Headaches & Migraines Treatment in Tyler

Types of headaches we treat

Not every headache feels the same — and the difference matters for how we treat it. At Hopson Chiropractic, we identify which type you’re dealing with before we recommend care. Common types include:

• Tension headaches — the most common type, felt as a band of pressure around the head or a heavy ache across the forehead and temples. Driven by muscle tightness in the neck and jaw, they are often addressed with chiropractic adjustments and myofascial release.
• Cervicogenic headaches — pain that originates in the upper cervical spine (C1–C3) and refers into the head. Often misdiagnosed as migraine, the telltale sign is neck pain or stiffness that accompanies the headache. Cervical manipulation is one of the most frequently studied treatments for this type.
• Migraines — a more complex neurological pattern involving heightened pain sensitivity, often accompanied by nausea, light sensitivity, or visual disturbances. Chiropractic care won’t cure migraines, but improving cervical mechanics and reducing muscle tension may help lower the frequency and intensity of episodes for some people. When a team approach makes sense, your doctor can work alongside your neurologist or primary care provider.
• Post-traumatic headaches — headaches that began or worsened after whiplash, a car accident, or a sports injury. Your doctor will examine your neck carefully and, when needed, work alongside your other medical providers.

Your exam tells us which type you’re dealing with — and sometimes it’s more than one — so your plan is built for your head, not a one-size-fits-all protocol.

What to expect at your first visit

Your first appointment is all about understanding your headaches before we treat them. We’ll:

1. Listen to your history — when the headaches started, how often they occur, what seems to trigger them, and how they affect your work and daily life.
2. Perform a thorough cervical and neurological exam — orthopedic, postural, and movement testing to determine whether your neck is the true source, and to screen for red-flag signs that need specialist referral.
3. Explain what we found — in plain English, including your headache type and the care plan your doctor recommends.
4. Start care when appropriate — if chiropractic care is a good fit, your first gentle adjustment may happen at this visit.

You’ll leave knowing what your doctor found and what they recommend next.

Drug-free headache and migraine relief

Reaching for ibuprofen or acetaminophen every few days feels like the easy answer — until those same medications begin causing “rebound” headaches that make the cycle harder to break. Chiropractic care offers a different path: address the joint restriction and muscle tension that may be generating your pain, then work on the posture and lifestyle habits that keep re-creating it. The goal is fewer headache days, less reliance on medication, and a head and neck that feel better in daily life. And if your exam ever suggests you need further imaging, medication, or a specialist, your doctor will tell you honestly and help you find the right next step.

When to see a chiropractor in Tyler or Chandler

Many people tolerate frequent headaches because they’ve learned to manage them with over-the-counter medication — but recurring reliance on pain relievers can itself trigger medication-overuse (rebound) headaches, creating a cycle that’s hard to break without addressing the underlying cause. Consider booking an exam if you notice:

• Headaches that happen more than a few times a month
• Head pain accompanied by neck stiffness or soreness
• Headaches that start or worsen after sitting for long periods
• Increasing reliance on ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or triptans
• Headaches that began or worsened after a whiplash or neck injury

One important note: a sudden, extremely severe headache — the worst of your life — or any headache with fever, confusion, vision loss, weakness, or that follows a head injury warrants emergency evaluation, not a chiropractic appointment. We screen for these red-flag presentations at your first visit and refer immediately when we see them.

During your first appointment, your doctor performs a thorough cervical and neurological exam, identifies your headache type, and gives you a clear, honest assessment of whether chiropractic care is the right fit — and what to expect if it is.

Headache care at Hopson Chiropractic

Hopson Chiropractic cares for patients from Tyler, Chandler, Whitehouse, Lindale, Bullard, Flint, Brownsboro, Athens and Canton at our Tyler and Chandler offices. For headache and migraine care, we look for the cause of your pain rather than just masking it. Dr. William Hopson (Tyler office) and Dr. Lana Hopson (Chandler office) use targeted chiropractic adjustments to improve cervical mechanics, and your plan may also include soft-tissue work such as trigger point therapy to ease the muscle tension that fuels recurring headaches — all inside one coordinated plan.

We also take time to address the lifestyle factors — posture, ergonomics, sleep, hydration, and stress — that keep headaches coming back even after the spine is moving well. If your headaches began after a car accident or a sports injury, our auto accident care and athlete care pages explain how we approach those injuries.

Ready to find out whether your neck is behind your headaches? Take a look at our New Patient Special, then book an appointment or contact us with any questions.