Sometimes headaches aren’t just “headaches.” Small sensory nerves in the scalp and neck can become irritated or compressed. When that happens, those nerves repeatedly send pain signals to the brain, which can trigger chronic headaches or migraines.

Many patients we see have already tried medications, injections, or other migraine treatments. Neurologists are experts in medical migraine care, but if a specific nerve is driving the pain, evaluating the nerves themselves may open the door to other treatment options.

Patients often describe nerve-related headaches as sharp, burning, or starting in a very specific spot in the scalp or neck. That pattern can sometimes suggest irritation of a specific nerve rather than a typical migraine process.

For certain patients, it can. If we can identify the nerve responsible for the pain — often confirmed with diagnostic injections — surgical treatment of that nerve may significantly reduce headache frequency and severity.

Whiplash injuries can stretch or irritate nerves in the neck. Even after the muscles heal, those nerves may remain sensitive, which can lead to persistent headaches months or years after the original injury.