Headaches: Understanding Causes, Patterns, and Treatment Options in Chicago

Struggling With Headaches in Chicago? At Ravenswood Chiropractic in Andersonville, We Help You Understand What Might Be Causing Them and What to Do Next.  Headaches can come from the neck, muscle tension, or neurological factors. At our Andersonville clinic, we help identify patterns and guide appropriate next steps when physical contributors are involved.

Not All Headaches Are the Same

Most people have tried to treat their headaches with a home remedy passed to us from a trusted freind or family member at some point.  But once you step back and look at patterns, it becomes clear pretty quickly that not all headaches behave the same way.  Some build slowly over the day. Some seem to start in the neck.  Others come with light sensitivity or nausea and feel completely different.

“One of the biggest shifts for people is realizing their headaches follow a pattern. Once you see that, you can start figuring out what is actually driving it.” – Dr. Todd Renn, D.C.

A Helpful Place to Start Is Where the Headache Shows Up

An easy way to understand your headache is to look at where it starts and how it behaves.

Headaches That Start at the Base of the Skull

If your headache tends to begin at the base of your skull and move forward, the neck is often part of the picture. A lot of people we see in our Chicago office notice that certain positions make it worse, or that it shows up after long periods of sitting. Others feel stiffness or restriction when they try to turn their head.  This pattern can sometimes be consistent with what is called a cervicogenic headache, where the source is in the neck, even though the pain is felt in the head.

“We see this all the time. The pain feels like it’s in the head, but when you test the neck, that’s where the pattern really shows up.” – Dr. Todd Renn, D.C.

If that sounds familiar, you can explore this further here: Headaches that come from the neck

Headaches That Build Across the Forehead or Temples

Some headaches feel more like pressure than pain. They tend to build gradually, often later in the day, and can feel like a tight band across the forehead or around the head. These are commonly associated with muscle tension, posture, and how the body handles stress over time. We see this frequently in patients who spend long hours at a desk or on screens, which is common here in Chicago. This kind of pattern is often associated with tension headaches. If that sounds like what you are dealing with, you can learn more here: Tension headache patterns and causes

Headaches With Light Sensitivity, Nausea, or Visual Changes

Some headaches feel completely different. They may come with light sensitivity, nausea, or even visual disturbances. For some people, they feel like they need to step away from everything until it passes. Headaches with these features may fit a migraine pattern, but proper evaluation matters, especially if symptoms are new or changing. Migraines involve more than just the muscles or joints. They reflect changes in how the nervous system processes sensory information.

“With migraines, there’s usually more going on than just one trigger. For some people, physical factors like the neck can still be part of the overall picture, but it’s rarely the whole story.” – Dr. Todd Renn, D.C.

We take a careful, supportive approach here, helping patients understand when physical contributors may be involved, while also recognizing when medical evaluation is important. You can read more about that here: Understanding migraines and triggers

When Headaches Don’t Fit a Clear Pattern

Not every headache fits neatly into one category. Sometimes there are overlapping patterns. For example, someone may have underlying migraine tendencies but also carry a lot of tension in the neck and shoulders. Other times, the pattern changes over time. That is usually a sign that there are multiple contributing factors, not just one.

“When headaches don’t follow a clean pattern, it usually means there’s more than one system involved. That’s where taking a step back and evaluating the full picture becomes important.” – Dr. Todd Renn, D.C.

Why Headaches Keep Coming Back

One of the most frustrating parts about headaches is how they seem to return, even after temporary relief. In many cases, that happens because the underlying pattern has not changed. Posture, movement, muscle tension, and how the nervous system responds to stress all interact with each other. If those patterns stay the same, the body tends to fall back into the same cycle. This is something we talk through often with patients in our Andersonville office because once that pattern is understood, it becomes much easier to address.

When To Get Evaluated

If headaches are becoming more frequent, lasting longer, or starting to affect your daily routine, it is worth getting a clearer understanding of what is going on.

You may also want to take a closer look if:

• your headaches follow a pattern
• they seem connected to posture or neck tension
• they build throughout the day
• or they are changing over time

In many cases, those details help point toward what is contributing.

When To Seek Medical Attention

Some headaches require prompt medical evaluation.

