Neck Pain, Headaches and Jaw Pain

How Neck Pain, Headaches, and Jaw Pain Can Be Connected

Neck pain, headaches and jaw pain are often linked because the muscles, joints and nerves of the neck, head and jaw share connections, so a problem in one area can be felt in another. If you’ve had a run of tension headaches after a busy stretch at work, or you wake with a tight jaw and a stiff neck, you’ve probably wondered whether it’s all part of the same problem. Sometimes it is, and sometimes it isn’t. At our East Brisbane clinic, we assess all three together, explain what we find in plain English, and refer you to your GP, dentist or physiotherapist when that’s the better path.

Our clinic in East Brisbane is a short drive from the Brisbane CBD and nearby suburbs such as Coorparoo, Woolloongabba, and Kangaroo Point, with off-street parking at the front.

Headaches are common. According to the Better Health Channel (Victorian Government), around 15% of Australians are taking pain-relieving medication for a headache at any given time.

Common Causes of Neck Pain

Most neck pain comes from the muscles, joints, and ligaments of the neck rather than anything serious. Common contributors include long periods at a desk or on a phone, awkward sleeping positions, stress and muscle tension, minor strains, age-related joint changes, and injuries such as whiplash after a car accident. Neck pain can come with stiffness, head discomfort, pins and needles, or pain referred into the shoulders and arms.

Cervical Spondylosis: Age-Related Neck Changes

Cervical spondylosis is the medical term for age-related wear in the discs and joints of the neck, sometimes described as neck arthritis. It’s very common, and many people have signs of it on X-rays or scans without any symptoms. When it does cause symptoms, these can include neck pain and stiffness, headaches that start at the back of the head, and, if a nerve is irritated, pain, pins and needles or weakness into the shoulder, arm or hand.

A chiropractor can’t reverse cervical spondylosis, and we don’t claim to. What we can do is assess how your neck moves, check your nerve function, and discuss options to help you manage stiffness and stay active, such as gentle mobilisation, soft tissue work, exercises and advice on your work setup and sleeping position. Spinal manipulation of the neck isn’t suitable for everyone with cervical spondylosis, and we’ll explain why if it isn’t right for you.

Some symptoms need medical assessment first. See your GP promptly, or seek urgent care, if you have weakness or numbness in both arms, clumsy hands, trouble with balance or walking, or any bladder or bowel changes, as these can be signs of pressure on the spinal cord. If imaging is needed, we’ll refer you for an X-ray, or ask your GP to arrange a CT or MRI.

Car Accidents and Whiplash Claims in Queensland

If your symptoms started after a car accident, see your GP first so they can check for injuries that need medical care. In Queensland, injuries from motor vehicle accidents may be covered under compulsory third party (CTP) insurance, and each claim has its own rules about what treatment is approved. If your visit relates to a car accident or a WorkCover QLD claim, please mention it when you contact the clinic.

Types of Headaches: Tension, Cervicogenic and Migraine

Migraine is a neurological condition, so it’s important to have it diagnosed and managed with your GP.

Many people have more than one type of headache, and the pattern matters. Keeping a simple headache diary for a few weeks, noting when headaches start, how long they last, where you feel them, and what you were doing beforehand, can help you, your GP and your chiropractor make sense of what’s going on. It’s also worth tracking how often you take pain relief. The Better Health Channel notes that using pain-relieving medication too often can make headaches worse. Your GP or pharmacist can advise you on this.

Living with Migraines

Migraines are a common neurological condition, and management is led by your GP. Depending on how often migraines occur and how much they affect you, your GP may discuss lifestyle changes, medicines to treat attacks, preventive medicines, or a referral to a neurologist. If you have migraines and also notice stiffness or tension in the upper spine and shoulders, we can assess that alongside your GP’s care, but chiropractic treatment doesn’t replace it. Organisations such as Migraine Australia provide information and support for people living with migraines.

What Is TMJ Dysfunction?

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your lower jaw to your skull, just in front of each ear. Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) can cause jaw or facial pain, clicking or popping, locking, difficulty opening your mouth or chewing, earache-like pain, and headaches. Common contributors include clenching or teeth grinding (bruxism), especially at night, injury to the jaw, arthritis, and dental issues. Wisdom tooth removal can sometimes aggravate the jaw. For many people, no single clear cause is found.

Jaw pain can be felt around the temples, ears or upper neck, which is one reason jaw, head and neck symptoms can overlap. Your dentist or GP may suggest simple self-care first, such as eating softer foods for a while, avoiding chewing gum and very wide yawns, noticing and relaxing daytime clenching, and using heat on sore muscles. Your dentist may also suggest a custom splint if you grind your teeth at night.

TMJ Conditions and Your Dentist

Jaw joint conditions are usually first assessed by a dentist, who can check whether your teeth, bite or a dental problem are involved. Most TMJ conditions settle with simple, conservative care, and surgery is rarely needed. Because the jaw joint is used every time you talk, chew or yawn, flare-ups can come and go. If a TMJ condition is complex or not settling, your dentist may refer you to a dental specialist.

A jaw that clicks without any discomfort is common and often doesn’t need to be treated. If clicking comes with locking, discomfort or difficulty opening your mouth, it’s worth having your TMJ checked by your dentist.

Dizziness and Vertigo

Vertigo is a spinning sensation, as if you or the room is moving. One common cause, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), comes from the inner ear and is often managed by a GP or a physiotherapist trained in vestibular physiotherapy. Because vertigo and dizziness can also have other causes, including serious conditions, we refer you to your GP for assessment rather than treat vertigo ourselves. If vertigo comes on suddenly with weakness, numbness, trouble speaking, vision changes or loss of balance, call 000.

