Auckland · Glenfield & Orewa
Tension, neck-related and jaw-related headaches
Not every headache comes from your head. A large share of what we see starts in the neck, the jaw or the upper back — which is why we examine the neck, jaw and upper back. Our headache clinic Auckland team starts with the neck, jaw and upper back.
Where headaches start
Most people arrive having already tried painkillers, water, screens off and an early night. What has usually not been examined is the neck — and headaches that come from the upper neck joints and muscles are common, and worth examining.
Tension-type headaches and cervicogenic headaches, the ones referred from the neck, respond well to hands-on treatment. True migraine is different: it is a neurological condition rather than a mechanical one, and it should be diagnosed and managed with your GP. We can look at any neck, jaw or muscle tension that comes with it.
Our Auckland clinics are at Glenfield and Orewa, with osteopaths, physios, acupuncturists and massage therapists in the same building, so you can be moved to whoever suits your headache rather than whoever you first booked.
Types we see
What the headache does, and where it starts, usually tells us which of these it is.
A band of pressure around the head, building through the day, often with tight shoulders. The most common headache we treat.
Pain that starts at the base of the skull and spreads over one side, often with a stiff neck. Comes from the upper neck joints and responds well to treatment. More on neck pain.
Throbbing pain, often one-sided, with nausea and sensitivity to light or sound. Migraine needs diagnosis and management by your GP. We can assess any neck or jaw tension that comes with it.
Temple headaches from clenching or grinding, often worse by mid-morning. More on TMJ and jaw pain.
Headaches that arrive on work days and fade at weekends, driven by posture, screen height and hours without a break.
Headaches after whiplash or a knock. These are ACC-covered and worth treating early rather than waiting.
Warning signs
Most headaches are benign, even the miserable ones. A few need urgent medical assessment rather than an appointment with us, and we would rather you knew the list.
Go to an emergency department or call 111 for a sudden severe headache that peaks within a minute, a headache with fever and a stiff neck you cannot bend forward, a headache after a significant head injury, or one with weakness, slurred speech, confusion or vision loss. See your GP first for a headache that is new after the age of fifty, or one that is steadily worsening week on week.
Who treats it
Different headaches respond to different things. This is roughly how we match them.
Hands-on treatment of the upper neck, jaw and thoracic spine, which is the mainstay for tension-type and cervicogenic headaches.
An option for tension-type headaches, particularly where the muscles are too sore for firm hands-on work.
Neck and shoulder blade strengthening plus posture and workstation work, for headaches driven by load rather than by a one-off event.
Releases the neck, scalp and shoulder muscles that refer pain into the head, and helps when stress is a clear trigger.
Your first visit
The history matters more here than almost anywhere else, because the pattern is the diagnosis.
Where it starts, how long it lasts, what brings it on, what you have already tried, and what else is happening when it arrives.
The upper neck, jaw, shoulders and thoracic spine, looking for the structures that reproduce or ease your headache.
Hands-on treatment, dry needling or acupuncture as appropriate.
What to change, and often a simple headache diary — triggers are much easier to see written down than remembered.
Between appointments
The dull advice is dull because it works: regular meals, consistent sleep, water, and not letting caffeine swing wildly from day to day. Caffeine withdrawal headaches are common and easily mistaken for something else.
Stress is a common headache trigger. Our beginner’s guide to meditation is an easy place to start.
Painkillers taken more than about ten days a month can themselves cause medication-overuse headache, which is worth knowing if your headaches have become daily. That is a conversation for your GP as well as for us.
If headaches arrive on work days, the fix is usually screen height, breaks and sleep set-up rather than anything clever. See desk posture, choosing a pillow and sleeping positions.
Common questions
Anything else? Call 09 444 3231.
Visiting us
| Monday – Thursday | 7:00am – 7:00pm |
|---|---|
| Friday | 7:00am – 6:00pm |
| Saturday | 10:00am – 5:00pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
| Monday – Friday | 8:00am – 7:00pm |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 10:00am – 5:00pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Related conditions
Book online at Glenfield or Orewa, or call 09 444 3231 and describe what your headaches do — we will point you to the right person.
