Headache & Migraine Treatment in Bartlett, TN
Work Toward Fewer, Milder Headache Days
Understanding Your Headaches
What Are Headaches & Migraines?
Headaches and migraines are two of the most common pain conditions in adults, but they are not the same thing. A tension-type headache usually feels like a dull, even pressure or tight band around the head. A cervicogenic headache starts in the joints and muscles of the upper neck and is felt in the head. A migraine is a neurological condition with moderate to severe, often throbbing pain that can come with nausea and sensitivity to light and sound.
When you notice a headache building by mid-afternoon after hours at a desk, or you feel a tight ache that starts at the base of your skull and wraps up toward your eye, your neck and shoulder muscles may be part of the picture. Migraine attacks can feel very different, sometimes arriving with visual changes and forcing you to lie down in a dark room.
Many patients in Bartlett and the greater Memphis area tell us they plan their week around their headaches, reach for over-the-counter pain relievers more often than they would like, or worry about the next attack. If that sounds familiar, you are not alone, and a careful evaluation can help sort out what type of headache you have.
Table of Contents
- 01 Why Headaches & Migraines Happen
- 02 Headache Red Flags That Need Urgent Care
- 03 What Triggers Headaches & Migraines?
- 04 Why Choose Worthington Chiropractic for Headaches & Migraines Care in Bartlett, TN
- 05 Treatment Options Comparison
- 06 You May Be Experiencing Headaches & Migraines If...
- 07 Related Services
- 08 Frequently Asked Questions
- 09 Scientific References
The Science
Why Headaches & Migraines Happen
The top three segments of your cervical spine share nerve pathways with the head. Because of this shared wiring, irritation in the upper neck joints or the muscles at the base of the skull can be felt as pain in the forehead, temples or behind the eye. This is the basic idea behind cervicogenic headache, and it is one reason neck pain and a headache so often show up together.
Tension-type headaches are linked with tight, tender muscles in the head, neck and shoulders. Research has found that many people with tension-type headache have sensitive trigger points and muscle knots in these muscles, and that ongoing muscle tension can make the nervous system more sensitive to pain over time. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke describes tension-type headache as the most common type of headache.
Migraine works differently. It involves changes in how the brain and nearby nerves and blood vessels process signals, and it often runs in families. Neck pain and muscle tension are common during migraine attacks, which is why some patients look into chiropractic adjustments in Bartlett, TN as one part of a broader plan that also involves their medical provider.
Your Safety First
Headache Red Flags That Need Urgent Care
Most headaches are not dangerous, but some are a sign of a serious medical problem. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away if you have a sudden, severe headache that feels like the worst of your life, a headache with weakness, numbness, confusion, trouble speaking, vision loss or loss of balance, or a headache with fever and a stiff neck. A headache after a blow to the head, fall or car accident also needs prompt medical evaluation.
Please see your primary care provider or a neurologist soon if you are over 50 and have a new type of headache, if your headaches are steadily getting worse or changing pattern, if headaches wake you from sleep, or if you have a history of cancer or a weakened immune system. These situations call for medical testing that a chiropractic office does not provide.
At your first visit, Dr. Worthington screens for these warning signs before any treatment. If anything in your history or exam points to a problem outside the scope of chiropractic, he will refer you to the right medical provider rather than begin care. If a car accident started your symptoms, our page on whiplash in Bartlett, TN explains what to watch for after the medical all-clear.
Contributing Factors
What Triggers Headaches & Migraines?
Identifying Your Triggers
Posture and Screen Time
Hours with your head forward over a phone, laptop or steering wheel load the upper neck and can feed tension and cervicogenic headaches.
Neck Stiffness
Restricted movement in the upper cervical joints can refer pain into the head, often starting at the base of the skull on one side.
Muscle Tension and Trigger Points
Tender knots in the upper trapezius, suboccipital and jaw muscles can refer pain to the temples, forehead and behind the eyes.
Stress and Poor Sleep
Ongoing stress, short nights and irregular sleep schedules are among the most frequently reported triggers for both headache types.
Past Neck Injury
Whiplash from a car accident or sports collision can leave lingering neck dysfunction that shows up as recurring headaches.
Migraine Triggers
Skipped meals, dehydration, hormonal changes, bright light and some foods or drinks can set off attacks in people prone to migraine.
Why Worthington
Why Choose Worthington Chiropractic for Headaches & Migraines Care in Bartlett, TN
Expert Care in Bartlett
Careful Screening First
Every new patient gets a thorough history and exam, with on-site X-rays if needed, and red flags are referred out.
Many Gentle Techniques
Dr. Worthington uses Diversified, Thompson, Gonstead and gentler options so care fits your comfort and your neck.
Muscle Work Under One Roof
Certified functional dry needling, Graston and myofascial release address the neck and shoulder tension behind many headaches.
