Common Causes of Headaches and Ways to Treat Your Pain

Headaches can come in many forms, and their impact on your daily life can range from a mild annoyance to severe, debilitating pain. Understanding what’s triggering your headache is a critical step toward lasting relief.

At Spinal Diagnostics, our team of specialists is trained to identify the root causes of head pain and provide personalized treatment plans that bring you lasting relief — not just a temporary fix.

What causes headaches?

There are several different types of headaches, and each has unique triggers. Some of the most common causes include:

• Tension headaches: Often caused by stress, poor posture, or muscle strain in the neck and shoulders.
• Migraines: A neurological condition that may involve sensitivity to light or sound, nausea, and visual disturbances.
• Cluster headaches: Intense pain that comes in cyclical patterns, often around one eye.
• Cervicogenic headaches: These originate from issues in the cervical spine, such as joint dysfunction or nerve irritation.
• Occipital neuralgia: Caused by irritation or compression of the occipital nerves at the base of the skull.

Other factors such as dehydration, sleep disturbances, hormonal shifts, or underlying neurological conditions can also play a role in your head pain.

How we diagnose your headache

Our team starts with a detailed consultation to understand the frequency, location, and severity of your headaches, as well as any patterns or triggers. We may also perform physical examinations or order imaging studies, if necessary, to rule out structural issues in the spine or brain.

For cervicogenic or spinal-related headaches, we may look for signs of nerve compression, arthritis, or disc problems that could be contributing to your pain.

Treatments that bring relief

Once we identify the source of your headache, we offer a range of noninvasive and minimally invasive treatment options, including:

• Medication management
• Physical therapy
• Trigger point injections
• Occipital nerve blocks
• Botox® for chronic migraines
• Spinal interventions for neck-related causes

We work with you to find a treatment that reduces your pain and improves your quality of life without unnecessary medications or procedures.

You don’t have to live with head pain

If you’re tired of suffering from chronic or recurring headaches, it’s time to get answers. Let our team at Spinal Diagnostics help you uncover the cause of your symptoms and recommend the right treatment plan for lasting relief.

Contact us today to request an evaluation in our Tualatin or Newberg, Oregon office.