Chiropractor for Headaches and Migraines in Milwaukee, WI

Headaches or migraines wearing you down? Let’s look for what’s behind them.

Trusted, personal care in neighborhood clinics throughout Greater Milwaukee.

Find a location Compare headache types
Understanding headaches

What are headaches and migraines?

A headache is pain anywhere in your head or face. Most headaches aren’t a sign of something serious, but they can make it hard to work, sleep, and enjoy your day.

The most common kind is a tension-type headache. It often feels like a tight band around your head, with sore neck and shoulder muscles.4 A headache that starts in the neck (cervicogenic headache) is pain that travels up from a problem in your neck.5

Migraine is different. It’s a neurological condition, not just a bad headache.2 Attacks often bring throbbing pain, nausea, and sensitivity to light and sound.3 Migraine care starts with your medical doctor. Chiropractic care can focus on the neck and muscle tension that may play a part.

3.1 billion

people worldwide had a headache disorder in 2021, about 40% of the population1

3 times

more likely for women than men to have migraines3

4–72 hours

is how long a migraine attack can last without treatment3

Symptoms

Headache and migraine symptoms: what you may notice

Where it hurts and how it feels can point to the type of headache you have.2,3,4,5

  • Tension

    A tight band around your head

    Dull, aching pressure across your forehead or on the sides and back of your head.

  • Muscles

    Sore neck and shoulder muscles

    Your scalp, neck, and shoulders feel tender to the touch.

  • Neck

    Pain that starts at the base of your skull

    Often on one side, spreading up and forward, sometimes behind the eye.

  • Movement

    Headache that’s worse when you move your neck

    Turning or tilting your head brings the pain on or makes it worse.

  • Stiffness

    A stiff neck

    Your neck doesn’t turn as far as it used to.

  • Migraine

    Throbbing or pulsing pain

    Usually on one side of your head, though it can be on both sides.

  • Senses

    Sensitivity to light and sound

    Bright light, noise, and sometimes smells make the pain worse.

  • Stomach

    Nausea or vomiting

    Common during a migraine attack.

  • Aura

    Vision changes before the pain

    Seeing dots, zigzags, or sparks. Some people feel pins and needles.

  • Energy

    Feeling wiped out

    Changes in mood and feeling very tired can come with a migraine.

Headaches started after a car crash or fall? See our whiplash and car accident injuries pages.

When to seek medical care first

Most headaches aren’t dangerous. A few warning signs can point to a stroke, an infection, or a head injury. Those need a hospital, not a chiropractic clinic.3,7

Call 911 or get emergency care right away if your headache:

  • Comes on suddenly and is severe, like a thunderclap or the worst headache of your life3,7
  • Comes with a fever, stiff neck, or rash7
  • Causes confusion, fainting, or a seizure7
  • Comes with new weakness, numbness, dizziness, or trouble speaking or understanding speech7
  • Comes with vision loss or changes, a red eye, or a droopy eyelid3,7
  • Starts or gets worse after a head injury, fall, or bump4,7
  • Lasts for several days7

See a medical provider soon if:

  • It’s a new or different kind of headache and you’re over 507
  • Coughing, sneezing, bending, or exercise brings it on7
  • It follows a recent sore throat or respiratory infection7
  • You need pain relievers for headaches more than twice a week, or your headaches change4
Causes

What causes headaches and migraines?

Headaches rarely have just one cause. Common triggers include:2,3,4,5

Stress Tight neck and shoulder muscles Neck problems such as arthritis or a pinched nerve Neck injuries such as whiplash Poor or changing sleep Skipped meals Alcohol and caffeine Weather changes Hormone changes Bright lights, loud noise, strong smells

Neck pain or arm tingling too? See our neck pain and pinched nerve in the neck pages.

What can raise your risk

Stress

Stress is the most commonly reported trigger for tension-type headaches.4

Neck strain and posture

Problems in the neck, from muscle strain to arthritis and whiplash, can cause headaches that start in the neck.5 Read more about posture.

