Headaches & Migraines in Aurora, CO

Most recurring headaches are not random. They are usually driven by upper-cervical joint dysfunction, sustained postural load, jaw tension, or a combination of all three. At Spine By Design Studio in Aurora, CO, Dr. Yahdi Cotto helps patients identify the mechanical and nervous-system drivers behind their headaches and address them without relying on daily medication.

The three patterns we see most often

1. Cervicogenic headache — pain referred from the upper neck (C0–C3), often one-sided, worse with sustained postures.
2. Tension-type headache — band-like pressure tied to suboccipital and trapezius muscle tone.
3. Migraine with cervical contribution — true migraine where neck dysfunction is a reliable trigger.

What an evaluation includes

• Headache history (onset, triggers, frequency, response to medication)
• Cervical range of motion and joint palpation
• Postural and screen-ergonomics review
• TMJ and breathing pattern screening when relevant
• Red-flag screening to rule out conditions that need imaging or referral

How chiropractic care helps

Gentle, specific adjustments to the upper cervical spine restore joint motion and reduce nociceptive input to the trigeminocervical complex — the area in the brainstem implicated in many headache and migraine patterns. Soft tissue work to the suboccipitals, levator scapulae, and upper trapezius, paired with simple at-home posture resets, compounds the benefit.

If you are tired of relying on over-the-counter pain relievers, schedule a headache evaluation at Spine By Design Studio.