Headaches are incredibly common and can range from a dull ache to sharp, radiating pain. While there are many causes of headaches, one often-overlooked source is irritation of the occipital nerves—the nerves that travel from the upper neck to the back of the head.

What Are the Occipital Nerves?

The greater and lesser occipital nerves originate from the upper part of the spine (C2 and C3). They provide sensation to the back of the head and upper neck. When these nerves become irritated—due to muscle tension, poor posture, joint restrictions, or trauma—they can cause pain that starts at the base of the skull and moves upward into the head. This condition is known as occipital neuralgia or cervicogenic headache.

Neck Pain and Headaches: What’s the Connection?

These nerves are closely connected to an area in the brainstem called the trigeminocervical complex—a hub where sensory signals from the neck and face come together. Because of this overlap, irritation in the upper neck can trigger pain that spreads into the temples, behind the eyes, or even mimic migraines.

How Are Occipital Nerves Linked to Migraines?

There is growing evidence that the occipital nerves can contribute to migraine headaches. Both the occipital and trigeminal nerves feed into the same pain-processing center, so tension or inflammation in the neck may trigger or worsen a migraine.

Some people with chronic migraines experience fewer or less intense attacks after treating the underlying tension or dysfunction in the neck.

How Can Manual Physical Therapy Help?

Manual physical therapy can play an important role in relieving occipital nerve irritation and preventing recurring headaches. Treatment may include:

• Releasing tight neck and shoulder muscles
• Improving joint mobility in the upper cervical spine
• Reducing postural stress
• Gently mobilizing irritated nerves
• Teaching home exercises to support long-term relief

By restoring proper movement and reducing nerve irritation, many patients experience significant improvement in both cervicogenic headaches and migraine symptoms.

If you struggle with recurring headaches, especially those that start in the neck or behind the head, manual physical therapy may be a key part of your recovery.

Let’s work together to get to the root of your pain—so you can feel better, move better, and live with fewer headaches.

The spinal discs serve as shock absorbers between the vertebrae, enabling flexibility and protecting the spine during daily movement. Unlike muscles and organs, these discs lack a direct blood supply and rely on diffusion—the movement of fluids and nutrients in and out of the disc tissue—to stay healthy. This essential exchange is driven by movement and changes in pressure within the spine.

Spinal motion, including bending, stretching, and rotation, naturally promotes this pressure change. When the spine moves, it creates a pumping mechanism that draws nutrients into the disc and expels waste products. This “feeding” of the disc helps it remain hydrated, resilient, and less susceptible to degeneration.

Usually, disc problems appear at the spinal segments where movement is compromised.

For example, if motion is limited at the L4-L5 level, that segment becomes vulnerable. The disc in that area won’t receive adequate nutrition over time, making it fragile. Even without a major injury—such as lifting something heavy or being in a car accident—simple pressure from a cough or turning to open a window can be enough to cause the disc to fail. It’s not about how much force is applied, but how poorly nourished and weakened the disc has become over the years.

Manual therapy plays a critical role in preventing this scenario. Skilled hands-on techniques improve joint mobility, reduce restrictions, and restore natural movement patterns in the spine. By mobilizing stiff or restricted segments, manual therapy helps reestablish the pressure gradients necessary for healthy diffusion—enhancing the spine’s ability to nourish its own discs.

Spinal care should begin at every age—even before symptoms appear. Waiting until pain starts often means the degenerative process is already underway. Just like routine dental checkups prevent cavities, regular spinal maintenance with manual therapy supports disc health, posture, and long-term function.

In contrast, medications, acupuncture, and injections often provide only temporary relief by blocking pain signals or reducing inflammation. While helpful for managing symptoms, they do not correct the underlying dysfunction. Over time, masking the problem allows degeneration to worsen and leads to greater reliance on passive care.

In the United States, spinal surgery is significantly more common than in other developed countries. Research has shown that the U.S. performs at least 40% more back surgeries than any other nation—and over five times as many as England and Scotland. For example, if England performs 1,000 spinal surgeries in a given period, the U.S. would perform more than 5,000. This raises concern about the overuse of surgical interventions when conservative, non-invasive care—like manual therapy—could be both effective and preventative.

To truly support spinal disc health, restoring and maintaining movement through manual therapy and active care is essential. It’s not just about managing pain—it’s about treating the cause, preventing breakdown before it begins, and potentially avoiding surgery later in life.

🎥 Watch This Helpful Video Animation

Lumbar Spine Anatomy – Peer-reviewed Medical Animation

This video offers a clear, visual explanation of lumbar spine structure and how movement helps nourish discs—perfect for reinforcing the concepts discussed in this article.