Patient: Wyatt, 30-year-old male, office worker
Date of Visit: 10/20/2020
Primary Complaint: Tension headaches

Patient History

Wyatt’s tension headaches began last November, initially triggered by wearing glasses, despite proper fit and prescription. The pain was achy, moderate, and experienced constantly (75–100% of the time), radiating into his arm.

Previous symptom management included:

• Medication
• Laying down
• Stretching
• Ice

Symptoms aggravated by: Heat

Pain ratings:

• Head: 6/10 (10 = incapacitated)
• Arm numbness: 3/10

Clinical Findings

• Cervical fixation: C1, C2 bilaterally
• Cervical hypertonic muscles: C1–C6 bilaterally
• Thoracic hypertonic muscles: T5–T9 bilaterally
• Thermographic study: Neuropathophysiology present

Patient-Reported Symptoms Before Care

“I was experiencing debilitating tension headaches, brain fog and exhaustion.”

“The headaches prevented me from doing so much. Working became much more difficult and even when I did work well for a while, staring at the computer and having a desk posture would just make things worse for after work.”

Previous Treatments Attempted

“Before coming to Atlas, I did everything I could possibly think of to combat the headaches. My primary care gave me medicine that made me drowsy and altered my resting heart rate. I saw a spinal specialist that took x-rays and MRIs that led to nothing. And that’s not to mention the money I spent on posture devices, PT, and even a new office chair trying to find relief.”

Treatment and Progress

• Wyatt received targeted upper cervical chiropractic care addressing cervical fixation, muscle hypertonicity, and nervous system dysfunction.
• Immediate relief was noted after the first session, with lasting improvements over subsequent visits.

Patient-Reported Outcomes

1. “I noticed improvement almost immediately after the first session. It took a few more sessions to have lasting relief but the immediate help was so encouraging.”
2. “I can finally get through a day without being hindered by a headache. I can work out again and socialize without concern for headaches slowing me down.”

Key Takeaways

• Personalized upper cervical care can rapidly reduce tension headache severity and associated symptoms like brain fog and exhaustion.
• Targeting cervical fixation and muscle hypertonicity can restore nervous system function and improve quality of life.
• Even patients who have tried multiple medications, physical therapy, and ergonomic interventions may experience significant relief with individualized chiropractic care.