Where Most Chronic Headaches Actually Come From
The most common explanation given for chronic headaches is stress, tension, dehydration, or hormones. These factors can trigger headaches — but they rarely explain why some people get headaches every week for years while others never do. The difference, in a significant percentage of chronic headache sufferers, is structural: specifically, subluxation in the upper cervical spine.
The atlas (C1) and axis (C2) — the top two vertebrae of the neck — are the most freely movable segments of the spine, and among the most subluxation-prone. Misalignment here affects the brainstem, the vertebral arteries that supply blood to the back of the brain, and the upper cervical nerve roots. All of these have a direct relationship to headache physiology.
"If you've had headaches for years and never had your upper cervical spine evaluated structurally — you may never have addressed the cause."
Types of Headaches Linked to Cervical Subluxation
- Cervicogenic headaches — Pain that originates in the neck and refers into the head. Often one-sided, worsened by neck movement. Frequently misdiagnosed as migraine.
- Tension headaches — The characteristic "band" sensation around the head. Usually driven by upper cervical muscle tension guarding an underlying subluxation.
- Occipital neuralgia — Sharp, shooting pain at the base of the skull and behind one eye. Almost always originates at the C1-C2 junction where the greater occipital nerve exits.
- Post-concussion headaches — Head trauma frequently creates upper cervical subluxation. Structural correction of this subluxation is often the missing piece in post-concussion recovery.
Upper Cervical Correction for Headaches
Dr. Rochet's approach to headache cases begins with upper cervical X-ray analysis. The atlas and axis are evaluated for rotational and lateral misalignment, and the correction is specific to those findings. This is a different approach from generalized cervical manipulation — it is a precise correction of a precisely identified structural problem.
Many patients who have suffered from chronic headaches for years — and who have tried multiple treatments without lasting relief — find that correcting the upper cervical subluxation produces a fundamentally different outcome. Not just fewer headaches, but an understanding of why they were occurring.
Children and Headaches
Childhood headaches are increasingly common and are frequently attributed to screen time or stress. Upper cervical subluxation from birth trauma, falls, or sports injuries is an underrecognized cause. Dr. Rochet regularly evaluates children in Royal Palm Beach and Wellington for upper cervical subluxation as a component of headache assessment.