Is There a Dry Needling Clinic in Jacksonville for Headaches and Migraines?
Yes. Full Swing Healthcare on Beach Blvd is a dry needling clinic in Jacksonville that treats headaches and migraines with a specific focus on the cervicogenic and trigger point patterns that drive most chronic headache presentations.
A patient came to us from the Beaches area who had been experiencing two to three headaches per week for over a year. She had been seen by her primary care doctor and a neurologist and had been managing with medication. A friend mentioned that her headaches might be coming from her neck. When Dr. Muren assessed her he found bilateral suboccipital hypertonicity and active trigger points in the upper trapezius and sternocleidomastoid that were referring pain exactly along the pattern she described -- starting at the base of the skull and pressing over the top toward her forehead. He needled the suboccipitals and upper trapezius in the first session. Her headache frequency dropped from three per week to one in the first two weeks. After four sessions she was down to one every ten to fourteen days. After six she went three weeks without any. Medication management had been addressing the symptom. Dry needling addressed the tissue generating it.
Why Dry Needling Works for Cervicogenic Headaches
The suboccipital muscles at the base of the skull are among the most frequently overlooked sources of chronic headache. They connect the upper cervical vertebrae to the base of the skull and become chronically hypertonic in people who sustain forward head posture for hours daily. The trigger points they develop refer pain directly over the head in a pattern identical to tension headache. The upper trapezius and levator scapulae develop trigger points that refer into the side of the head and the temple. The sternocleidomastoid refers into the forehead and behind the eye.
Dry needling these muscles with a thin monofilament needle elicits the local twitch response that releases the contraction. For patients whose headaches have a cervicogenic component, this is often the most direct and lasting intervention available. It does not require ongoing medication. It addresses the source.
Dry Needling vs. Acupuncture for Headaches at Full Swing
Both dry needling and acupuncture can help with headaches, and Dr. Muren performs both. Dry needling is the more targeted choice when the headache pattern clearly maps to specific cervical and suboccipital trigger points. Acupuncture may be the better choice when the headache has a strong systemic or stress-driven component, or when the pattern is more diffuse and migraine-like rather than purely cervicogenic. Dr. Muren assesses your specific pattern and recommends the appropriate approach at your first visit.
Insurance and Scheduling
We accept Florida Blue, United Healthcare, Humana, Cigna, Florida Medicaid, and VA benefits. Coverage for dry needling varies by plan. Call (904) 539-3352 to verify and schedule. 13770 Beach Blvd #4, Jacksonville FL 32224.