Headaches
Most headaches are not caused by anything sinister. Very often they begin in the muscles and joints of the neck, shoulders and jaw – and that is exactly where osteopathy can help.
At Newhill Osteopathy in Horley we see a lot of people who have simply learned to live with regular headaches. This page explains, in plain English, the kinds of headache we treat, what tends to cause them, and what an appointment actually involves.
What types of headache can osteopathy help with?
Tension headaches
The most common type by far. It usually feels like a tight band being squeezed around the head: a constant dull ache rather than a throb, tightness across the forehead or temples, and tender, tight muscles in the neck and shoulders.
Neck-related (cervicogenic) headaches
Pain that starts at the base of the skull and travels up over the head or behind one eye. It is often worse on one side, and tends to follow a stiff neck, an old whiplash injury, or a long day at a desk.
Posture and screen-related headaches
Hours spent looking down at a laptop or phone tire the small muscles at the base of the skull and stiffen the upper back. Headaches that build through the afternoon and ease off at weekends are a classic sign.
Jaw and teeth-clenching headaches
Stress-related clenching or grinding makes the jaw muscles work overtime, and they can refer pain into the temples and above the ear.
Migraine-pattern headaches
Osteopathy is not a cure for migraine. Many people do find, though, that easing neck and shoulder tension reduces how often their attacks are triggered and how rough they feel when they arrive.
Why do headaches happen?
In clinic we rarely find one single cause. It is usually a combination of everyday things:
- Posture and desk set-up – long spells in one position fatigue the neck and upper back.
- Stress – hitched shoulders and a clenched jaw are hard habits to switch off.
- Poor sleep – tiredness lowers your pain threshold, and an unsupportive pillow does not help.
- Dehydration and skipped meals – two of the easiest triggers to fix.
- Old injuries – a whiplash or a fall from years ago can leave a stiff area that still causes trouble.
- Not enough movement – joints and muscles feel better when they are used regularly.
What happens at your appointment?
- We listen first. Where the pain sits, what sets it off, how long it lasts, and what you have already tried.
- We examine you. We check how well your neck, upper back and jaw move, and look at your posture, to work out where the strain is coming from.
- Hands-on treatment. Gentle joint movement, soft tissue massage, stretching and, if you are happy with it, manipulation. The techniques are always chosen to suit you.
- Practical advice. Simple exercises, desk and pillow tips, and a realistic plan for keeping the headaches away.
Simple things you can try at home
- Move every 30 minutes if you work at a screen – set a reminder if you need to.
- Gentle chin tucks and slow neck rotations to reset your posture.
- A warm wheat bag across the shoulders to help tight muscles let go.
- Drink water steadily through the day rather than all in one go.
- Check your pillow: your head should sit level, not propped up or dropped down.
More reading on headaches and neck pain
- Neck pain and tension headaches: symptoms, causes and relief
- Back pain and headaches – are they connected?
- How does osteopathy help with neck pain?
- Finding the root cause of your neck pain
- A pain in the neck!
- The 5 best exercises for neck pain
- Why your posture matters more than you think
- All of our neck and headache articles
Related condition: neck pain. You can also see everything we treat on our conditions page.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my headache is coming from my neck?
There are some fairly reliable clues. A neck-related headache usually starts at the base of the skull and spreads up over the head or behind one eye, tends to sit on the same side each time, and is often set off by holding one position – driving, reading, or working at a screen. You may also notice that your neck does not turn as far one way as the other, and that pressing the muscles at the base of the skull reproduces the ache. If that sounds familiar, it is exactly the sort of headache we assess every week.
What is the difference between a tension headache and a migraine?
A tension headache is usually a steady, dull, squeezing ache on both sides of the head, with tight neck and shoulder muscles, and most people can carry on with their day. A migraine tends to throb, is more often on one side, and brings extras such as nausea, sensitivity to light or sound, or visual disturbance beforehand – and it usually stops you in your tracks. Plenty of people get both, which is why we take a proper history rather than guessing.
Can painkillers make my headaches worse?
They can, and it catches a lot of people out. Taking over-the-counter painkillers for headaches on most days of the week can lead to what is known as medication-overuse headache, where the tablets themselves start to keep the cycle going. If you are reaching for painkillers more than a couple of days a week, it is worth asking your GP or pharmacist to review them. We can work alongside that by easing the physical tension that is driving the headaches in the first place.
Could my pillow be causing my morning headaches?
It is well worth checking. If you wake with a headache and a stiff neck that eases as the morning goes on, your sleeping position is a likely suspect. Your head should sit level with your body rather than propped up high or dropped down, so side sleepers usually need a thicker pillow than back sleepers, and sleeping on your front tends to be the least kind to the neck. We are happy to talk through your set-up at an appointment – it is often a very quick win.
Can jaw clenching or grinding give me headaches?
Yes, and more often than people realise. The muscles that close your jaw run up over the temples, so when they are overworked from clenching during the day or grinding at night, the pain is frequently felt as a headache in front of or above the ear rather than in the jaw itself. Clicking, an aching or tired jaw, or tenderness when chewing are all hints. We can assess and treat the jaw muscles and joint, and if we think a dental review or a night guard would help, we will tell you.
Book an appointment
If headaches are getting in the way of work, sleep or family life, we would be glad to help. Call 01293 369 442, email [email protected], or book online.