Conditions Cottleville, MO

Headaches & jaw pain

Headaches that start at the base of the skull, and a jaw that aches after clenching — two problems that often share a neck.

The short answer

Many recurring headaches are fed by the joints and muscles of the upper neck, and jaw (TMJ) pain often travels with neck tension. Easing the neck, breaking up long still stretches and watching for clenching are good first steps. An assessment tests the upper neck and jaw together to see what's driving yours.

Common signs

A headache that starts at the base of the skull or one side of the neck
Pain that wraps over the head toward the temple or behind the eye
A sore jaw on waking, or clicking and tightness when you chew
Headaches that build through a long desk or driving day

What it usually is

The upper neck. The top joints of the neck share nerve pathways with the head, so irritation there is often felt as a headache — what's called a cervicogenic headache. Is your neck the cause of your headaches? →
Jaw and neck tension. The jaw muscles and the neck work together. Clenching, especially at night or under stress, loads both. Why your jaw and neck are connected →
Long, still stretches. Hours at a screen or behind the wheel keep the upper neck in one position, which many tension headaches track with. Tech neck, and what changes it →
Caffeine swings. Caffeine can both ease and trigger headaches; irregular intake is a common, overlooked factor. Does coffee cause headaches — or cure them? →

Check yours

Headaches often track with the work day. The posture self-check scores how your day is loading your neck, and the desk reset gives you a five-minute routine to break it up.

What you can try today

Notice when the headache starts — after a long desk stretch, a drive, or on waking. That pattern is useful at an assessment.
Do 8 slow chin tucks a few times a day, and get up from the screen every 30–60 minutes.
Check for clenching: lips together, teeth apart, tongue resting on the roof of the mouth.
Keep caffeine steady rather than skipping it one day and doubling it the next.

How it’s assessed and treated here

The assessment looks at the upper neck, the jaw and the upper back together, because headaches and jaw pain rarely come from just one of them. You'll leave knowing which pattern fits yours.

Care often combines gentle precision adjustments and soft-tissue work for the upper neck and jaw muscles with a short exercise plan. Acupuncture is an option many headache patients choose — the evidence is summarised in our article on acupuncture for headaches.

Often part of the plan: Precision Spinal Adjustments, Acupuncture, Pin & Stretch and Corrective Exercise Programming.

The initial assessment is $149 and runs about 40 minutes. Follow-up visits are $60 and include the adjustment, soft-tissue work and corrective exercise your plan calls for that day. We don’t bill insurance; HSA and FSA cards are accepted. Compare it with your insurance →

This page explains what's common, not what's going on with you. Always talk it through with your doctor, or book an assessment with Dr. Hailey to find out what's going on.

Questions people ask

How do I know if my headache is coming from my neck?

Neck-driven headaches tend to start at the base of the skull or one side of the neck, often get worse with certain neck positions, and track with long still stretches. Our article on cervicogenic versus tension headaches lays out the differences; an exam is what confirms it.

Can a chiropractor help with TMJ?

Jaw pain often comes with neck and upper-back tension, and soft-tissue work, gentle mobilisation and exercises for the jaw and neck are part of how we approach it. We'll tell you at the assessment whether your jaw pattern is one we can help with.

Does acupuncture help headaches?

There is reasonable evidence for acupuncture in some headache types, which we summarise in our acupuncture for headaches article. It's $60 a session, on its own or added to a visit.

What does a first visit cost?

The 40-minute initial assessment is $149. Follow-up visits are $60. We don't bill insurance; HSA and FSA cards are accepted.

Before you book

40 minutes: History, a movement and posture screen, an exam, and hands-on treatment the same visit.
$149 flat: Cash-based with posted prices. HSA and FSA cards accepted; insurance isn't billed directly.
No referral: Book online or call 636.378.0969. Same-week appointments are usually available.

Headaches & jaw pain — Cottleville, O'Fallon, St. Peters & Wentzville

Find out what’s behind yours.

Book an assessment with Dr. Hailey — $149