The Headache That Keeps Coming Back

If your headache starts at the base of your skull, climbs up the back of your head, and settles behind one eye… and your MRI is “normal”… but the headache still keeps returning, this episode is for you. A significant percentage of recurring headaches don’t start inside the skull—they start in the muscles and joints of the neck, and that changes what actually works for relief. Read the companion article here: https://drjustintrosclair.com/the-headache-that-keeps-coming-back

Episode Summary (Why this matters)

In this episode, we break down a common but overlooked source of chronic headaches: cervical trigger points (tender spots) in the suboccipitals, upper traps, sternocleidomastoid (SCM), and other neck muscles that can refer pain into the head—sometimes mimicking tension headaches, migraines, or sinus headaches.

If you keep treating the headache like it’s the problem, you may only be managing symptoms. The goal is to find the source—and when the source is muscular, dry needling + restoring neck mechanics can be a game-changing combination.

What You’ll Learn

You’ll learn:

• Why many recurring headaches can be “neck-driven,” even when imaging is normal
• How trigger points can refer pain behind the eye, into the temple, and across the forehead
• The research-backed case for dry needling in tension-type and cervicogenic headaches
• The 5 signs your headache may have a neck component
• What an exam + treatment plan looks like in the clinic (what we check first, then what we treat)

Key Takeaways (Quick + Clear)

The headache is real. The location is real. But the source may be in the neck. When the “address” is wrong, people spend years chasing relief. When the address is right, treatment gets simpler and more targeted.

What’s Happening in the Neck (Plain-English Explanation)

The article explains that small muscles at the base of the skull (suboccipitals) are extremely sensitive and closely connected to the nerve systems involved in head and face pain. When those muscles—and others like the upper trap, SCM, and cervical paraspinals—develop trigger points under stress, posture, or injury, they can refer pain into the head and behind the eye.

What the Research Says (As Cited in the Article)

The article highlights:

• A 2021 systematic review + meta-analysis (Physical Therapy journal) finding meaningful improvements from dry needling across tension-type headaches, cervicogenic headaches, and migraines, with particularly strong results reported for tension-type headache intensity and disability.
• A 2024 randomized controlled trial (Journal of Personalized Medicine) reporting reductions in trigger point activity and headache pain intensity after dry needling in tension-type headache patients.

5 Signs Your Headache May Be Coming From Your Neck

From the article, common patterns include: 1) Headaches start or worsen after screen time / forward head posture 2) Headaches are one-sided or consistently worse on the same side 3) Pressing on the neck/upper shoulder reproduces the familiar head pain 4) Imaging is “normal” (trigger points don’t show on MRI/CT) 5) Heat or massage helps briefly, but the headache returns

What Treatment Looks Like (So You Know What to Expect)

The process described in the article:

• Assessment first: map the pain pattern and palpate neck/upper back muscles to find taut bands and active trigger points
• Confirm the source: when pressure on a neck tender spot recreates your familiar head pain, that’s a strong clinical clue
• Dry needling: the needle targets the trigger point; you may feel a brief deep ache and a twitch response as the muscle releases, and the referral into the head often diminishes quickly
• Many people notice improvement within 24–48 hours; some need 2–3 sessions if the tender spots are long-established
• Works alongside adjustments: adjustment restores joint mechanics while dry needling “resets” the muscular layer

Helpful Links Mentioned in the Article

• Screen/posture article: https://drjustintrosclair.com/your-phone-is-destroying-your-neck-heres-the-fix-nobody-talks-about
• Dry needling vs acupuncture: https://drjustintrosclair.com/dry-needling-vs-acupuncture
• “10-minute muscle reset” (dry needling): https://drjustintrosclair.com/10-minute-muscle-reset-dry-needling
• Dry needling page: https://drjustintrosclair.com/dry-needling

Next Step (If You Want Help)

If you’re dealing with recurring headaches that haven’t resolved with standard treatment, the article invites you to schedule a consultation to see whether a cervical trigger point (tender spot) component is driving your pain.

Call/Text: 1 337 453 5199 Book online: https://www.drjustintrosclair.com/bookonline

Quick Medical Note

This episode is educational and not personal medical advice. If you have a sudden “worst headache of your life,” new neurological symptoms, fainting, weakness, severe vision changes, or other urgent red flags, seek emergency evaluation.