Cervicogenic Headaches: What They Are, How They Differ, and Why Green Chiropractic Care Often Helps
By Green Chiropractic | Omaha, Nebraska | Headache & Neck Alignment Experts
What Are Cervicogenic Headaches?
A cervicogenic headache is a type of headache that doesn’t start in your head—it starts in your neck.
This pain is referred upward from the cervical spine (the neck region), where nerve irritation, joint dysfunction, or muscle tension send pain signals into the head.
Green Chiropractic helping with Tension Headaches
At Green Chiropractic in Omaha, we see many patients who’ve been told they have migraines or “chronic tension headaches,” when in reality, the root cause is structural and neurological stress coming from the neck and upper spine.
How Cervicogenic Headaches Differ from Migraines and Tension Headaches
While cervicogenic headaches can feel similar to migraines, they have distinct causes and patterns that chiropractic care can often address directly.
| Type of Headache | Cause | Symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| Cervicogenic | Dysfunction or misalignment in the upper neck (C1-C3) irritates nerves and joints | Pain starts at the base of the skull or neck and radiates to one side of the head or behind the eye; often worsens with neck movement |
| Tension | Muscle tightness and stress | Dull, pressure-like pain around forehead or temples; usually both sides |
| Migraine | Neurological and vascular changes | Throbbing pain, nausea, light/sound sensitivity, often one-sided |
Cervicogenic headaches are mechanical in nature—they’re driven by movement, posture, and alignment problems rather than blood vessel changes or stress alone.
Why the Neck Plays Such a Key Role
Your neck is designed to support your head—about 10-12 pounds of weight—balanced over your shoulders.
But with poor posture, “tech neck,” or previous injuries, the natural curve of your cervical spine often straightens or shifts forward.
This creates a chain reaction:
-
Joint compression between the upper vertebrae (especially C1-C3)
-
Muscle strain in the suboccipital region (just below the skull)
-
Nerve irritation to the occipital and trigeminal nerves
-
Pain referral into the scalp, temples, and eyes
These are hallmark signs of a cervicogenic headache—and they’re why chiropractic care, which directly restores movement and alignment in the neck, can be so effective.
How Green Chiropractic in Omaha Helps Cervicogenic Headaches
At Green Chiropractic, our approach begins with understanding why your headaches started—not just where they hurt.
We use detailed digital posture imaging, nerve scans, and spinal analysis to identify the precise areas of tension and misalignment contributing to your headaches.
Our customized chiropractic plan often includes:
-
Gentle, specific cervical adjustments – Restore natural movement and relieve joint irritation.
-
Curve correction and traction therapy – Rebuild the healthy neck curve (cervical lordosis) to take pressure off nerves and discs.
-
Targeted muscle rehabilitation – Strengthen weak stabilizers and relax overactive muscles that pull the spine out of balance.
-
Postural training – Teach your body to maintain proper alignment during work, exercise, and daily activity.
-
Lifestyle and ergonomic coaching – Show you how to avoid recurring mechanical stressors that trigger headaches.
When the cervical spine moves properly and the nervous system is free from irritation, many patients report their headaches reduce dramatically—or disappear altogether.
Real Results from Omaha Patients
Many of our patients at Green Chiropractic share the same story:
“I thought I had migraines for years, but once my neck curve was corrected, the headaches finally stopped.”
Our mission is to help Omaha families find lasting relief by fixing the underlying mechanical and neurological cause—not masking symptoms with painkillers or temporary therapies.
When to Suspect Your Headaches Are Cervicogenic
You may have a cervicogenic headache if:
-
Pain starts at the base of your skull and moves upward
-
Headaches worsen with neck movement or posture
-
You have neck stiffness, shoulder tension, or past whiplash
-
OTC medication offers little or no relief
If this sounds familiar, it’s time to have your spine evaluated by a chiropractor who understands the link between neck structure and headache pain.
Why Choose Green Chiropractic in Omaha
Green Chiropractic has helped countless Omaha patients discover that their “chronic headaches” were really coming from misalignments in the upper cervical spine.
Our team combines years of expertise with advanced spinal correction techniques to help you get back to living a pain-free, productive, and active life—without medication or surgery.
Call to Action: Find the Real Cause of Your Headaches
If you’ve been living with recurring headaches that start in your neck or radiate behind your eyes, it’s time to look deeper.
At Green Chiropractic in Omaha, we offer a free headache consultation to determine whether your pain may be cervicogenic—and design a plan to correct the true cause.
Call today or schedule online at www.greenchiropractic.com
Experience lasting headache relief through natural, corrective chiropractic care.
Green Chiropractic – Omaha’s Headache & Posture Experts
Located in West Omaha | Helping women and families live pain-free, active lives
Cervicogenic headache Omaha, Omaha chiropractor for headaches, neck pain Omaha, Green Chiropractic Omaha, cervicogenic headache treatment, chiropractic care for neck-related headaches, posture chiropractor Omaha, migraine vs cervicogenic headache, upper cervical chiropractor Omaha, headache chiropractor Omaha.