Headache and migraine relief, chiropractic and acupuncture.
A migraine chiropractor in Scottsdale who is also a board certified acupuncturist, which matters, because the two together reach more headaches than either alone. Dr. Tracey Ryder treats tension headaches, neck-driven headaches and migraines from the same chair.
- Chiropractor and board certified acupuncturist
- In practice since 2003
- Chiropractic, acupuncture and massage in one plan
- Old Town Scottsdale, Scottsdale Road
What it is
What a headache chiropractor in Scottsdale treats
Most headaches that walk in here are one of three kinds. Tension headaches: a band of pressure across the forehead or the back of the head, from tight neck and scalp muscles. Cervicogenic headaches: pain that starts at the base of the skull and spreads forward, driven by the upper neck joints. And migraines: throbbing, often one-sided, with light and sound sensitivity, sometimes nausea or a visual aura, and frequently with a neck component that is missed.
A chiropractor for headaches examines the upper neck first, because the top three cervical joints share nerve connections with the head and are behind a large share of headaches that get treated as something else. Adjustments restore motion there. Acupuncture for migraines in Scottsdale is the other half: point selection for the headache itself and for the stress, sleep and jaw tension that feed it.
If you are searching for a migraine chiropractor near me from Old Town, Tempe or south Scottsdale, the office is on Scottsdale Road between McDowell and Thomas. Tension headache treatment in Scottsdale here can use adjustments, acupuncture and massage in a single plan.
- Where it hurts
- Base of the skull, behind the eyes, one side of the head, across the forehead, into the jaw
- Common causes
- Upper neck joint restriction, muscle tension, stress, screens, jaw clenching, poor sleep, migraine triggers
- What we use
- Upper neck adjustments, acupuncture, massage of the neck and scalp muscles
- First visit
- Headache history, neck and jaw exam, red-flag screen, explanation, first treatment when appropriate
What is going on
Why the neck is behind so many headaches
The nerves from the top three neck segments and the nerve that carries sensation from the face converge in the same part of the brainstem. That is why a stiff upper neck can produce pain behind the eye, and why a migraine so often comes with neck pain. When the upper cervical joints stop moving well and the small muscles at the base of the skull tighten, that shared pathway is irritated all day, and the threshold for a headache drops.
Adjustments to the upper neck restore the motion and quiet that input. Acupuncture works on the headache directly and on the things that lower the threshold: stress, poor sleep, jaw clenching. Massage releases the suboccipital and scalp muscles. For migraine, the aim is fewer and milder episodes, alongside whatever your physician has prescribed; nobody here will tell you to stop a medication.
Symptoms
What people come in with
Headaches that respond well to care here tend to look like this:
- Pain starting at the base of the skull
- A band of pressure across the forehead
- Pain behind one eye
- Headache after a day at a screen
- Neck stiffness with the headache
- Throbbing on one side
- Light and sound sensitivity
- Headache on waking
- Jaw clenching or grinding
- Headaches several days a week
A new, severe or different headache needs a physician first. See the red flags below.
How we treat it
How we treat headaches and migraines
Chiropractic and acupuncture from one provider, massage from the same hallway.
Chiropractic
Gentle manual or instrument adjustments to the upper neck joints that share nerve pathways with the head, plus the upper back that holds the neck forward.
Acupuncture
Points for the headache itself and for what drives it: stress, sleep, jaw tension. Booked on its own for migraine, or in the same visit as an adjustment.
Massage
Work on the suboccipital muscles at the base of the skull, the upper traps and the scalp, which hold the tension headaches live in.
Your visit
What a first visit for headaches is like
During the visit
- Your headache history: type, frequency, triggers, what you take, what has helped.
- Exam of the upper neck, jaw and upper back, and a screen for anything that needs a physician first.
- A plain-language explanation of where the headaches are coming from.
- First treatment when appropriate.
After the visit
- Some people feel the neck release right away; headache frequency changes over a course of visits.
- A simple headache diary so we can see the pattern change.
- A re-check at every visit.
Causes
What commonly causes it
The triggers and the mechanics behind most headaches.
Upper neck restriction
The top three joints, stiff from posture or a crash.
Screens
Head forward, eyes fixed, neck muscles working for hours.
Jaw clenching
Day or night. See the TMJ page.
Stress and sleep
Both lower the threshold for a headache.
Migraine triggers
Hormonal, dietary, weather, skipped meals.
A past crash
Whiplash leaves the upper neck stiff for years.
When to come in
When to see us, and when to see a doctor first
Good reasons to book
- Headaches that start at the neck or come with neck stiffness.
- Tension headaches several days a week.
- Migraines you want fewer of, alongside your physician's care.
- Headaches after a crash, once anything serious is ruled out.
- Headaches that medication only masks.
See a doctor first if
- A sudden, severe headache unlike any before.
- Headache with fever, stiff neck, confusion, or after a head injury.
- Headache with weakness, numbness, vision loss or trouble speaking.
- A new headache pattern over fifty, or one that is steadily worsening.
If anything in the history or exam points to a headache we should not treat, Dr. Tracey will say so and refer you.
Real questions
What people ask about headaches.
Searched in Scottsdale Can a chiropractor help with migraines?
For many people, yes, particularly when the migraine comes with neck pain or stiffness, which is common. Adjustments to the upper neck reduce the irritation that lowers the migraine threshold, and acupuncture addresses the migraine directly. Most patients aim for fewer and milder episodes alongside their physician's care, not a replacement for it.
How do I know if my headache is coming from my neck?
Clues: it starts at the base of the skull, it is worse after neck strain or screen time, turning the head changes it, and pressing at the top of the neck reproduces it. The exam confirms it.
Does acupuncture work for migraines?
It is one of the best-studied uses of acupuncture, and one of the most common reasons people book it here. A short course tells you whether it is helping you.
Should I stop my headache medication?
No. Nothing here replaces your physician's prescriptions. If care reduces how often you reach for them, that is a conversation to have with the prescriber.
Can kids get treated for headaches?
Yes. Dr. Tracey is ICPA certified in pediatric care, and screen-driven neck headaches in teens are increasingly common. See the pediatric page.
( Book )
Book a visit for headaches
Call the office or request an appointment online. Tell us where it hurts and how long it has been going on, and we will set up the right first visit.
- Monday
- 8:30 AM to 6 PM
- Tuesday
- 8:30 AM to 12 PM
- Wednesday
- 8:30 AM to 6 PM
- Thursday
- 2 to 6 PM
- Friday
- 8:30 AM to 6 PM
- Saturday to Sunday
- Closed
Directions in Google Maps
Prefer to talk? Call (480) 900-5280.