Hormones

Women are three times more likely than men to have migraines. Hormone shifts, like those around a menstrual period, can trigger attacks.2,3

Taking headache medicine too often

Overusing pain relievers can lead to more headaches. Doctors call this medication-overuse headache.1

Around Greater Milwaukee, long desk days and commutes keep many people’s heads in one position for hours. Weather changes are a common migraine trigger, so a headache diary through the seasons can help you spot patterns.2

Headache types

Tension, neck, migraine, or cluster: headache types compared

Many people have more than one type. This guide can help you describe your headaches and know where to start. It isn’t a diagnosis.

TypeWhere it hurtsHow it feelsCommon triggersWhere to start
Tension-type headacheBoth sides: forehead, sides, or back of the headDull, aching pressure, like a tight band. Neck and shoulder muscles feel tender.Stress, long hours in one position, poor sleepA chiropractic exam. See your doctor if you need pain relievers more than twice a week.4
Headache that starts in the neck (cervicogenic)Usually one side, starting at the base of the skull and moving forwardPain that gets worse when you move your neck, with a stiff neckNeck problems such as muscle strain, arthritis, a pinched nerve, or whiplashA chiropractic exam of your neck. See our neck pain page too.5
MigraineUsually one side, but can be bothThrobbing or pulsing pain with nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. Some people see an aura first.Hormone changes, stress, poor sleep, alcohol, certain foods, weather changesYour medical doctor for diagnosis and treatment. We can help with neck and muscle tension alongside that care.2,3
Cluster headacheIn or around one eye, on one side of the headSevere, sharp, or stabbing pain, with a teary, red eye and a stuffy or runny nose on that sideAlcohol and smokingSee a medical provider. Cluster headaches need medical care.6

Any headache with the warning signs above needs medical care first.

Your care

How chiropractic care helps with headaches

Your chiropractor for headaches starts by listening: when your headaches started, where they hurt, how often they come, and what seems to set them off. Then your doctor checks your neck, upper back, and muscles, with X-rays only if your exam calls for them.

If your headaches sound like migraine or another condition that needs medical care, your doctor will tell you. Your doctor then explains what they found and talks through care options with you. You decide what’s right for you.

Care is natural and drug-free, designed around your headaches, your medical history, your daily life, and your goals.

What the research says about tension and neck headaches

The evidence is strongest here. A care guideline for headaches linked to neck pain recommends gentle neck and shoulder exercises. For headaches that start in the neck, it adds spinal adjustments or gentle joint movement alongside exercise, not alone.9 A chiropractic headache guideline also supports adjustments, joint movement, and deep neck exercises for these headaches.8

What the research says about migraine

The evidence is limited. A chiropractic guideline found some support for spinal adjustments and massage for migraine.8 A 2019 review found a small drop in migraine days, but called the results preliminary because the studies were small.10 Chiropractic care isn’t a replacement for migraine care from your medical doctor.

What your care may include

Good to know

If you don’t want your neck adjusted

Say so, and your doctor won’t. Gentle joint movement, muscle work, and exercise are other options. You choose your care.

Hands-on

Chiropractic adjustments

Gentle, targeted adjustments help restore motion to stiff joints in your neck and upper back.

Gentle option

Gentle joint movement

Slow, controlled movements help loosen a stiff neck when a full adjustment isn’t the right fit.

Rehab

Neck and shoulder exercises

Gentle exercises build endurance in the deep neck muscles and the muscles around your shoulder blades.

Select clinics

Physical therapy

Available at our Menomonee Falls, Waukesha, and West Allis North clinics.

Select clinics

Massage therapy

Available at our Hales Corners and Oconomowoc clinics.

Every day

Desk, sleep, and stress habits

Practical tips for your screen, your pillow, and breaks in your day can ease the strain between visits.

Every patient

Care that works with your doctor

For migraines, keep your medical doctor involved. We can share notes with your permission, and we’ll refer you if anything needs medical care.

