Pain, Throbbing, Aching, Pressure, and Tension In The Head There has been a breakthrough in understanding why headaches and migraines occur and how to fix them. More studies have shown that problems in the upper neck play a big role in causing headaches. A specialized method of correcting the upper neck can reduce or eliminate the symptoms without drugs or injections. Headaches are not normal even though they are common. The amount of times a person gets a headache does not make it normal. It actually just means the problem is more severe and there is usually a root cause to the problem that has not been uncovered yet. Most people do not know the root cause of their headaches. This leaves many people simply managing symptoms with medication or just coping with the pain. Currently, the most common treatment for headaches is prescription drugs, and treatment like Botox injections is on the rise, even though it only provides temporary relief. In recent years, there has been a greater understanding of one of the more common root causes of headaches and migraines. Headache and migraine pain often originate from nerves in your upper neck. More specifically, it is in an area called the brainstem. (See figure 1) This brainstem is the transition point between the brain and the spinal cord. It is located at the base of your skull into the upper part of the neck. Inside of this brainstem is a group of nerves called the trigeminal nucleus, which is the pain center for the head, face, and neck. If this trigeminal nucleus of the brainstem gets irritated, it causes the head, and sometimes the face, to hurt. One of the most common causes of this type of nerve interference is an upper neck misalignment. An upper neck misalignment occurs when the bones of the upper neck get out of place from a fall, concussion , car accident, or some sort of head or neck injury. Unfortunately, not many doctors, chiropractors, or neurologists are trained to evaluate this specific problem, leaving many people suffering from headaches for years. The key to addressing these types of headaches and migraines is to find the root of the problem instead of masking the symptoms. If a person is found to have upper neck nerve irritation from a misalignment, then they would be a candidate for our specialized type of care used to realign the upper neck with a gentle correction. Once the upper neck has been properly realigned, the bones no longer irritate the nerves and the headaches begin to subside. This specialized type of care is called Upper Cervical Care . With so many people suffering from headaches, there is good news. This specialized treatment is available the Cerebral Chiropractic Center in St. Petersburg, FL, which opens February 2024. Dr. Chris Slininger, the founder of Cerebral Chiropractic Center, is a craniocervical specialist who has been practicing in the Tampa Bay Area for the last 10 years. Upper Cervical Care is a powerful, precise, and gentle approach to long term relief. If you are serious about recovery, schedule a free consultation. You will meet with Dr. Slininger to learn more about headaches and migraines and to see if you could be a candidate for treatment.