Condition Guide
Migraines and Upper Cervical Care
Patients dealing with chronic or recurring migraines often find their way to upper cervical care after medication, injections, or general chiropractic haven’t held. Here’s how the approach works — and where to find a doctor who treats it near you.
GentlePreciseNo Cracking, Popping, or Twisting
Migraines affect over 40 million Americans, according to the American Migraine Foundation — most of them women, and many dealing with attacks multiple times a month.
Common Signs Patients Bring In
Throbbing or pulsing pain, often on one side of the head
Migraines triggered or worsened by neck tension or stiffness
Sensitivity to light, sound, or smell during an attack
Visual aura or disturbance before a migraine starts
Migraines that developed or worsened after a car accident, fall, or head injury
Headaches that haven’t responded well to medication
Explore by Symptom
Browse Every Condition We Cover
Each one links to doctors nationwide who’ve specifically confirmed they treat it. View all 9 conditions →
Migraines
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You’re here — recurring migraines and headache patterns.
119 doctors nationwide
Vertigo→
Dizziness and balance issues tied to the upper neck.
83 doctors nationwide
Neck & Back Pain→
Chronic pain that hasn’t responded to general care.
117 doctors nationwide
TMJ→
Jaw pain and tension linked to cervical alignment.
36 doctors nationwide
Post-Concussion→
Lingering symptoms after a head or neck injury.
43 doctors nationwide
Tinnitus & Meniere’s→
Ringing, ear pressure, and related inner-ear symptoms.
26 doctors nationwide
Why the Upper Neck Matters for Migraines
The brainstem sits where the skull meets the top two vertebrae (the atlas and axis) and acts like a switchboard between the brain and the rest of the body. When this area is even slightly misaligned, it can interfere with that communication and contribute to migraine and headache activity.
Upper cervical doctors use precise imaging to measure the exact position of the atlas before any correction is made. The approach is gentle and precise, no cracking, popping, or twisting, aimed at restoring alignment rather than just masking the pain. Every doctor in this directory has confirmed, specifically, that they treat migraine patients — this isn’t a generic category list.
Real Doctors, Not Generic Listings
Doctors Who Treat This
Every doctor below has specifically confirmed they treat this condition.
Dr. Jane Example
Sioux Falls, SD
✓ Verified
Aaron Erhardt DC
Woodbury, MN
View Profile →Aaron Skonhovd DC
Sioux Falls, SD
View Profile →Aaron Stauber DC
Santa Monica, CA
View Profile →Alexander Bello DC
Los Angeles, CA
View Profile →Allen Harrison DC
San Francisco, CA
View Profile →Amanda Brown DC
Atlanta, GA
View Profile →Andrew Haug DC
Naperville, IL
View Profile →Andrew Newell DC
Austin, TX
View Profile →Andrew Shepherd DC
Bristol, RI
View Profile →Ariana DiGregorio DC
Denver, CO
View Profile →Autumn Monteiro DC
Las Vegas, NV
View Profile →Barbara Read DC
Ames, IA
View Profile →Beth Lundby DC
Bismarck, ND
View Profile →Brandon Brock DC
Southgate, MI
View Profile →Brandon Hard DC
Newnan, GA
View Profile →Brent Owens DC
Blue Ash, OH
View Profile →Brett Berner DC
Lutz, FL
View Profile →Brett Lux DC
St. Louis, MO
View Profile →Carrie Stone DC
Mount Pleasant, SC
View Profile →Casey Weerheim DC
Sioux Falls, SD
View Profile →Changwon Lee DC
Ames, IA
View Profile →Charity Steadward DC
Temecula, CA
View Profile →Charmaine Herman DC
Alpharetta, GA
View Profile →Chris Collins DC
Chattanooga, TN
View Profile →Chris Slininger DC
St. Petersburg, FL
View Profile →Christopher Lee DC
Roswell, GA
View Profile →Christopher Whitney DC
Savage, MN
View Profile →Coby Perkins DC
Amarillo, TX
View Profile →Connor Thelemann DC
Savage, MN
View Profile →Corey Burt DC
Beaverton, OR
View Profile →Danielle Bush DC
Vadnais Heights, MN
View Profile →David Croxford DC
Puyallup, WA
View Profile →David Kreusch DC
Englewood, OH
View Profile →David Vazquez DC
San Luis Obispo, CA
View Profile →Dennis Campbell DC
Wasco, CA
View Profile →Derek Barrett DC
Wichita, KS
View Profile →Don Blue DC
Conway, SC
View Profile →Douglas Paul DC
Columbus, OH
View Profile →Drew Hall DC
Carson, CA
View Profile →Dustin Dingus DC
New Port Richey, FL
View Profile →Dustin Ingalls DC
Sioux Falls, SD
View Profile →Ed Schmit DC
Portland, IN
View Profile →Edward Corsello DC
Stratford, CT
View Profile →Emily Staples DC
Fort Wayne, IN
View Profile →Erin Bishop DC
Chattanooga, TN
