Episode 3: Decoding Chronic Headaches

Decoding Chronic Headaches: A Neurological Approach to Relief

Welcome back to Ask the Chiropractor. I am Dr. Brant Hulsebus. In our last episode, we talked about “Tech Neck” and the dangers of losing your proper cervical curve. One of the most frequent symptoms that arises from that poor posture—and one of the most common complaints we hear at our Rockford clinic—is chronic headaches.

Today, we are going to decode why these headaches happen and, more importantly, why the solution is rarely found in a cold compress, an early bedtime, or a handful of pain relievers.

The Brain Does Not Feel Pain

When you have a severe, throbbing headache, it feels like your brain is screaming. But from a neurological standpoint, the brain itself has no pain receptors. It can process pain signals from other parts of the body, but the tissue of the brain cannot feel pain. So, if your brain isn’t hurting, what is actually causing that pounding sensation?

The “Tailbone” Headache

Let’s start with a less common, but highly specific, type of headache. Because humans walk upright on two legs, our tailbone (the sacrum) acts as a mechanical pump. As we walk, it rocks back and forth, pumping spinal fluid up and down the spinal cord.

If your sacrum becomes misaligned or “locked up” (a subluxation), that pump stops working efficiently. The brain doesn’t get the fresh spinal fluid it needs, resulting in a horrific headache. The tell-tale sign of this specific headache? If you lay down flat, the fluid levels out and the headache goes away; as soon as you stand up and start walking, the headache returns.

The Upper Cervical Connection: Atlas and Axis

The most common cause of chronic headaches stems from the top two bones in your neck: C1 (Atlas) and C2 (Axis).

Your spinal cord is anchored inside the spinal canal by strong bands called dentate ligaments. When you lose the normal curve in your neck (like we discussed in the Tech Neck episode), it puts massive tension on the spinal cord. Because those ligaments are incredibly strong and won’t easily break, something else has to give.

Often, the lower part of the brain (the midbrain) is pulled down slightly into the opening at the base of the skull, called the foramen magnum. When this happens, it clogs the opening.

The “Throbbing” Explained: The Drain is Clogged

For decades, it was believed that headaches were caused by a lack of blood flowing into the brain. However, modern research—including groundbreaking studies using motion MRI machines by experts like Dr. Scott Rosa and Dr. Longyear—has shown the opposite.

Blood has no problem getting into the brain, but because the foramen magnum is partially clogged by the descended midbrain, the venous flow (blood trying to drain out) is restricted. Blood enters at a fast rate, but drains at a slow rate. This creates back-pressure. That “throb, throb, throb” you feel is the pressure building up because the fluid cannot drain efficiently.

Furthermore, when the opening is restricted, the spinal fluid cannot easily flush toxins out of the brain. This buildup of toxins and pressure is a significant factor not just in chronic headaches, but in how we address recovery for athletes and veterans dealing with head trauma and concussions.

How Chiropractic Care Provides Relief

When a chiropractor performs a specific adjustment to the upper cervical spine, it relieves the tension on the spinal cord. This allows the midbrain to move back up into its proper position within the cranial cavity. Suddenly, the “drain” is unclogged.

When this happens, the venous flow normalizes, and the spinal fluid can finally rush in and flush out the accumulated toxins. Sometimes, patients feel momentarily lightheaded right after an upper cervical adjustment—this isn’t a bad thing! It is the sensation of the fluid pressure rapidly normalizing.

If you have had neck trauma, poor posture, or suffer from chronic headaches, it is time to have your upper cervical spine evaluated. Only a chiropractor is trained to locate and correct these specific subluxations. You can also learn more at our national Chiropractic page.

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Are you struggling with chronic headaches? Stop masking the pain and find the root cause. If you are in the Rockford, Illinois area, contact our clinic for a thorough evaluation.