Chronic headache means having headaches 15 or more days a month for at least three months. Most chronic headaches involve a mix — neck-driven headaches from the upper neck, tension headaches from tight muscles and a sensitized system, and migraines — and many of them respond well to skilled therapy from our physical and occupational therapists.
Chronic Headache Care in Bozeman — Treating the Drivers, Not Just the Symptoms
Chronic headache is rarely a single condition. Most people have a mix — neck-driven headaches, tension headaches, and sometimes migraines — each with different causes and each needing a different part of the treatment plan. Medication addresses some of these. Skilled therapy — from our physical and occupational therapists — addresses the rest.
At Root Therapy and Wellness in Bozeman, chronic headache care happens in full 1-on-1 sessions, with hands-on care every visit, and we work alongside your physician when medication is part of the plan.
Why Chronic Headaches Persist
The top of your neck shares a nerve pathway with your head, so stiff or irritated joints there can refer pain up into your head — often starting at the base of the skull and wrapping forward. Layered on top of that, tight muscles in the neck, the base of the skull, and the jaw produce tension-type headaches. And after months or years of headaches, the nervous system gets more sensitive, so triggers that never used to matter now set one off.
That mix is why so much headache treatment falls short — medication addresses one piece, the others carry on, and the headaches come back when it wears off. We find your specific mix and treat it.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
- Comprehensive evaluation (60 minutes) — your history, a headache diary review, an upper-neck and jaw exam, and a posture check.
- Diagnosis — which drivers are contributing to your headaches, and what each one needs.
- Hands-on treatment that same visit — gentle upper-neck work and soft-tissue release.
- Posture and workstation tips — practical changes that lower the daily strain.
- Re-assessment every few visits, tracking your headache diary over time.
Take the First Step
Most chronic headaches don’t clear with one more round of the same medication. Request an appointment today — most patients are seen within the same week.
Our Treatment Approach
- Gentle Upper-Neck Care — Skilled, gentle hands-on work for the upper neck, which shares a nerve pathway with the headache system.
- Soft-Tissue Work — Hands-on release for the tight muscles at the base of the skull, the neck, and the jaw that drive tension headaches.
- Neck Strengthening — Rebuilding the deep support muscles of the neck that protect it from hours of desk posture.
- Posture & Workstation Tips — Desk setup, screen height, sleep position, and phone habits that lower the daily strain.
- Calm, Nervous-System-Aware Care — Gentle care for headaches with a stress, sensitivity, or after-concussion component.