Cervicogenic Headache Relief in Chattanooga: How 10+ Years of Pain Disappeared in Weeks

At Bounceback Physical Therapy in Chattanooga, I recently worked with a patient who thought her painful headaches would never go away. This patient – a woman in her 30s – had been in a car accident over a decade ago. Since then, she suffered one-sided headaches that started at the base of her skull and radiated up behind one eye. These debilitating headaches came with a cascade of other issues: jaw pain, chronic neck stiffness, mid-back aches, even low back pain. After years of living like this, she told me, “I figured I’d just have to live with the pain forever.” It broke my heart to hear her say that, because I knew it didn’t have to be that way.

Fast forward a few weeks, and this same woman was pain-free for the first time in 10 years. In just 4–5 weeks of one-on-one treatment at my clinic, all her symptoms resolved – the headaches vanished, her neck and jaw felt normal, and even her back pain was gone. She was stunned by the change. “I can’t believe I have no more headaches – I honestly thought I’d be stuck with that pain for life,” she said with a smile. Her story is a powerful example of how identifying the right kind of headache and treating its root cause can truly change someone’s life.

In her case, the culprit was something called a cervicogenic headache – a big word meaning a headache that actually starts in the neck. Many people haven’t heard of cervicogenic headaches, and they often get confused with migraines or tension headaches. Today, I want to use her success story to shed some light on what cervicogenic headaches are, how they differ from migraines and tension-type headaches, and how the right approach to physical therapy can provide lasting relief. If you’re looking for headache treatment in Chattanooga or Hixson and you’ve been told to “just live with it,” keep reading – there is hope!

What Are Cervicogenic Headaches?

Cervicogenic headaches are headaches that originate from issues in the neck. In other words, the head pain you feel is actually referred pain from a problem in your cervical spine (neck). Typically, a cervicogenic headache starts at the base of the skull (upper neck) on one side and can radiate to the forehead or behind the eye. The pain is often described as a steady, dull ache (not the throbbing of a migraine), and it usually stays on the same side of the head. What’s happening is that something in the neck – perhaps muscle tension, joint dysfunction, or nerve irritation – is triggering pain signals that travel up into the head. It’s common for cervicogenic headache sufferers to also have neck stiffness or pain, and certain neck movements or postures will usually provoke the headache. This type of headache is considered a secondary headache, meaning it’s a symptom of an underlying issue (in this case, a neck problem) rather than a primary headache disorder on its own.

In my patient’s situation, her old car accident had left her with lingering neck and upper back issues (whiplash can do that). Over years, that unresolved neck dysfunction led to those daily headaches. She actually thought they were migraines at first, because the pain would shoot behind her eye. But the key clue was how they started in her neck. As soon as I examined her, I could tell her neck was the troublemaker – and if we fixed her neck, we’d fix the headaches. That’s exactly what we did. Before I dive into how we treated it, let’s clarify how cervicogenic headaches differ from other common headaches like migraines and tension headaches. Not all headaches are created equal, and understanding the difference is important for getting the right treatment.

Cervicogenic vs. Migraine vs. Tension: What’s the Difference?

When patients come in seeking relief for chronic headaches, one of the first things I do is determine what type of headache they’re dealing with. Migraines, tension-type headaches, and cervicogenic headaches are three of the most common types I see, and each has distinct characteristics:

• Cervicogenic Headaches: As described above, these arise from problems in the neck. They are typically one-sided and start in the neck or back of the head, then spread upward (often into the temple or behind the eye). The pain is usually a dull, aching pressure rather than a pounding or pulsating sensation. Cervicogenic headaches often come with reduced neck range of motion or neck tenderness, and they can be triggered by certain neck movements or sustained postures. Notably, the pain “lives” on one side – it generally does not switch sides between episodes. Cervicogenic headaches are secondary headaches (caused by an underlying neck issue), so treating the neck can relieve the head pain.
  
  
• Migraine Headaches: Migraines are a primary neurological headache, basically a headache disorder of the brain and nerves rather than a structural problem in the neck. Migraine pain is often intense and throbbing, usually felt on one side of the head (though it can affect both sides). Migraines are famous for their other symptoms: you might get nausea or even vomit, and you’re typically sensitive to light and sound during an attack. Some migraines are preceded by an “aura” – visual disturbances or tingling sensations. Unlike cervicogenic headaches, migraines aren’t caused by neck movement, though interestingly many migraine sufferers do report neck pain or tightness as a trigger or symptom. Physical activity often worsens a migraine (which is one reason people having migraines just want to lie down in a dark room). Migraines have a strong genetic and chemical component, and treatment often involves medication or lifestyle changes – but as I’ll explain later, we’ve found that addressing neck and posture issues can help migraine sufferers too.
  
  
• Tension-Type Headaches: Tension headaches are by far the most common type of headache – almost everyone gets these occasionally. They typically feel like a constant, dull pressure or tight band around the head. The pain is usually bilateral (both sides of the head or across the forehead) and mild to moderate in intensity. People often describe it like a clamp squeezing their skull, or like shoulder/neck tension that crept up into the head. Unlike migraines, tension-type headaches usually do not come with nausea or severe light/sound sensitivity, and they aren’t worsened by routine physical activity. These headaches often stem from stress, poor posture, or muscle tension in the neck and shoulders – essentially your muscles tightening up from a long day at the computer or a stressful week. While a tension headache can make you feel crummy, it’s usually more of an inconvenience than completely disabling. Many people just pop some over-the-counter pain relievers for relief. However, if you get tension headaches frequently, it’s a sign that something in your lifestyle or musculoskeletal system (like posture or ergonomics) needs attention.
  