Trusted by Our Community
Named a 2025 Memphis Most winner by The Commercial Appeal, with nearly 300 five-star Google reviews.
Walk-Ins Welcome
Open Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 6 PM on Stage Road in Bartlett, so a visit can fit around work or school.
Logan University Graduate
Dr. Worthington earned his Doctor of Chiropractic at Logan University College of Chiropractic.
Treatment Options Comparison
Is This You?
You May Be Experiencing Headaches & Migraines If...
Recognizing When to Seek Help
Band of Pressure
You feel a dull, squeezing pressure across your forehead or around your head that builds as the day goes on.
Pain From the Neck Up
Your headache starts at the base of your skull or in your neck and spreads toward your temple or behind one eye.
Headache With Stiff Neck
Turning your head to check your blind spot is harder, and certain neck positions seem to bring the headache on.
Throbbing With Light Sensitivity
Some attacks are pulsing and severe, with nausea or sensitivity to light and sound that make you stop what you are doing.
Reaching for Pain Relievers
You take over-the-counter headache medicine several days a week and want to explore non-drug options with your provider.
Headache Days Adding Up
You miss work, family time or sleep because headaches return every week, and you are ready for a plan instead of guessing.
Treatments
Related Services
Explore the conservative treatments we use for neck-related headaches.
Chiropractic Adjustments
Precise, hands-on spinal adjustments that restore alignment, ease pain and help you move freely.
Learn More
Spinal Decompression Therapy
Gentle, computer-controlled traction on the Triton 6M to ease disc pressure and nerve pain.
Learn More 
Prenatal Chiropractic
Gentle, pregnancy-safe adjustments for back, hip and pelvic comfort as your body changes.
Learn More Your Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
About Headaches & Migraines
Can a chiropractor help with migraines?
Chiropractic care may help some people with migraine reduce how often attacks happen or how intense they feel, but it is not a cure. Research is limited, so we see it as one part of a broader plan that also involves your medical provider, especially if you take migraine medication.
What types of headaches respond best to chiropractic care?
The strongest research for hands-on care is in cervicogenic headaches, which start in the neck. Some patients with tension-type headaches also improve when neck stiffness and muscle tension are addressed. Your exam helps us determine whether your headaches fit these patterns before we recommend anything.
Is it safe to have my neck adjusted for headaches?
For most people, neck adjustments performed after a careful exam are well tolerated, and mild soreness for a day or so is the most common side effect. We screen for red flags first and offer gentler techniques if you prefer not to have a traditional neck adjustment.
How long until I notice fewer headaches?
It varies. Some patients notice a change within the first few weeks, while others need longer, and some do not respond to this type of care. We track your headache days and intensity so we can adjust or refer you elsewhere if progress is not happening.
When should I go to the ER instead of a chiropractor?
Go to the emergency room for a sudden, worst-ever headache, a headache with weakness, numbness, confusion, vision or speech changes, a headache with fever and a stiff neck, or any headache after a head injury. A new headache pattern after age 50 should be checked by a physician first.
What can I do at home between visits?
Regular sleep, steady meals and hydration, screen breaks and gentle neck stretches help many patients. Keeping a headache diary makes triggers easier to spot. A supportive pillow also matters, and our guide to the best sleeping position for neck pain offers simple tips.
Do you accept walk-ins for headache care?
Yes, walk-ins are welcome Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 6 PM. You can also book ahead. Your first visit includes a consultation, full chiropractic exam, X-rays if needed and your first adjustment when appropriate.
- Hours
- Monday to Friday, 8AM to 6PM
- Phone
- (901) 519-7777
Ready to Feel Better?
Schedule Your Appointment
Scientific References
- Bryans R et al., J Manipulative Physiol Ther. (2011). Evidence-based guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of adults with headache, supporting spinal manipulation for migraine and cervicogenic headache. PMID: 21640251.
- Haas M et al., Spine J. (2018). Randomized trial finding that spinal manipulation modestly reduced chronic cervicogenic headache days compared with light massage. PMID: 29481979.
- Dunning JR et al., BMC Musculoskelet Disord. (2016). Upper cervical and upper thoracic manipulation versus mobilization and exercise in patients with cervicogenic headache: manipulation showed greater improvement. PMID: 26852024.
- Rist PM et al., Headache. (2019). Meta-analysis suggesting spinal manipulation may reduce migraine days and pain intensity, with a call for larger, more rigorous trials. PMID: 30973196.
- Pourahmadi M et al., Phys Ther. (2021). Dry needling for the treatment of tension-type, cervicogenic, or migraine headaches: a systematic review and meta-analysis showing possible short-term benefit. PMID: 33609358.
- Fernández-de-las-Peñas C et al., Expert Rev Neurother. (2017). Review describing active trigger points and widespread pressure pain sensitivity in people with tension-type headache. PMID: 28745080.