Dry Needling for Cervicogenic Headaches: A Natural Path to Relief

Dry Needling for Cervicogenic Headaches: A Natural Path to Relief

Headaches are frustrating on their own, but when the pain starts in the neck and radiates into the head, it may actually be a cervicogenic headache. These headaches often feel like a deep, aching pain that begins in the neck or base of the skull and can spread to the forehead, temples, or even behind the eyes.

Because the pain is rooted in musculoskeletal dysfunction, addressing the underlying muscle tension and joint irritation—not just the headache itself—is key to lasting relief. That’s where dry needling comes in.

What Are Cervicogenic Headaches?

Unlike migraines or tension headaches, cervicogenic headaches are caused by issues in the cervical spine (the neck) or the surrounding soft tissues. Common triggers include:

· Poor posture (especially from long hours at a desk or looking down at a phone)

· Whiplash or past injuries

· Muscle tightness in the neck and shoulders

· Joint dysfunction in the cervical spine

The result? Persistent neck stiffness, reduced range of motion, and recurring headaches that painkillers only mask temporarily.

How Dry Needling Helps

Dry needling is a therapeutic technique that uses a thin, sterile filament needle to target trigger points—tight, irritated spots within muscles. By releasing these trigger points, dry needling can:

· Reduce muscle tension in the neck, shoulders, and upper back

· Improve blood flow and healing in irritated tissues

· Restore mobility in the cervical spine

· Decrease the frequency and intensity of headaches

For cervicogenic headaches, dry needling often focuses on muscles like the upper trapezius and suboccipitals, which are frequently involved in this type of pain.

What to Expect During Treatment

Most patients are surprised by how comfortable the process is. The needles are extremely thin, and while you may feel a quick twitch or mild soreness, sessions are generally well tolerated. Many patients notice a sense of relief and improved mobility almost immediately, though a series of treatments may be recommended for long-term results.

The Bigger Picture: Lasting Relief

Dry needling works best when paired with other supportive care, such as chiropractic adjustments, exercises, and lifestyle changes to reduce stress on the neck. Together, these approaches address the root cause of cervicogenic headaches rather than just masking the pain.

Final Thoughts

If you’re struggling with stubborn headaches that seem to start in your neck, you may be dealing with cervicogenic headaches. Dry needling offers a safe, natural, and effective way to release tension, restore mobility, and reduce pain so you can get back to feeling like yourself.

Ready to explore whether dry needling is right for you? Reach out today to schedule an appointment and take the first step toward lasting relief.

Take care,

Dr. Gina

Headaches + Treatment Options

Headaches are a very common health problem that most people will experience at some time of their life. Factors that can lead to headaches are: history of head and/or muscle injury, high blood pressure, stress, anxiety, hormonal changes, environmental factors such as weather or pollen. 

There are 4 major types of headaches. 

• Tension headache - it may feel as a tight band is putting pressure around your head. It is achy and can be triggered by muscle tightness and stress. Pain coming from or going to the neck area. 

• Migraine headache- (with or without aura) usually will appear on one side of your head, sometimes with light and sound sensitivity. It can be triggered by food, menstrual cycles or stress. At times other symptoms such as nausea, lightheadedness, vomiting can accompany the migraine. This type of headache can impact quality of life.  

• Sinus/Allergy headache- it presents itself commonly around the forehead, behind the eyes and cheeks. It feels like pressure and facial pain. 

• Cluster headache- behind one eye at a time, serious of headaches, swelling, redness, sweating, eye watering. It can last seconds to minutes. 

When symptoms do occur, they usually come in conjunction with other symptoms such as muscle tightness, joint stiffness in the neck and shoulder region, pressure around the head/sinuses, ringing of the ear,  among others. Muscle tightness can add pressure to build up on the head and upper neck area, increasing joint stiffness, muscle tension and reduced mobility. These restrictions can increase frequency and intensity of headaches. 

As a chiropractor, there are different treatments and techniques we can use to help reduce and perhaps, even eliminate the main cause of  the headaches. 

• Chiropractic care: A good example is tension headaches. They usually appear when there is a lot of stress in your environment, increasing muscle tension on your head, neck and shoulder. Chiropractic adjustments eliminate joint restriction on your spine, increasing joint mobility, reducing muscle tightness and improving your neuromusculoskeletal function. 

• CranioSacral Therapy:  CST is a very gentle, hands-on technique that can help to reduce pressure surrounding the head, cranial bones, spine and sacral region, facilitating movement of the cerebrospinal fluid and the membranes that surround the central nervous system. This technique is commonly used to decrease migraine headaches. 

If you or someone you know is experiencing headaches, please do not hesitate to reach out! Give us a call (216)952-3830, visit our website www.clechiropractic.com or send an email to drdelgado@clechiropractic.com. 

Dr. Shirley Delgado Rivera

** Resource: “A randomized clinical trial in 2012 that was published in the journal BMC Complimentary and Alternative Therapy, tested the effects of CST on migraine pain intensity and frequency over an 8 week period. Adults with moderate to severe migraines were randomly assigned, those receiving 8 weekly CST treatments showed that by the end of the 8 weeks, headache intensity was reduced and pain killer medications were reduced as well. “