Headaches and migraines · Byford
The headache that starts in your neck.
Not every headache has a chiropractic answer — but the ones that start at the base of the skull, sit behind the eyes, or follow a long day at a screen very often do. These are the patterns we see week after week in Byford.
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Three patterns
Not all headaches are the same
Tension-type
A band-like ache linked with stress and neck muscle tension. Responds to a mix of manual therapy and stress and posture changes.
Cervicogenic
Pain referred from stiff upper neck joints to the base of the skull, temple or behind one eye. Responds best to hands-on treatment of the neck.
Migraine
A neurological condition with moderate-to-severe throbbing pain, often with nausea and light sensitivity. Care is about triggers and reducing neck-related load.
Telling them apart matters, because they respond to different care. Cervicogenic headaches respond best to hands-on treatment of the neck; tension-type headaches respond to a mix of manual therapy and stress/posture changes; migraine care is about identifying triggers and reducing the neck-related load that can lower your threshold for attacks.
Where upper-neck joints refer pain
One stiff joint, four places you might feel it.
The upper three neck joints share a nerve relay with the head, so one stiff segment can be felt in four different places — which is why the neck gets examined when the head hurts.
Your first visit
How chiropractic care can help
A first visit looks at how your neck and upper back are moving, where restrictions are sitting, and what the surrounding muscles are doing in response. From there we build a care plan focused on the joints driving the pain.
The upper three neck joints share a nerve relay with the head — which is why a stiff, irritated upper neck so often shows up as head pain. Our care combines specific, gentle adjustments of the upper cervical joints, release of the suboccipital and jaw-related muscles, and postural work for the forward-head position that loads the neck all day at a desk.
Most patients combine in-clinic adjustments with a short daily routine — screen height, posture cues, one or two movements they can do in 90 seconds at work. That’s what locks in the change between visits.
For migraine sufferers, we're honest about what care can and can't do: chiropractic treatment doesn't cure migraine, but for many patients addressing neck dysfunction reduces the frequency or intensity of attacks, and we work alongside your GP's management rather than replacing it. Persistent neck involvement is also covered on our neck pain page.
If a headache pattern doesn’t fit the chiropractic picture, we tell you and refer appropriately. Principled, no over-promising.
- Cervicogenic and tension-type headache care
- Migraine support alongside your GP team
- Manual and low-force adjustment options
- Open 7 days for flexible scheduling
Frequently asked questions
Can a chiropractor help with migraines?
Chiropractic care doesn't cure migraine, but many migraine patients also have neck dysfunction that lowers their threshold for attacks. Addressing that, plus advice on triggers and posture, reduces frequency or severity for many people. We work alongside your GP's migraine management.
How do I know if my headaches come from my neck?
Clues include pain starting at the base of the skull, pain on one side that doesn't swap sides, headaches triggered by neck positions or long desk sessions, and a stiff or tender upper neck. Examination of the upper cervical joints usually confirms it.
How many sessions until headaches improve?
Cervicogenic and tension-type headaches often begin improving within two to four weeks of care. We track frequency and intensity from your baseline so progress is measured, not guessed.
Do you treat jaw (TMJ) related headaches?
Yes — jaw muscle tension commonly contributes to temple and ear-region headaches, and often coexists with neck dysfunction. We assess both and treat the combination.
Serving Byford, Mundijong, Armadale, Kelmscott, Piara Waters, Harrisdale, Haynes & Hilbert, Serpentine & Jarrahdale, Cardup, Seville Grove and surrounding suburbs — see all locations.
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