Headache & Migraine Treatment in Medical Lake & Spokane
Drug-free headache and migraine relief using chiropractic care, massage therapy, physical therapy, and integrative medicine — serving Medical Lake and Spokane.
Headache & Migraine Treatment at Essential Health Group
About Our Medical Lake Practice
Essential Health Group provides drug-free headache and migraine treatment using chiropractic care, physical therapy, massage therapy, and integrative primary care — all under one roof in Medical Lake, WA.
Headaches are one of the most common and disruptive health complaints — yet the majority are never properly evaluated for their underlying musculoskeletal or cervicogenic cause. Our integrated team — led by Dr. Christopher Wellwood NP-C, MSN, DC — goes beyond symptom management to identify and treat the actual source of your headaches.
Understanding Headaches and Migraines
Many headaches — particularly tension headaches and cervicogenic headaches — originate in the neck, upper back, and surrounding musculature. Chiropractic care, physical therapy, and soft tissue treatment can dramatically reduce headache frequency and severity in these presentations.
Our team evaluates both the musculoskeletal and medical components of your headaches to ensure you receive the most effective and appropriate care — addressing the cause rather than just managing symptoms with medication.
Types of Headaches We Treat
Our Medical Lake practice treats patients across the full range of headache presentations including:
- Tension headaches — the most common headache type, driven by muscle tension and stress in the neck, shoulders, and upper back
- Cervicogenic headaches — headaches originating from the cervical spine — often misdiagnosed as migraines, respond very well to chiropractic care
- Migraine headaches — recurring moderate to severe headaches often with nausea, light sensitivity, and aura
- Sinus headaches — headache pain from sinus inflammation and congestion — chiropractic care can improve sinus drainage
- Post-whiplash headaches — headaches following car accidents or cervical trauma
- Occipital neuralgia — sharp, shooting pain from the base of the skull caused by irritation of the occipital nerves
- Cluster headaches — severe, recurring headaches concentrated around one eye
- Stress and postural headaches — headaches from prolonged poor posture, desk work, or psychological stress
Our Approach to Headache Treatment
Effective headache treatment starts with identifying whether the source is musculoskeletal, neurological, or medical — or a combination. Our integrated team evaluates all contributing factors and builds a treatment plan accordingly. Many patients who have relied solely on medication find significant improvement when the cervical spine and musculoskeletal contributors are addressed.
Dr. Christopher Wellwood
NP-C, MSN, DC — Physical Medicine & Integrative Care
Specializing in drug-free headache and migraine treatment using chiropractic care, physical therapy, and integrative medicine throughout the Spokane region.
📍 731 N Stanley St
Medical Lake, WA 99022
🕒 Mon–Fri, 8am–5pm
🏥 Headache Services at Essential Health Group
We provide a coordinated range of drug-free and integrative therapies for headaches and migraines — all under one roof in Medical Lake. Our team evaluates your condition fully and builds a plan specifically for you.
🦴 Chiropractic Care
Cervical and upper thoracic chiropractic adjustments are highly effective for tension headaches and cervicogenic headaches — reducing joint restriction, muscle tension, and nerve irritation that drive recurring headache patterns.
🏃 Physical Therapy
Postural correction, cervical strengthening, and mobility work to address the musculoskeletal contributors to headaches — particularly effective for desk workers and post-whiplash presentations.
🖐 Massage Therapy
Therapeutic massage targeting the suboccipital muscles, upper trapezius, and cervical musculature — one of the most effective treatments for tension headache reduction.
🧪 Neural Prolotherapy
Perineural injections for occipital neuralgia and cervicogenic headaches — targeting the nerve irritation at the source of pain.
💊 Primary Care & Medical Management
Comprehensive headache evaluation including medical history review, diagnostic assessment, and medication management — ensuring no underlying medical cause is missed.
🌿 Prolozone Therapy
Regenerative cervical injections for headaches with a significant cervical spine component — addressing disc, joint, and ligament contributors to recurring head pain.
⚡ Physical Medicine
Electrical stimulation, ultrasound, and trigger point injections for cervical and upper back muscle tension contributing to headaches.
🧘 Integrative Wellness
Lifestyle, nutritional, and stress management guidance to address the whole-body contributors to recurring headaches — part of our integrative approach to care.
Headache & Migraine FAQs
Can chiropractic care really help headaches?
Yes — for tension headaches and cervicogenic headaches, chiropractic care is one of the most evidence-based treatments available. A significant proportion of recurring headaches have a cervical spine origin that responds very well to adjustments and manual therapy.
How is a cervicogenic headache different from a migraine?
Cervicogenic headaches originate from the cervical spine and are often mistaken for migraines. They typically start at the back of the head or neck, may be triggered by neck movement, and respond to cervical treatment. True migraines involve neurological changes and may require medical management in addition to physical treatment.
Do you treat migraines?
Yes. While migraines often have a medical component requiring prescription management, many migraine patients also benefit significantly from chiropractic care, massage, and physical therapy — reducing frequency and severity. We coordinate both aspects of care within our facility.
How quickly will I see results?
Many patients experience noticeable headache reduction within a few visits. Chronic headache patterns built up over years may require 4–8 weeks of consistent treatment before full results are apparent.
Do I need a referral?
No referral is needed. Call (509) 299-6900 or schedule online. VA referred veterans are welcome.
Integrated Headache Care in Medical Lake
At Essential Health Group, our chiropractic, physical therapy, massage, and primary care teams collaborate on every headache case — communicating directly and adjusting your plan based on your response to treatment.
If you are suffering from recurring headaches or migraines in the Spokane area, schedule an appointment today.
Further Reading — Headaches
Sinus Headaches and Chiropractic Care
Sinuses are an important part of the human body! Did you know that just like many other areas of the body, we can experience sinus pain and issues? Let’s talk all things sinuses in today’s blog! Sinus Headache? Maybe Not The definition of sinuses are the cavities in...
Get Headache Relief in Medical Lake Today
Recurring tension headaches, cervicogenic headaches, or migraines — our integrated team can help reduce frequency and severity without relying on medication alone.
Medical Lake, WA · (509) 299-6900 · In-Person & Telehealth