Headache relief in Woodinville for headaches that start in your neck
Headaches that start at the base of your skull, with a stiff neck? Dr. Penner checks whether your neck is behind them, treats it if it is, and tells you if it isn’t. No six-month plan.
5.0 on Google
17+ years in practice
No prepaid plan
Mondays and Fridays only, and slots go fast, so check open times online. Examined and, in most cases, treated on your first visit. No referral needed. You pay for the visit you had. Inside Tree of Health in downtown Woodinville.
“I went to Dr. Penner for intense headaches related to my neck. … He also didn’t try to prolong the treatment …”
Meenakshi Rameshkumar · SoundCare University District
Read on Google
The headaches we can help with, and the ones we can't
Dr. Joshua Penner, DC, treats two kinds of headache at SoundCare Chiropractic in Woodinville: cervicogenic headaches, which start in the joints of the upper neck, and tension-type headaches that come from tight neck and shoulder muscles. He does not treat migraine or cluster headaches. After the exam he tells you how many visits he expects, and most people are done in a handful.
The upper neck and the base of the skull refer pain upward. When those joints get stiff and the muscles around them stay switched on — after hours at a screen, a long drive, poor sleep, or an old injury — the result is often felt as a headache rather than as neck pain at all.
These headaches tend to sit at the back of the head, behind the eyes, or in a band across one side. They often worsen through the day, and they frequently come with a neck that does not turn as far one way as the other. That asymmetry is something an examination can find in a couple of minutes.
Signs a headache is coming from your neck
The International Headache Society’s classification, which headache doctors use to diagnose, lists features that point toward the neck (ICHD-3, cervicogenic headache). None proves it on its own, but together they are worth an exam:
- The pain stays on one side, usually the same side each time
- It starts at the back of the head or the base of the skull and spreads forward
- Turning your head, or pressing on the muscles at the top of the neck, brings on the familiar headache
- Your neck turns less far one way than the other
Strong nausea, vomiting or sensitivity to light and sound lean more toward migraine, which is not something Dr. Penner treats.
What this is not. Chiropractic care does not treat every headache. Migraine, cluster headaches, and headaches caused by something other than the neck need a different conversation, and a headache that is sudden and severe, follows a head injury, or comes with fever, weakness, vision changes or confusion is a reason to seek urgent medical care rather than book with us.
Most people feel the neck loosen first, then the headaches ease
Your first visit is an exam and, in most cases, treatment the same day. Dr. Penner asks when the headaches come on and where they sit, then checks how far your neck turns each way and which joints and muscles are stiff or tender.
Treatment focuses on restoring movement to the upper neck and releasing the muscles that have tightened around it, usually with chiropractic adjustment and soft-tissue work. Most people notice the neck moving more freely before they notice the headaches easing.
Because posture and workstation habits feed this pattern directly, most people leave with two or three specific things to change and a small number of stretches. For desk-driven headaches, that part often matters more than anything done in the treatment room.
How this ends: he tells you when you are done
Headache frequency usually drops over the following days rather than immediately, so the honest measure is a couple of weeks, not a single visit. When the headaches stop arriving and your neck turns evenly both ways, you are done — and Dr. Penner tells you so.
If the pattern does not shift, that is worth knowing early too. Headaches that are not coming from your neck need a different conversation, and you get that answer rather than another course of visits. Most people are done in a handful of visits. You pay for the visit you had.
5.0 on Google, and he doesn't drag it out
Verbatim Google reviews for Dr. Penner, some shortened. Reviews from SoundCare’s other locations are labeled as such.
I’ve been seeing Dr. Penner for chiropractic care for years and I can’t recommend him highly enough. He has an incredible ability to quickly detect problem areas and address them with precision and skill. His adjustments are smooth, effective, and provide immediate relief. You can tell he has years of experience and truly understands the body’s mechanics. Not only is he highly skilled, but he also takes the time to listen and explain everything clearly.
François Michaux · Woodinville
I went to Dr. Penner for intense headaches related to my neck. The headaches were affecting my work and normal life. He was very patient in trying to diagnose the problem, tried different strategies for treatment and after 5 sessions the headaches were greatly reduced for me to get back to my previous productivity at work and life. He also didn’t try to prolong the treatment like some other practitioners. …
Meenakshi Rameshkumar · SoundCare University District
Headache questions, answered plainly
These are the questions people ask before booking for headaches, with the Woodinville clinic’s answers. For everything else Dr. Penner treats, see Woodinville chiropractic services.
Can a chiropractor help with headaches?
Often, if the headache is coming from your neck. Cervicogenic headaches and tension-type headaches tied to tight neck muscles are the kind chiropractic care is suited to. Migraine and cluster headaches are not, and Dr. Penner tells you if your pattern does not look like it starts in the neck.
How do I know if my headache is coming from my neck?
The usual clues are pain on one side that starts at the back of the head and spreads forward, a headache that neck movement or pressure on the neck muscles brings on, and a neck that turns less far one way than the other. None of these proves it by itself. An exam checks all of them in a couple of minutes.
How many visits does headache treatment take?
It depends on the pattern, so Dr. Penner tells you after the exam, not before it. Headache frequency usually drops over the following days rather than immediately, and most people are done in a handful of visits. There is no package to buy. You pay for each visit you have.
Will you reassess if my headaches are not improving?
Yes, and early. If the headaches have not started to ease after the first few visits, Dr. Penner says so and tells you what he thinks is going on. Another round of the same treatment is not the default.
Do you treat migraines?
No. Dr. Penner does not treat migraine or cluster headaches. If you are not sure which kind of headache you have, bring that question to the exam. You get a straight answer about whether your neck is part of it.
Will I have to keep coming back to stay headache-free?
No. There is no maintenance plan. When the headaches stop arriving and your neck turns evenly both ways, Dr. Penner tells you that you are done. The desk changes and stretches you leave with are meant to help keep the pattern from coming back, and if it returns months later, you can simply book again.
Do I need a referral, and does insurance cover it?
You do not need a referral. You can book with Dr. Penner directly, online or by phone at 425-215-1880. Most insurance is accepted, and the clinic is happy to check your insurance benefits on request.
Worth finding out if it is your neck
Inside Tree of Health in downtown Woodinville, about 10 minutes from Bothell on SR 522 and 15 from Redmond. Mondays and Fridays. Book online in about a minute, or call 425-215-1880.
5.0 on Google · 17+ years in practice · No referral needed · No prepaid plan
Book Monday or FridayCall 425-215-1880