Migraine Care in Austin, TX
Migraine is a neurological condition, and it belongs with your physician. What we can help with is the neck, shoulder and jaw tension that, for some people, is part of what sets an attack off, so that piece is looked after while you train, work and recover.
Understanding migraines
Migraine is more than a bad headache. It is a neurological condition, often with throbbing pain on one side of the head, nausea, and sensitivity to light, sound or smell. Some people also get an aura beforehand, such as visual changes or tingling. Diagnosing and managing migraine itself is the job of a medical doctor or neurologist.
Migraines have many possible triggers, including sleep, stress, hormones, dehydration and certain foods. For some people, tight neck and shoulder muscles or a stiff upper neck are on that list too, and neck pain often shows up before or during an attack. That musculoskeletal piece is the part chiropractic care looks at, working alongside your physician rather than in place of them.
What usually drives it
Neck and shoulder muscle tension. Trigger points in the upper trapezius and the muscles under the skull can refer pain into the head. For some people, that tension seems to make an attack more likely.
Stiff joints in the upper neck. Restricted motion at the top of the neck keeps the surrounding muscles guarded and tight, which can add to the load on an already sensitive system.
Posture under load. Long hours looking down at a screen, riding in a low position or bracing through heavy lifts keep the same small neck muscles working, often for hours at a time.
Sleep, stress and recovery. Short sleep, high stress and under-fueling are common migraine triggers and also raise muscle tension. Recovery habits matter as much as anything we do on the table.
Your plan of care
We are clear about our role. We don't treat migraine as a disease, and care here doesn't replace medication or a plan from your doctor. What we can do is assess and work on the neck, shoulder and jaw tension that may be one of your triggers.
When the upper neck or mid-back is stiff, gentle chiropractic adjustments restore motion. Instrument-assisted adjusting, drop-table and mobilization keep the force light, which matters around the neck. Myofascial release, with sustained pressure and trigger point work, addresses tight tissue at the base of the skull and across the shoulders.
Rehab exercises build neck and upper back strength and better positions for training and desk work, so you have a simple routine to manage tension between visits. We're glad to coordinate with your physician so everyone is working from the same picture.
What we look for
We start with your history: how your migraines were diagnosed, who manages them, what your attacks look like, your known triggers, and how they affect your training, work and sleep. Then an exam of how your neck, upper back and jaw move, where the muscles are tight and tender, and a neurological screen.
If your headaches haven't been assessed by a medical doctor, or something in the history or exam doesn't fit, we refer you before starting care. If the picture fits a neck and muscle tension component, care usually starts the same visit, built around your physician's plan.
What you can do at home
Track your triggers. A simple log of sleep, stress, meals, hydration, training and neck tension helps you and your doctor spot patterns. Bring it to your visits too.
Keep sleep and fueling steady. Regular sleep and wake times, steady meals and enough water around training are common advice for people with migraine. Follow your physician's specific guidance first.
Take short posture breaks. Every 30 to 45 minutes at a desk, sit back, relax your shoulders and do a few gentle chin tucks and neck turns. Easy, regular movement helps keep tension from building.
Signs that need a different first stop
- A sudden, severe headache that peaks within a minute or so (a thunderclap headache), or the worst headache of your life
- Headache with fever and a stiff neck
- New neurological symptoms such as weakness, slurred speech, vision loss or confusion
- A headache after a head injury, fall or collision
- A new or changing headache pattern after age 50, or a clear change in your usual aura or attacks
If any of these apply, see a medical doctor before booking with us. If symptoms are sudden or severe, go to the emergency room or call 911.
Migraines FAQs
Chiropractic care doesn't treat migraine itself, which is a neurological condition managed by your physician. For people whose attacks are linked to neck and muscle tension, care for the neck, shoulders and jaw may be a useful part of the picture alongside your doctor's plan. We'll tell you honestly after the assessment whether that applies to you.
It is usually better to book between attacks. During an attack, rest and your physician's plan come first. If a headache feels different from your usual migraine, comes on suddenly and severely, or brings new symptoms, seek medical care right away.
No. Never change or stop a medication without talking to the doctor who prescribed it. Chiropractic care works alongside your medical treatment, not instead of it.
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