Seek medical care right away if you experience:

• A sudden, severe headache unlike usual
• Headache after a fall or injury
• New weakness, numbness, or confusion
• Trouble speaking or changes in vision
• Loss of balance or coordination
• Fever with neck stiffness and severe pain
• A headache pattern that is rapidly worsening

If you are unsure, it is always safer to have symptoms evaluated medically first.

How We Approach Headaches at Ravenswood Chiropractic

Our approach starts with understanding your specific pattern.

We look at:

• how your headaches behave
• what seems to trigger them
• whether movement or posture plays a role
• and how different systems may be interacting

From there, we determine whether physical factors like the neck, muscles, or movement patterns are contributing.

“We’re not trying to fit people into a category. We’re trying to understand what their body is doing and why.” – Dr. Todd Renn, D.C.

Treatment Options at Our Andersonville Clinic

When physical contributors are part of the picture, care may include:

Chiropractic Care

Focused on improving movement in the neck and reducing mechanical stress.

Cervical Spinal Decompression

Used in cases where disc-related factors may be contributing.

Class IV Laser Therapy

Supports tissue recovery and helps reduce irritation when sensitivity is present.

Shockwave Therapy

Targets deeper muscle tension and trigger points that may be contributing to recurring patterns.

Physical Therapy and Movement Correction

Helps improve posture and movement patterns to reduce ongoing strain.

What Improvements May Look Like

For some people, it means fewer headaches. For others, it means less intensity or more predictable patterns. Often, the first step is simply understanding what is driving it. If you are dealing with recurring headaches in Chicago and trying to make sense of them, we can help you understand what may be contributing and what your next step should be.

 

 

 

 

 

References and Additional Reading

Acupuncture in cluster headache: four cases and review of the literature. – PubMed – NCBI, PubMed.gov, 14 May 2014, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24867865. Accessed 4 Aug. 2017.

Brennan, MK, and Jolie Haun. Massage Brings Relief to People Suffering from Headaches, Massage Therapy Foundation Contributor, July 2013, www.massagetoday.com/mpacms/mt/article.php?id=14784. Accessed 4 Aug. 2017.

FCER Duke Evidence Report Exec Summary, The Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research, 2006, www.chiro.org/LINKS/FULL/Behavioral_and_Physical_Treatments_for_Headache/. Accessed 4 Aug. 2017.

 Headaches and Chiropractic, American Chiropractic Association, https://www.acatoday.org/Patients/Health-Wellness-Information/Headaches-and-Chiropractic. Accessed 4 Aug. 2017.

Hydration Guide: How Much Water Should We Drink?, Ravenswood Chiropractic and Wellness Center, http://rennwellness.com/nutrition/quenching-your-thirst-your-guide-to-hydration-that-may-surprise-you/. Accessed 4 Aug. 2017.

How to Set Up An Ergonomic Workstation | Ravenswood Chiropractic in Chicago , Ravenswood Chiropractic and Wellness Center, http://rennwellness.com/chiropractic/how-to-set-up-an-ergonomic-workstation/. Accessed 4 Aug. 2017.

Neighmond, Patti. For Headaches, A Lifestyle Change May Be Better Than A Doctor Visit, npr WBEZ, 11 May 2015, www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/05/11/404693609/for-headache-pain-a-lifestyle-change-may-be-better-than-a-doctor-visit. Accessed 4 Aug. 2017.

Albert Moraska, PhD and Clint Chandler, BS. Changes in Psychological Parameters in Patients with Tension-type Headache Following Massage Therapy: A Pilot Study, Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy 2009; 17(2): 86–94.

Younes Jahangiri Noudeh, MD, Nasibeh Vatankhah, MD, and Hamid R. Baradaran, MD, PhD. Reduction of Current Migraine Headache Pain Following Neck Massage and Spinal Manipulation, International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork. 2012; 5(1): 5–13. Published online March 31, 2012.

Ohlsen, Bahia A. Combination of acupuncture and spinal manipulative therapy: management of a 32-year-old patient with chronic tension-type headache and migraine, 11 Sept. 2012, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3437348/. Accessed 4 Aug. 2017.

Rathier, Lucy. Effects of Exercise on Headaches and Migraines | American Migraine Foundation, American Migraine Foundation, 1 Nov. 2015, https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/understanding-migraine/effects-of-exercise-on-headaches-and-migraines/. Accessed 4 Aug. 2017.

Nilsson N. The prevalence of cervicogenic headache in a random population sample of 20-59 year olds.  Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1995 Sep 1; 20(17):1884-8.