Headaches & Migraines
Headache & Migraine Care in Grand Junction
Headaches have many causes, and chiropractic care is not the answer for all of them. This page is about telling the difference.
Understanding
Understanding Headache Patterns
Headache is a symptom with many possible sources. Some patterns are associated with tension and restricted motion in the neck and upper back; others, including migraine, involve mechanisms that chiropractic care does not address.
Nothing here should be read as a claim that chiropractic care treats migraine. What an evaluation can do is help determine whether a musculoskeletal component is present.
Symptoms
Common Symptoms & Experiences
Patients describe pressure that builds from the base of the skull, pain triggered by long desk sessions or driving, headaches accompanied by neck stiffness, and headaches that recur on a predictable weekly rhythm.
Migraine often presents differently, throbbing pain, light and sound sensitivity, nausea, and sometimes visual changes.
Contributors
Potential Contributing Factors
Sustained posture, prior neck injury, jaw clenching, sleep disruption, dehydration, stress, and joint restriction in the cervical spine can all contribute to some headache patterns.
Medication overuse headache is common and worth discussing with your physician or pharmacist.
Important
When to Seek Medical Attention
Get emergency care for a sudden, severe headache described as the worst of your life; a headache with fever and stiff neck; headache after a head injury; or headache with confusion, weakness, vision loss, or difficulty speaking.
See your physician for new headaches after age 50, headaches that are steadily worsening, or headaches that change in character.
Our approach
How Peak Performance Approaches Evaluation & Care
Evaluation includes a consultation, exam, and health history with attention to neck motion, tissue tension, and what your headache pattern actually looks like over a week.
If your headaches do not appear to have a musculoskeletal component, Dr. Younker will say so and recommend appropriate medical evaluation rather than continue care.
Next steps
What to Expect Next
Keeping a simple log of timing, duration, and triggers before your visit makes the conversation far more productive.
Meet your chiropractor
Meet Dr. Dean Younker
Dr. Dean Younker took over Peak Performance in 1997 and has cared for patients in Grand Junction ever since. He earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Northern Colorado and his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Cleveland University in Kansas City. He is a member of the Colorado Chiropractic Association and the Grand Junction Chiropractor Association.
“Because no two patients are the same, here at Peak Performance, we take the time to listen to each patient. We then develop a personalized treatment plan. Our promise is to help you live your life better.”
FAQ
Common Questions
Can chiropractic care cure migraines?
No. Any claim of a cure for migraine should be treated with skepticism. Migraine management belongs primarily with your physician.
How do I know if my headaches are related to my neck?
An examination of cervical motion and tissue tension, combined with your headache pattern, helps clarify this. It is not something to self-diagnose.
Should I stop my headache medication?
No. Never change prescribed medication without speaking to the prescriber.
What should I bring to my appointment?
A list of your medications and, if possible, a short log of your recent headaches with timing and triggers.
Next step
You Don't Have to Keep Planning Your Life Around Pain.
If pain is affecting the way you sleep, work, exercise, travel, or spend time with the people you love, it is worth finding out what is going on. Let's start with a conversation.
Engage With Your Life Again.