Recovery

How long do headaches last?

A tension-type headache can last from 30 minutes to a week.4 A migraine attack can last 4 to 72 hours without treatment.3 Tension-type headaches on 15 or more days a month, for at least three months, are considered chronic.4

The goal of care is fewer, milder headaches and a neck that moves more comfortably. Keep a headache diary of when they start, what you were doing, and what helped. It makes patterns easier to spot for you, your chiropractor, and your medical doctor.

15+ days

a month, for at least three months, is when tension-type headaches are considered chronic.4

Insurance and your first visit

Care that fits your coverage

We’re in-network with most insurance plans, including Medicare, and our team can check your benefits before you come in. No insurance? New patients can start with the $29 first visit.

New-patient special
$29*
First
visit
  • Consultation
  • Exam
  • X-rays if needed
  • With or without insurance
Book my $29 visit

*See offer terms

With insurance
In-network with most insurance companies
  • Most commercial plans
  • Medicare
  • Auto accident claims
  • Workers’ compensation
Verify your insurance
Your first visit

What to expect at your first visit

  1. Share your story

    Your doctor asks when the pain started, what makes it better or worse, your daily activities, and your goals.

  2. Get a thorough exam

    Your doctor checks how your neck and upper back move, where it’s tender, and the strength, reflexes, and sensation in your arms. X-rays are taken if needed.

  3. Talk through your options

    Your doctor explains what they found and walks you through care options. You decide what's right for you.

  4. Begin care at your next visit

    Treatment begins at visit two. In acute cases, your doctor may decide same-day treatment is appropriate.

You'll see the same doctor as your care continues, so the person treating you knows your history and your progress.

Your care team

Meet Milwaukee chiropractors who treat headaches

Our chiropractors care for headaches and neck pain every week. These doctors bring backgrounds that fit patients with headaches.

[Doctor name], DC

DC · [Clinic]
[Focus area][Focus area]

[One or two sentences on this doctor’s background with headaches.]

More about Dr. [Name]

[Doctor name], DC

DC · [Clinic]
[Focus area][Focus area]

[One or two sentences on this doctor’s background with headaches.]

More about Dr. [Name]

[Doctor name], DC

DC · [Clinic]
[Focus area][Focus area]

[One or two sentences on this doctor’s background with headaches.]

More about Dr. [Name]
Meet your care team
Why Milwaukee trusts us

Trusted by Greater Milwaukee since 1982

Personal care in neighborhood clinics, with more than 1,400 five-star Google reviews from real patients.

400,000+
Patients cared for
1,400+
Five-star Google reviews
20+
Neighborhood clinics
1982
Serving Greater Milwaukee since
  • Best of MilwaukeeRecognized 13 years
  • Top Choice AwardsRecognized 7 years
  • UWM AthleticsOfficial chiropractors since 2019

Winners and finalists, including our doctors and practices before they joined us. See every award, with sources

Common questions

Frequently asked questions about headaches and migraines

It may help some people, but the research is limited. Migraine is a neurological condition, so start with your medical doctor. A chiropractor can focus on neck stiffness and muscle tension that may play a part. A 2019 review found a small drop in migraine days with spinal adjustments, but called the results preliminary.

It can, especially when tight neck and shoulder muscles play a part. Guidelines support gentle joint movement and neck and shoulder exercises for lingering tension-type headaches. Your doctor checks your neck and muscles, then talks through options with you.

A cervicogenic headache is a headache that starts in the neck. The pain is usually on one side. It often starts at the base of the skull and spreads toward the front of the head. Moving your neck may make it worse.

Yes. Problems in the neck, like stiff joints, strained muscles, arthritis, or whiplash, can cause headaches that start in the neck. If you have neck pain and headaches together, an exam can help show whether they’re linked.

Clues include one-sided pain that starts at the base of your skull, plus a stiff neck. Headaches that get worse when you move your neck are another clue. An exam can help sort it out. Other headache types can look similar.

