tight muscles and stiff joints in the neck and shoulders. Prolonged sitting, forward head posture, clenching your jaw, and stress can all play a part.
How do I know if my headache is a migraine?
Migraines usually cause moderate to severe throbbing pain, often on one side, and may come with nausea, sensitivity to light or sound, or visual disturbances. Tension headaches are more of a steady, dull pressure. We can talk through your symptoms and help you understand what you may be dealing with.
What happens at my first headache visit?
We’ll review your health history and headache patterns, then examine your posture, neck, and spine. We’ll explain what we find and recommend a care plan, so you know what to expect before treatment begins.
Is chiropractic care for headaches safe?
Chiropractic care is widely used for headaches and neck pain, and we tailor every plan to the individual patient. If your symptoms suggest you need a different type of care, we will let you know and point you in the right direction.
How many visits will I need?
It depends on how long you’ve had your headaches, how often they occur, and how your body responds. After your evaluation, we’ll outline a recommended schedule and adjust it as you improve.
When should I go to the ER for a headache?
Seek emergency care for a sudden, severe headache unlike any you’ve had before, or one that comes with fever and a stiff neck, confusion, weakness, numbness, vision loss, or difficulty speaking.
{
“@context”: “https://schema.org”,
“@type”: “FAQPage”,
“mainEntity”: [
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “Can a chiropractor help with migraines?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Many people with migraines and tension headaches turn to chiropractic care because their symptoms are linked to neck and upper back problems. At Fike Chiropractic, we evaluate your spine and posture to see whether joint or muscle issues may be contributing, then build a plan around what we find.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What causes tension headaches?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Tension headaches are commonly tied to tight muscles and stiff joints in the neck and shoulders. Prolonged sitting, forward head posture, clenching your jaw, and stress can all play a part.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “How do I know if my headache is a migraine?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Migraines usually cause moderate to severe throbbing pain, often on one side, and may come with nausea, sensitivity to light or sound, or visual disturbances. Tension headaches are more of a steady, dull pressure. We can talk through your symptoms and help you understand what you may be dealing with.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What happens at my first headache visit?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “We’ll review your health history and headache patterns, then examine your posture, neck, and spine. We’ll explain what we find and recommend a care plan, so you know what to expect before treatment begins.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “Is chiropractic care for headaches safe?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Chiropractic care is widely used for headaches and neck pain, and we tailor every plan to the individual patient. If your symptoms suggest you need a different type of care, we will let you know and point you in the right direction.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “How many visits will I need?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “It depends on how long you’ve had your headaches, how often they occur, and how your body responds. After your evaluation, we’ll outline a recommended schedule and adjust it as you improve.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “When should I go to the ER for a headache?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Seek emergency care for a sudden, severe headache unlike any you’ve had before, or one that comes with fever and a stiff neck, confusion, weakness, numbness, vision loss, or difficulty speaking.”
}
}
]
}
Ready for More Headache-Free Days?
Call (918) 664-8281 or request a visit online to meet the team at Fike Chiropractic and start finding the source of your head pain.