She did everything right and still got missed
A woman who saw specialist after specialist for migraines, pain at the base of her skull and more. Why it is worth asking whether anyone has looked at the top of the neck.
upper cervical care · ann arbor, michigan
Headaches that start at the base of your skull
The headache starts at the back of your head, or behind your eyes. It's worse when you turn your head or sit at a screen, and nobody has connected it to your neck.
what it often looks like
What people with headaches from the neck often describe
- A headache that starts at the base of the skull and wraps forward
- Pain that is worse when you turn your head, or after hours at a screen
- Neck stiffness that comes and goes with the headache
- Pressure behind one eye
Why it is often missed. A headache is usually looked at as a head problem. The neck is checked for injury or arthritis, and when the X-ray looks normal for your age, the question stops there. How the top of your neck is aligned, and how your nervous system is coping, is seldom measured.
Why the upper neck may be involved. The nerves at the top of the neck share pathways with the nerves that carry sensation from the head. That is why a problem in the upper neck can be felt as a headache. These are called cervicogenic headaches, and they are one reason we look at the neck before assuming anything.
what the research looked at
Three published studies on headaches from the neck
Published 2001 to 2026. The strongest design among them: controlled trial. Each one is summarized in plain words in our research library: who was studied, what was measured, what was found, and where it falls short.
- Neck motion in 105 people with headaches that start in the neck, compared with a sham
- 1,090 new patients at 83 upper cervical offices: early changes and reactions
- Neck pain and headaches after a car accident that injured an artery in the neck
The trial here is double-blind and sham-controlled, but it measured neck motion, not how often the headaches came. The large cohort measured headache directly but had no comparison group and followed people for about two weeks. Together they say this question has been looked at, not that it is settled.
Read the headaches from the neck research, with every source →
The headaches from the neck studies, by design and year
how we measure
The Lazar Method™ measures first
Everyone else told you what might work. We measure before anything is decided. Digital X-ray shows the alignment of the upper neck itself, PostureIQ™ measures how your body carries your head, and muscle tone scans show where your posture is costing you energy.
Before any correction we measure how your nervous system is regulating your body: heart rate variability, thermal and muscle tone scans, PostureIQ™, and digital X-ray of the upper neck. Dr. Jonathan Lazar, D.C., or someone personally trained by him, will go over your scans and images with you. QSM3, the method used at our office, is a progression of NUCCA, and the correction is gentle and specific: no cracking, no twisting.
If we can help, we'll tell you. If we can't, we'll help you find someone who can.
Please note: A sudden, severe headache, or a headache after a head injury or with fever, weakness or confusion, needs emergency care first.
This page is educational and is not medical advice. Keep the doctors who know you in the loop.
Your doctor. QSM3 Level M Certified. One of eight doctors in the world. In practice in Ann Arbor, Michigan, since 2008. About Dr. Lazar
the dr. lazar show
Hear it on The Dr. Lazar Show
Heard for 17 years on WMUZ 103.5 FM, The Dr. Lazar Show is now on YouTube and as a podcast. The first episode here touches on headaches from the neck; the others are where most people start.
Why you've tried everything and still don't feel right
The seven-minute visit, and the one question the system was never built to ask.
The Lazar Method™: how we actually reset the system
The five steps on air for the first time: measure, identify, clarify, correct, restore, and what gets measured before anything else.
traveling for care
Coming from another state, or hours away?
People drive from across Michigan because nothing closer worked. If you live hours away, or in another state, working out the days, the hotel and the records shouldn't be yours to carry alone. Our office is at 203 S. Zeeb Rd, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Traveling with a child? Families welcome.
- IntensiveIntensive programs
Your assessment, your Report of Findings and a concentrated block of corrections in one stay in Ann Arbor, usually one to two weeks, set at your Report of Findings. We read your records before you travel, so you only make the trip if it makes sense. The prices are itemized on the page.
- StayStaying in Ann Arbor
A negotiated medical rate for patients and their families at the Holiday Inn & Suites Ann Arbor, with breakfast, Wi-Fi and parking included.
- RemoteRemote care
Can't travel to Ann Arbor at all? Dr. Lazar works with a small number of remote patients. The correction itself is hands-on, so when your case needs it, we'll tell you, and help you find a qualified upper cervical provider near you.
questions
Questions people ask about headaches from the neck
Still have a question? Call 734.274.5107, or book a 15-minute Clarity Call, a phone call with our team and no commitment. Cost and insurance are answered plainly on the FAQ page.
Keep reading
Can neck problems cause headaches?
Yes, for some people. Nerves from the top of the neck share pathways with the nerves of the head, so a problem there can be felt as a headache, often at the base of the skull or behind the eyes. This is called a cervicogenic headache. Measuring the upper neck is how we find out whether it applies to you.
What does research say about upper cervical care for neck headaches?
A 2001 double-blind trial of 105 people found changes in neck motion compared with a sham, but it did not measure how often headaches came. A large 2011 study followed new patients for about two weeks, without a comparison group. The question has been looked at. It is not settled.
Is it a migraine or a headache from my neck?
They can feel alike, and some people have both. Headaches from the neck often start at the base of the skull, change with neck position and come with neck stiffness. Migraine often brings nausea and sensitivity to light. A doctor can help sort out which you have, and our measurements show what the upper neck is doing.
Will the correction hurt my neck?
The correction is gentle and specific. No cracking, no twisting, nothing forceful. You lie on your side in a neutral position, and the correction is planned from your own imaging. If a sore neck makes you wary, that is a fair worry, and you can ask about it on a Clarity Call before you decide anything.
tried everything
When nothing else has worked, start with clarity.
In about 4 minutes, you'll see whether your symptoms point to nervous system dysfunction, and exactly what to do next. Free. Your answers stay private. No spam, ever.
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Screening adapted from the autonomic dysfunction screening developed by Bruce Bell, MD.
A member of our team will reach out within one business day.