A tension headache usually feels like dull pressure or a tight band on both sides of the head. A migraine often throbs on one side and comes with nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. Some people also see an aura first.

Yes. Migraine is a neurological condition, and your medical doctor should lead its diagnosis and treatment. Chiropractic care can work alongside that care. With your permission, we’re glad to share notes with your doctor.

Get emergency care for a sudden, severe headache, or a headache with fever and a stiff neck. The same goes for confusion, weakness, numbness, trouble speaking, vision changes, or a headache after a head injury. A new or different headache after age 50 needs a medical checkup.

Yes. Whiplash and other neck injuries can lead to headaches that start in the neck. If you hit your head, or your headache gets worse, see a medical provider first to check for a concussion.

Tell your doctor and they won’t adjust you. Gentle joint movement, muscle work, and neck and shoulder exercises are other ways to care for headaches. Your doctor explains the options, and you decide what’s right for you.

Often, yes. Same-day appointments are available at many of our clinics, depending on the day and each clinic’s hours. Call your nearest clinic or request an appointment online to check today’s openings. Your first visit is for your consultation and exam, and treatment typically begins at your next visit.

Usually not. Your first visit is for listening, a full exam, and X-rays if needed. Treatment begins at visit two. In acute cases, your doctor may decide same-day treatment is appropriate.

No referral is needed. Some insurance plans may require one for full benefits. Our team checks your plan when you verify your insurance and lets you know before your visit.

Eligible new patients can request a first visit for $29, including a consultation, an exam, and X-rays if needed. The offer requires requesting an appointment online and a visit within five business days. Medicare and Medicaid patients aren’t eligible.

Chiropractic Company has 20+ neighborhood clinics across Greater Milwaukee, and every one offers chiropractic care for headaches. Find a location close to your home or work.
Milwaukee-area chiropractic clinics near you

Find headache care near you: 20+ locations

Every clinic offers chiropractic care for headaches, close to home or work.

Milwaukee

North

West

South and southwest

See all 20+ locations
Start today

Headaches shouldn't keep you from doing what you love.

Let a doctor close to home listen, look for what's behind your headaches, and talk through care that fits your life.

Schedule Now · $29 new-patient special Find a location

More life in every day.

Keep reading
Article

Cervicogenic Headache: When Your Headache Starts in Your Neck

A cervicogenic headache starts in your neck, often on one side at the base of the skull.

Article

Tension Headache Relief: What Helps and When to Get Checked

Looking for tension headache relief?

Related conditions

Neck painWhiplashCar accident injuriesPinched nerve in the neckPostureShoulder painTMJ and jaw pain

Related services

Patient resources

Sources

  1. World Health Organization. Migraine and other headache disorders (fact sheet). Oct. 2025.
  2. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Migraine.
  3. Mayo Clinic. Migraine: Symptoms and causes.
  4. Mayo Clinic. Tension headache: Symptoms and causes.
  5. Cleveland Clinic. Cervicogenic headache.
  6. Mayo Clinic. Cluster headache: Symptoms and causes.
  7. Mayo Clinic. Headache: First aid.
  8. Bryans R, Descarreaux M, Duranleau M, et al. Evidence-based guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of adults with headache. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2011;34(5):274–289.
  9. Côté P, Yu H, Shearer HM, et al. Non-pharmacological management of persistent headaches associated with neck pain: a clinical practice guideline from the Ontario protocol for traffic injury management (OPTIMa) collaboration. European Journal of Pain. 2019;23(6):1051–1070.
  10. Rist PM, Hernandez A, Bernstein C, et al. The impact of spinal manipulation on migraine pain and disability: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Headache. 2019;59(4):532–542.
[an error occurred while processing this directive]

Book an appointment

Have you been to Chiropractic Company before?

Answer each question to continue.

New patients: ask about our $29 New Patient Special. Rather call? Find your clinic’s number.