View Profile →Ethan Surprenant DC
St. Petersburg, FL
View Profile →Frederick Schurger DC
Springfield, IL
View Profile →Gene Cretsinger DC
Cedar Rapids, IA
View Profile →George Gertner DC
White Plains, NY
View Profile →Gerard Liboiron DC
Round Rock, TX
View Profile →Gordon Elder DC
Lancaster, CA
View Profile →Greg Goffe DC
Dayton, OH
View Profile →Isaac Reis DC
Hiawatha, IA
View Profile →J.R. Crabtree DC
Searcy, AR
View Profile →James Mason DC
Bismarck, ND
View Profile →Jamie Cramer DC
Troy, MI
View Profile →Jason Alder DC
McKinney, TX
View Profile →Jason Watts DC
Englewood, CO
View Profile →Jay Moore DC
Santa Monica, CA
View Profile →Jennifer Taylor DC
Plano, TX
View Profile →Jered Wayland DC
Cape Girardeau, MO
View Profile →Jerome Ri DC
Huntington Beach, CA
View Profile →Jessica Lee DC
San Diego, CA
View Profile →John Stenberg DC
Colorado Springs, CO
View Profile →Johnny Truong DC
Los Angeles, CA
View Profile →Jose Portela DC
Clermont, FL
View Profile →Joseph Ibe DC
San Mateo, CA
View Profile →Joshua Silver DC
St. Petersburg, FL
View Profile →Keith Lavender DC
Gilbert, AZ
View Profile →Kevin Broome DC
Anderson, SC
View Profile →Kevin Krieg DC
Missoula, MT
View Profile →Kimberli Trader DC
Appleton, WI
View Profile →Kyle Gillett DC
Redmond, OR
View Profile →Kyle Troyer DC ACP
Cedar Falls, IA
View Profile →Kyrie Kleinfelter DC
St. Charles, IL
View Profile →Laurel Griffin DC
West Des Moines, IA
View Profile →Lauri Webb DC
Seattle, WA
View Profile →Maddy Woermer DC
Tampa, FL
View Profile →Mark Kreusch DC
Englewood, OH
View Profile →Matt Strazewski DC
Town and Country, MO
View Profile →Matthew McNally DC
Necedah, WI
View Profile →Matthew Wurgler DC
Apple Valley, MN
View Profile →Meiling Liang DC
Orange, CA
View Profile →Michael Hanselman DC
Troy, MI
View Profile →Michael Muto DC
Buffalo, NY
View Profile →Michael Thompson DC
Fort Worth, TX
View Profile →Michelle Abbamonte DC
Bozeman, MT
View Profile →Molly Tillman DC
Lincoln, NE
View Profile →Murray Galbraith DC
Temecula, CA
View Profile →Mychal Beebe DC
Portsmouth, NH
View Profile →Nate Deines DC
Sheridan, WY
View Profile →Nicholas Taylor DC
Troy, MI
View Profile →Nikolai Young DC
Portland, OR
View Profile →Noah Kaplan DC
Walnut Creek, CA
View Profile →Olivia Healey DC
Hartland, WI
View Profile →Paulina Kaminski DC
Portland, OR
View Profile →Pete Tsiglieris DC
Redwood City, CA
View Profile →Peter Fox DC
Troy, MI
View Profile →Ray Drury DC
Charlotte, NC
View Profile →Ray Rickards DC
Escondido, CA
View Profile →Rick DiGregorio DC
Denver, CO
View Profile →Robert Woolery DC
Vallejo, CA
View Profile →Ryan Lawlor DC
San Francisco, CA
View Profile →Scott Matz DC
Missoula, MT
View Profile →Shanna Jackson DC
Georgetown, TX
View Profile →Spencer Enga DC
Cedar Falls, IA
View Profile →Susan Williams DC
Roswell, GA
View Profile →Sylvia Frierson DC
Hickory, NC
View Profile →Tabitha Liboiron DC
Round Rock, TX
View Profile →Tad Norris DC
Apple Valley, MN
View Profile →Thad Vuagniaux DC
Edwardsville, IL
View Profile →Thomas Polucki DC
Santa Clarita, CA
View Profile →Tina Gottlieb DC
Temecula, CA
View Profile →Tonya Crabtree DC
Searcy, AR
View Profile →Tyler Evans DC
Portsmouth, NH
View Profile →Tyler Speed DC
Dubuque, IA
View Profile →Vivek Soham DC
Carlsbad, CA
View Profile →William Jarman DC
Gilbert, AZ
View Profile →Zachary Blakeslee DC
North East, PA
View Profile →Frequently Asked Questions
How is this different from a regular chiropractic adjustment?
Upper cervical care focuses only on the top two vertebrae, the atlas and axis, using precise imaging to measure the exact misalignment before any correction. There’s no twisting, popping, or cracking, and no adjustment anywhere else in the spine unless it’s specifically indicated.
How many visits does it typically take to see a difference?
This varies by patient and is something to discuss directly with the doctor you choose, but many upper cervical patients report noticing a change within the first few visits, with the full course of care typically unfolding over weeks to months as the correction holds.
Is there research behind this?
Small-scale clinical studies and case series have looked at upper cervical care for migraine and chronic headache patients, generally reporting reductions in frequency and severity. Sample sizes in this research tend to be small, so it’s reasonable to view the evidence as promising rather than definitive, and worth discussing with a doctor directly.
Ready to Find Your Doctor?
Search by your city to see every verified upper cervical doctor near you who treats migraines.