Pain Condition
Headaches and Migraines
By Dr. Anthony J. Gordon, Doctor of Acupuncture | Last reviewed September 2026
Headaches have become part of your week. Some start in your neck and creep up over your head. Others arrive as full migraines that take out a day. Medication helps some, but not enough. Acupuncture is widely used for headache and migraine prevention, and neck and jaw trigger points are often part of the pattern.
Prefer to talk it through? Call (516) 597-5400. Most new patients are seen within one to two weeks.
Overview
Understanding Headaches and Migraines
The most common recurring headaches are tension-type headaches, which feel like a band or pressure around the head, cervicogenic headaches, which start in the neck and spread upward, and migraines, which are often one-sided and throbbing, with sensitivity to light and sound, nausea and sometimes aura. Many people have more than one type.
Neck and jaw muscles play a large role. Trigger points in the suboccipitals, upper trapezius, sternocleidomastoid, temporalis and masseter refer pain to the head and can trigger or intensify headaches, including migraines. Stress, poor sleep, posture and clenching feed the cycle. Acupuncture has been studied for headache and migraine prevention.
Your physician or neurologist should evaluate new or changing headaches and manage medication. Dr. Gordon treats the neck and jaw contributors and uses acupuncture aimed at reducing headache frequency and intensity.
Headaches and Migraines at a Glance
Common types
Tension-type, cervicogenic, migraine
Tension-type
Band-like pressure around the head
Cervicogenic
Starts in the neck and spreads up over the head
Migraine
Often throbbing and one-sided, with light and sound sensitivity or nausea
What Dr. Gordon addresses
Neck and jaw trigger points, headache frequency and intensity
The Gap in Care
What Tests Check, and What They Can Miss
Headaches are usually managed with medication. The neck and jaw muscle contributors are often left untreated.
What routine testing is looking for
- Serious causes such as bleeding or tumors
- Medication overuse headache
- Sleep disorders
- Vision and dental problems
What often keeps symptoms going
- Suboccipital and trapezius trigger points
- Sternocleidomastoid referral
- Jaw clenching and TMJ
- Neck joint stiffness
- Stress and posture
These are found with a hands-on neck and jaw assessment.
Signs & Symptoms
Does This Sound Like You?
Symptoms vary from person to person. These are the patterns Dr. Gordon sees most often.
Band-like pressure
Pressure around the head, typical of tension-type headaches.
Headaches starting in the neck
Pain starting at the base of the skull.
Throbbing one-sided pain
Typical of migraine.
Light and sound sensitivity
Sensitivity during headaches.
Nausea
Nausea with headaches.
Frequent headache days
Headaches several days a week.
Root Causes
The Four Drivers Dr. Gordon Looks For
Most people have more than one of these in play. Finding which one leads makes treatment more efficient.
Neck trigger points
Neck muscles refer pain to the head and can trigger headaches.
Jaw tension
Clenching and TMJ problems contribute to headaches.
Neck joint stiffness
Upper neck joints can drive cervicogenic headaches.
Stress and sleep
Stress and poor sleep lower the headache threshold.
Your First Visit
How Dr. Gordon Evaluates Headaches and Migraines
The initial evaluation runs 60 to 75 minutes. You leave with a clear picture of what is driving your symptoms, a written plan, a realistic timeline, and in most cases your first treatment.
Records and history review
Dr. Gordon reviews your headache history, triggers, medications, and any neurology or imaging findings.
Headache pattern review
Dr. Gordon identifies your headache types, frequency and triggers.
Neck assessment
Assessment of neck muscles and joints that refer pain to the head.
Jaw assessment
Dr. Gordon checks for clenching and jaw muscle trigger points.
Plan and coordination
A clear plan, plus communication with your physician, orthopedist or physical therapist when that helps your care.
When to see a physician first
- A sudden, severe headache, the worst of your life
- Headache with fever and a stiff neck
- Headache after a head injury
- New weakness, numbness, confusion, vision loss or trouble speaking
- A new headache pattern after age 50
- Headache that wakes you or steadily worsens over days or weeks
If you have any of these, contact your doctor or go to the nearest emergency department.
Bring to your first visit
Records
Recent lab results, imaging reports and specialist notes. These can also be faxed ahead.
Treatment history
A short list of what you have tried and what did or did not help.
Clothing
Something comfortable and loose fitting.
Treatment
How Dr. Gordon Treats It
These are the tools Dr. Gordon uses most often for headaches and migraines, chosen from your exam findings.
Primary approach
Orthopedic Dry Needling
Dr. Gordon has used dry needling for more than 18 years. Treatment releases neck and jaw trigger points that refer pain to the head and can trigger headaches.
