Headaches are incredibly common. Nearly everyone experiences them at some point—including children. For some, however, headaches become a chronic issue, occurring 15 or more days each month and significantly impacting daily life.
Whether mild or severe, headaches can interfere with work, family time, and overall quality of life. The real challenge isn’t just the pain—it’s not knowing why it keeps coming back.
Understanding Headache Symptoms
There are many different types of headaches, each with its own pattern and presentation. Pain can vary widely from person to person.
Common headache symptoms include:
- Pain on one or both sides of the head
- Sensations that may feel:
- Dull
- Achy
- Throbbing
- Pounding or pulsating
- Sensitivity to light and sound (more common with migraines)
Because symptoms vary, it’s important to look beyond the type of headache and focus on what may be causing it.
Why Most Headache Treatments Fall Short
For many people, the first response to a headache is to reach for medication—either over-the-counter or prescription.
While this may provide temporary relief, it doesn’t address the underlying cause. As a result, headaches often return.
There’s also something known as rebound headaches, which can occur when pain medication is used too frequently. In some cases, taking headache medication multiple times per week can actually make headaches worse over time.
This creates a frustrating cycle: treat the pain, feel better temporarily, then have the headache return again.
Looking Beyond the Symptoms
To achieve long-term relief, it’s important to understand why headaches are happening in the first place.
One often-overlooked factor is the role of the upper cervical spine—the top two bones in the neck, known as the atlas (C1) and axis (C2).
This area sits directly beneath the brainstem and plays a key role in:
- Blood flow to and from the brain
- Nervous system communication
- Cerebrospinal fluid movement
Even a slight misalignment in this region can interfere with these processes, potentially creating the conditions that contribute to recurring headaches.
A Different Approach at Advanced Spinal Care
At Advanced Spinal Care, Dr. Lapenski focuses on identifying and correcting misalignments in the upper cervical spine using the NUCCA (National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association) technique.
This approach is:
- Highly precise, using detailed imaging and measurements
- Gentle, with no cracking, twisting, or forceful adjustments
- Focused on long-term results, not temporary relief
By restoring proper alignment, the goal is to improve communication between the brain and body—helping the body function more efficiently.
Patients often report:
- Fewer headaches
- Reduced severity of symptoms
- Improved overall quality of life
Each care plan is tailored to the individual, with a focus on long-term stability and results.
Take the Next Step
If you’ve been dealing with recurring headaches and feel stuck in a cycle of temporary relief, it may be time to look deeper.
At Advanced Spinal Care, we help patients determine whether the upper cervical spine is contributing to their headaches—and what can be done to correct it.
You don’t have to keep managing headaches without answers—there may be a better path forward.
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Dr. Craig Lapenski at Advanced Spinal Care, in Graham, Washington is one of 27 Board Certified NUCCA Doctors worldwide. His clinic serves the highest quality upper cervical care in the Pacific Northwest. Dr. Lapenski also serves a number of patients who are out of state including Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Kansas, Montana, Nevada, New York, and more! He is uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines, headaches, fibromyalgia, vertigo, neck pain, back pain, and more. More information can be found on our website at https://www.nuccawashington.com/