Headache & Migraine Relief in West Omaha
Headache & Migraine Relief in West Omaha
Most headaches aren’t a “brain problem.” They’re a neck and muscle problem that the brain reports as pain. Treat the source and the headaches stop.
- ★★★★★ 5.0 Google (341+)
- Best of Omaha
- 18 years in West Omaha
- Most insurance accepted
- Same-week appointments
The types of headaches we treat
Headaches aren’t one thing. The cause determines the treatment. The ones we treat most often:
- Tension headaches, a tight, pressing band around the head or behind the eyes, often related to neck and shoulder tension. The most common pattern by far.
- Cervicogenic headaches, pain that starts at the base of the skull and spreads forward. Usually caused by upper cervical joint dysfunction. Often misdiagnosed as migraine.
- Migraine, neurological events that can include throbbing pain, light sensitivity, nausea, visual aura. We can’t cure migraine, but chiropractic care reduces frequency and severity for many patients.
- Post-whiplash headaches, headaches that started after a car accident or other injury. Usually have a clear mechanical cause and respond well to targeted treatment.
- Tech neck headaches, headaches from long hours at a desk, looking down at a phone, or driving. Posture-driven, often resolves with both adjustments and movement coaching.
- TMJ-related headaches, headaches that come with jaw pain, clicking, or clenching. The jaw and upper neck share muscle and nerve patterns, which is why they often hurt together.
Why headaches happen (and what to actually fix)
Most chronic headaches come from one or both of these patterns:
Upper cervical joint dysfunction. The top two vertebrae in your neck have to move precisely to support the head and let the brainstem function smoothly. When those joints get stuck or restricted, the nerves that supply your face and head get irritated, and you get headaches. Adjusting those specific joints often resolves the pattern.
Trigger points in the suboccipital muscles. The small muscles at the base of the skull develop tight knots from posture, stress, and long hours looking at screens. Those trigger points refer pain forward through the head, over the eyes, into the temples, behind the eyes. Releasing them often resolves headaches that haven’t responded to anything else.
Most patients have a mix of both. The exam tells us which one is driving your pattern.
How we treat headaches
Spinal adjustments. Focused, gentle adjustments to the upper cervical joints when those are part of the cause. This is the foundation of headache care here.
Dry needling. Directly releases the suboccipital trigger points that send pain forward into the head. For many tension-headache patients, this is the fastest path to relief.
Acupuncture. For migraine and chronic inflammatory headache patterns, acupuncture reduces frequency and severity. Often combined with chiropractic care for a more complete response.
Movement and posture coaching. If your headaches come from desk work, driving, or screen time, the at-home plan matters as much as the in-office treatment.
What to expect at your first visit
- History. Headache type, frequency, triggers, what makes them better or worse, family history, what you’ve tried, current medications.
- Exam. Cervical range of motion testing, palpation of the upper neck and base-of-skull muscles, neurological screening, posture assessment.
- Treatment plan. Specific explanation of which type of headache pattern you have, what we’re going to do, and what improvement to expect.
- First treatment. Many patients feel some immediate relief from the first visit, though steady reduction in frequency comes over a series.
How long until I feel better?
Cervicogenic and tension headaches usually respond in 4 to 8 visits over 3 to 4 weeks.
Migraine and chronic daily headache patterns take longer to retrain, usually 8 to 16 visits over 8 to 12 weeks, with continued maintenance after.
You’ll know within the first 3 to 4 visits whether this approach is going to work for your specific pattern.
When a headache is something more
Most chronic headaches are mechanical and treatable. A few situations need immediate medical attention:
- The worst headache of your life that came on suddenly
- Headache with confusion, slurred speech, or weakness on one side
- Headache after a head injury, especially with vomiting or loss of consciousness
- Headache with high fever and stiff neck
- Sudden change in headache pattern after age 50
Any of those, go to the ER. If you’re not sure, call us at (402) 330-8600.
Why patients pick Becker for headaches
We treat the cause, not just the pain. Pain meds turn off the alarm without fixing what’s setting it off. Most chronic headaches respond to addressing the mechanical drivers in the neck and upper back.
Multiple tools. Adjustments, dry needling, and acupuncture each have different strengths for headache treatment. Most patients respond best to a combination, and we have all three under one roof.
Realistic about migraines. If you have true migraine, we won’t promise to “cure” it. We can reduce how often you get them and how bad they are when they come, which is what most migraine patients are looking for.
Frequently asked questions
Can chiropractic care actually help my headaches?
For most types of headache, yes. Multiple studies show chiropractic adjustments and soft-tissue work are effective for tension headaches, cervicogenic headaches, and as a reducing-frequency tool for migraine. The exception is the small percentage of headaches caused by something else (medication, hormonal issues, sinus problems), those need different care.
How is dry needling different from acupuncture for headaches?
Dry needling targets specific muscle trigger points that refer pain into the head, most commonly the suboccipitals at the base of the skull. Acupuncture takes a broader approach, reducing inflammation and helping the nervous system regulate. Both work for headaches; many patients respond best to a combination.
Will I have to keep coming forever?
No. The initial treatment phase resolves the acute pattern. Some patients with chronic susceptibility benefit from periodic maintenance care every month or two. We’ll be straightforward about whether ongoing care is needed in your specific case.
Can I keep taking my headache medication?
Yes. Don’t stop any medication on our advice. As your headaches improve, you’ll likely want to use medication less often, and that’s a conversation between you and your prescribing doctor.
What if my headaches are coming from a desk job?
Very common. Tech neck and desk posture are major drivers of headache patterns. We treat the immediate dysfunction AND give you specific changes to make in your work setup. Without changing the daily input, the headaches keep coming back.
I’ve been told it’s “just stress” for years. Is this going to help?
Stress is a contributor, not the whole picture. Stress tightens the muscles that drive headaches, but the muscles and joints themselves are doing the work of generating the pain. Treat them and most patients see big reductions even if their stress level doesn’t change.
Related reading
Get your headaches looked at
Headaches that come back every week aren’t normal, and they’re not something you have to live with. The first visit will tell you what’s actually driving your pattern and what we can do about it.