If your head hurts and nothing’s helped, it might be time to take a closer look at your upper neck.
If you live with migraines, you already know they’re more than just headaches.
They derail your workdays, interrupt your sleep, steal your energy, and leave you canceling plans more often than you’d like to admit. Some days, you’re not just trying to function—you’re trying to survive the next wave of pain.
You’ve probably tried the usual things: pain relievers, dietary changes, dark rooms, cold packs. Maybe even Botox, acupuncture, or prescriptions with side effects that feel worse than the problem itself.
And yet, here you are—still searching.
You’re not being dramatic. And you’re not out of options.
One possible contributor to chronic migraines that often gets overlooked?
The upper neck.
What’s the Connection Between the Neck and Migraines?
Let’s talk about the upper cervical spine—the top two vertebrae in your neck, known as the atlas (C1) and axis (C2). These small bones sit just beneath your skull and protect your brainstem, the part of your nervous system responsible for managing vital, automatic functions like heart rate, blood pressure, pain perception, and digestion.
When the atlas or axis are misaligned—even slightly—they can interfere with normal nerve function. That interference can overstimulate areas of the brainstem that are known to trigger migraine symptoms. These include neurological nuclei that affect blood vessel regulation, light sensitivity, nausea, and the pulsing, throbbing pain many people associate with migraines.
In other words, if your upper neck is out of balance, it can create a ripple effect across your entire nervous system—and that may include activating the pain pathways that lead to migraines.
But I’ve Had Scans—and They All Look Normal
That’s one of the most frustrating parts for many patients. Standard imaging—like MRIs or CT scans—often show nothing “abnormal,” which leaves you feeling dismissed or told to “just manage the stress.”
The issue is, those scans aren’t designed to detect functional misalignments in the upper cervical spine. These are subtle shifts that don’t show up as fractures or herniations, but still impact how your nervous system operates.
That’s why in our office, we take a very different approach.
What We Do Differently
We focus on something called upper cervical chiropractic—a highly specialized, gentle, and targeted form of care that addresses these small but powerful misalignments at the top of the spine.
Here’s what it involves:
- Detailed thermographic scans to assess nervous system function
- Precise biomechanical X-rays to understand your unique spinal alignment
- Specific corrections made only when necessary, and only where needed
There’s no twisting. No cracking. And no adjusting just because you’re in the office.
Our goal is to restore proper function to your nervous system—what we often call a nervous system reset—so your body can heal, regulate, and recover the way it was designed to.
So… Will It “Cure” My Migraines?
We never promise a cure. But we’ve seen firsthand what happens when the nervous system is finally able to function without interference.
Patients who’ve struggled with migraines for years—sometimes decades—report fewer episodes, less intensity, better sleep, more energy, and a greater sense of calm. For some, the migraines don’t come back at all. For others, they become manageable instead of debilitating.
We know everyone’s story is different. That’s why we take time to listen to yours—and why we build care plans that reflect your goals, your lifestyle, and your priorities.
The Bottom Line
If you’ve been told “everything looks normal” but nothing feels normal…
If you’ve tried treatment after treatment without real relief…
And if you’re tired of patching symptoms instead of solving problems…
It might be time to look higher.
Because when the nervous system is supported at the source, healing can finally begin.