  

Why do these differences matter? Because the treatment that works best depends on the type of headache. Migraines might require medication to control blood vessel and nerve changes. Tension headaches might respond to stress management and stretching. Cervicogenic headaches, on the other hand, will only get better if you address the neck issue causing them. You can take pain pills to mask a cervicogenic headache, but until you fix the underlying neck dysfunction, the headaches will keep coming back. That’s exactly what our patient discovered – her years of headaches weren’t a life sentence after all; they were a fixable neck problem.

How Physical Therapy Relieves Cervicogenic Headaches (and Even Helps Migraines)

After diagnosing my patient with cervicogenic headaches, we immediately started a comprehensive treatment plan focused on correcting the issues in her neck (and elsewhere) that were driving her pain. In her case, and with many of my patients, a combination of hands-on therapy, targeted exercises, and lifestyle adjustments did the trick. Here are some of the key elements of how we approach headache treatment in Chattanooga at Bounceback Physical Therapy:

• Manual Therapy: This includes hands-on techniques like gentle joint mobilizations, manipulations, and soft tissue work. For my patient, I used specific manual therapy techniques to loosen up the tight muscles at the base of her skull and in her neck, and to gently adjust the stiff joints in her cervical spine. After years of poor mobility, her upper neck joints (where the head meets the neck) were like rusty hinges – no wonder they were referring pain into her head. By restoring normal movement in those joints and releasing muscle knots, we took a huge amount of pressure off the nerves that were sending pain signals. After a couple of sessions, she noticed her neck felt freer and her headaches were less intense. Manual therapy is often the first big step in relieving cervicogenic headaches because it directly addresses the source of pain in the neck.
  
  
• Postural Retraining and Mobility Work: We looked at how she was using her body day to day – her posture at work, how she moved, even how she slept. Years of pain had taught her some bad habits (like tensing up her shoulders). I coached her through exercises to strengthen the weak areas and improve her posture. We worked on her deep neck flexor muscles (the small stabilizers in the neck) and her upper back muscles to help support a healthier alignment. I gave her stretches and mobility drills for her neck, mid-back, and even her jaw. By improving her overall posture and movement, we reduced the constant strain on her neck that had been triggering her headaches. This postural retraining is crucial – after all, if you go back to the same slouched posture or ergonomic setup that caused the problem, the headaches will return. We made sure that didn’t happen.
  
  
• Dry Needling: One effective tool that can be used is dry needling. This technique uses very thin acupuncture-like needles inserted into tight muscle knots (trigger points). It might sound intimidating, but it works wonders for releasing stubborn tension. Dry needling can help reset tight muscles, improving blood flow and relieving the hard knots. Many patients feel significant relief from headache symptoms when we release those trigger points in the neck and shoulder muscles. It’s a great complement to the manual therapy and exercises.
  
  
• Total-Body Diagnostics and Holistic Care: One thing I emphasize at Bounceback PT is that we treat the whole person, not just an isolated symptom. In this patient’s case, even though her primary complaint was headaches and neck pain, I also examined her mid-back, low back, and jaw. This total-body approach turned out to be key. I discovered that her mid-back (thoracic spine) was extremely stiff – likely a lingering effect from the car accident – which was affecting the way her neck moved. We did specific mobility work to open up her thoracic spine. I also addressed her jaw alignment and taught her a few relaxation exercises for her jaw, since neck and jaw issues often go hand-in-hand. By looking at her entire movement chain, we found and treated contributing factors that might have been missed elsewhere. It’s not uncommon, for example, that a weak shoulder blade or tight mid-back could be putting extra load on the neck. By treating those areas, we ensure the neck isn’t fighting upstream battles on its own. This whole-body, one-on-one diagnostic approach is a big part of why our patients often find relief even when other treatments (that only focused on the symptom) failed.
  
  

The result of all these interventions was that our patient’s headaches quickly diminished and then disappeared entirely. Importantly, they’ve stayed away, because we didn’t just mask the pain – we corrected the underlying dysfunction. Research shows that targeted physical therapy (like manual therapy combined with exercises) is highly effective for relieving mechanical neck pain and related headaches. I’ve seen that firsthand with many patients.

And it’s not only cervicogenic headache sufferers who benefit. I want to emphasize that even migraine sufferers can often get improvements through physical therapy. While PT isn’t a direct cure for migraine (since migraines have complex neurological causes), many people with migraines have neck posture issues or muscle tension that trigger or exacerbate their migraine attacks. By working on those factors – improving posture, loosening neck muscles, teaching relaxation techniques – we can reduce one of the common migraine triggers. I’ve had migraine patients who, after a course of PT, report fewer headaches or less intense episodes. It’s all about taking a holistic view of the person’s health rather than just handing them a pill.

So if you’re dealing with headaches, especially ones accompanied by neck pain or triggered by certain movements, consider seeing a physical therapist. The right physical therapy for headaches in Chattanooga can address issues that medications and general treatments overlook. As my patient discovered, you don’t have to live with headaches forever. With a thorough evaluation and an individualized, hands-on approach, you can find relief even if you’ve suffered for years.

Ready to Leave Your Headaches Behind?

If you’re tired of just managing your headaches with pills and want a real, lasting solution, let’s talk. Schedule a free discovery call with me today so I can hear your story and help determine if we’re a good fit to solve your pain.

📍 Serving Chattanooga, Hixson, Red Bank, Soddy Daisy, and surrounding areas
💬 One-on-one care from a Doctor of Physical Therapy (no crowded clinics or generic programs)
🏃 Faster relief and longer-lasting results – so you can get back to living your life pain-free!

I’d love to help you bounce back from headache pain and get you back to doing what you love. Feel free to reach out for a free consultation – relief is closer than you think.

Warmly,
Dr. Chase Helgren, PT, DPT
Owner, Bounceback Physical Therapy (Chattanooga/Hixson, TN)