See all servicesNerve focus
Neuro-Functional Acupuncture
Acupuncture protocols used for headache and migraine prevention, including electro-acupuncture.
See all servicesBetween visits
Headache Plan & Team Coordination
A headache diary, trigger and posture guidance, coordinated with your physician or neurologist.
Referring provider? Contact the clinicWhat to Expect
A Typical Recovery Arc
Visits 1 to 4
Identify patterns
Dr. Gordon treats the main drivers and tracks headache frequency and intensity.
Visits 5 to 8
Reduce frequency
Many people notice fewer and less severe headaches.
Maintenance
Stay ahead
Periodic visits help maintain gains, especially during stressful periods.
Most patients are seen weekly or every other week during active care. Individual results vary with how long symptoms have been present and how reactive they are. Progress is reassessed at every visit.
Not sure how to describe it? Put your pain or discomfort into words before your visit
"I was having aura migraines and my neurologist recommended accupuncture. I had never done acupuncture and was very nervous to try it out. ... I have been migraine free since starting accupuncture three weeks ago"
Kaitlin Erikson, Google Review
Headaches and Migraines Questions
Answers About Headaches and Migraines
Still unsure whether this is the right fit? Reach out before you book and Dr. Gordon will talk through your history with you.
Acupuncture has been studied for migraine prevention and is used alongside medical care. Results vary from person to person.
Yes. Neck trigger points are a common cause of tension-type and cervicogenic headaches.
No. Continue as prescribed and discuss any changes with your physician.
A sudden, severe headache, headache with fever and stiff neck, or with neurological symptoms needs immediate care.
Many people start with six to eight sessions and track results in a headache diary.
A simple log of headache days, intensity and triggers that helps measure progress.
Before You Book
General Questions
The clinic is an out-of-network practice. The initial evaluation is $300 and follow-up visits are $250. After each visit you receive a detailed superbill to submit to your PPO plan for possible reimbursement. FSA and HSA cards are accepted, and the clinic can run a complimentary benefits check before your first appointment. The check is a courtesy, so please confirm your coverage with your plan. See Insurance & Fees for details.
The first evaluation is 60 to 75 minutes and usually includes treatment. Follow-up visits run 45 to 60 minutes.
Yes. Call (516) 597-5400 or send a message through the contact page. This is especially helpful if your case is complex and you want to understand the approach before committing to a full evaluation.
1508 Union Turnpike, Suite 133, North New Hyde Park, NY 11040, with free parking on site. The clinic is an easy drive from Manhasset, Great Neck, Garden City, Lake Success, Floral Park and Mineola. Early morning, evening and weekend hours are available.
Most people feel a quick muscle twitch or a deep ache that lasts a few seconds. That twitch is a normal sign the trigger point is releasing. Mild soreness for 24 to 48 hours afterward, similar to a hard workout, is common. Depth, angle and stimulation are adjusted to your comfort.
Both use the same fine, sterile, single-use needles. Dry needling targets specific trigger points and tight bands in muscle based on your exam. Neuro-functional acupuncture targets nerve pathways, often with gentle electrical stimulation, to calm nerve sensitivity. For headaches and migraines, Dr. Gordon commonly uses both.
When performed by a trained, licensed provider with detailed knowledge of anatomy, it has a strong safety record. Tell Dr. Gordon if you take blood thinners, have a bleeding disorder, are pregnant or have a weakened immune system so he can plan accordingly.
About Dr. Anthony J. Gordon
Dr. Anthony J. Gordon is a Doctor of Acupuncture licensed in New York and board certified. He holds ASE certification in intrapelvic and extrapelvic dry needling, along with advanced certifications in Functional Dry Needling and Neuro-Functional Acupuncture. With more than 18 years of clinical experience and over 3,000 complex cases treated, he focuses on pelvic, spinal and orthopedic conditions that have not responded to standard care, and works closely with each patient's physicians and physical therapists.
Read Dr. Gordon's full bioFurther Reading
Desk Work, Neck Tension and Headaches: The Muscles Behind It
From the blog: Hours at a desk or on a phone load a few neck and shoulder muscles. How trigger points there can cause headaches, and simple desk changes that can help.
What Is a Silent Migraine? Migraine Without the Headache
From the blog: A silent migraine is a migraine aura with no headache after it. What it looks like, how it differs from a stroke warning, and what research says on prevention.
Book an Evaluation for Headaches and Migraines
Book a full evaluation with Dr. Gordon and address the drivers behind your headaches.
Early morning, evening and weekend appointments available. Free on-site parking.
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