Red Flags: When to See a Doctor Urgently

Most neck pain and headaches aren’t dangerous. But some symptoms need urgent medical care, not a chiropractor. Go to an emergency department or call 000 if you have:

• A sudden, severe headache, often described as the worst headache of your life

• Headache with fever, a stiff neck, a rash, confusion, or drowsiness

• New weakness, numbness, trouble speaking, vision changes, loss of balance, or a drooping face

• Neck pain or headache after a fall, car accident, or blow to the head

• A new headache pattern if you’re over 50, pregnant, or have a weakened immune system

For advice on whether to see a doctor, you can also call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84), QLD’s free 24-hour phone line staffed by registered nurses.

How We Assess Neck, Head and Jaw Complaints

It helps to bring a list of any medications you take, any headache diary you’ve kept, and details of any recent dental work or jaw treatment. If more information is needed, we’ll refer you for imaging or to your GP.

What the Evidence Says About Chiropractic Care for Headaches

We want to be accurate here, because headache claims are often overstated. An evidence-based guideline on chiropractic care for adults with headache (Bryans et al., Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 2011) recommended spinal manipulation for migraine and cervicogenic headache, based on evidence the authors rated as moderate at best. The same guideline did not recommend spinal manipulation for episodic tension-type headache, and made no recommendation either way for chronic tension-type headache. That guideline is now more than a decade old.

So chiropractic care may be one option for some people with neck pain or some types of headache, usually alongside exercise and changes to daily habits. It isn’t a replacement for medical diagnosis or medication your GP recommends. If you’re already being treated for migraine, please keep seeing your GP and let us know about your current treatment.

Treatment Options We May Discuss

Depending on your assessment, options may include gentle mobilisation or spinal adjustments, soft tissue techniques for the neck, shoulders and jaw muscles, jaw and neck exercises, and practical advice on work setup and sleep. We’ll explain each option, including what it involves and any possible side effects, and ask for your consent. You can ask for a different approach or say no at any point. Your plan is reviewed as you go, and the number of visits depends on how you respond.

Desk Setup, Screen Time, and Sleep Habits

Small changes to your day are worth trying. Many people find it helps to bring their screen closer to eye level, keep the keyboard within easy reach, and take regular movement breaks. If you notice you clench or grind your teeth, talk to your dentist about it.

When We Refer to Your GP, Dentist, or Physiotherapist

We refer to your GP for migraine diagnosis, medication, dizziness or vertigo, and any red flag symptoms. We refer to your dentist if jaw pain may relate to your teeth or bite, or if a night splint could help with grinding. We may refer to a physiotherapist for an exercise-based program. After a head injury or concussion, please see your GP first. Working together means you get the right care from the right person. With your consent, we’re happy to send a short report to your GP, dentist or physiotherapist so everyone involved understands what we’ve found and what we’re doing. If you’re seeing a dentist for jaw pain, let us know so we can fit in with their plan rather than working against it.

Conditions We Refer Rather Than Treat

Some conditions need medical diagnosis or a different kind of care before chiropractic treatment is considered. We don’t treat vertigo, concussion, or any condition with red flag symptoms ourselves, and we’ll refer you to your GP instead. If physiotherapy is a better fit, for example for vestibular physiotherapy or a supervised exercise program, we’ll say so and refer you to a physiotherapist. Physiotherapy can also suit people who’d like a structured, exercise-led program to work through at their own pace.

Remedial Massage for Neck and Shoulder Tension

Our in-house remedial massage therapist can work on tight neck, shoulder and upper back muscles, on its own or alongside chiropractic care. Some people find massage helps them feel less muscle tension, though results vary and we can’t promise a particular outcome.

More About the TMJ

Each TMJ is a hinge-and-gliding joint, and a small disc of cartilage sits inside the joint to help it move smoothly. The two jaw joints work together, so a problem on one side can change how the other moves. Before we treat the muscles around the jaw, we’ll explain what’s involved and check you’re comfortable going ahead.

Physiotherapy and Private Cover in QLD

If you’re weighing up chiropractic care and physiotherapy, check your private cover, as extras limits for each can differ. Patients in Queensland can also ask their GP whether a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan applies to them, which can give a Medicare rebate for some allied health visits.

Your First Appointment as a New Patient

New patients can book an appointment online 24/7 or contact the clinic by phone. Appointment times include early mornings, evenings and Saturday mornings. If you’re a new patient with a complex history, such as several conditions or ongoing treatment elsewhere, let us know when you book so we can allow for it. Each patient’s plan depends on their assessment and how they respond, and you’re free to ask questions or decide not to go ahead at any point.

If you need to change an appointment, contact the clinic as early as you can so the time can go to another patient. When you book, you’re also welcome to ask about fees, parking and what to bring.

Before Your Appointment

You’re welcome to bring a support person to any appointment. If you’d like to book for more than one family member, or you need to move an appointment, contact us by phone or through the contact form. You can also book online at any hour. Every patient receives an explanation of any treatment before it starts, and treatment is reviewed as you go. If you’d like time to think over a treatment plan before deciding, take it. You can book online, or by phone if you’d prefer to talk first.

Book an Assessment in East Brisbane

If neck pain, headaches or jaw pain keep interrupting your work or sleep, it’s worth getting them looked at together rather than one at a time. Our clinic is at Unit 4, 32-36 Hampton St, East Brisbane, with off-street parking. We open from 7:30 am on weekdays, until 7 pm on several evenings and on Saturday mornings. Book online 24/7 or call 07 3393 2201. Our fees are listed on our Fees and Cost Guide page, with HICAPS on site.