In my 15-plus years of practice, I’ve had the privilege of helping many people find lasting relief from lifelong headaches. My interest in this area is personal. My mother suffered from severe migraines for years following a traumatic car accident. When I was an infant, the mayor’s wife of our town—driving under the influence—T-boned my parents' car one fateful night, sending them into a ditch. They survived, thank God, but that night marked the beginning of my mother’s chronic migraines.

Growing up, I saw firsthand how debilitating headaches could be. My mother was often in complete misery. She tried every type of medication, but the results were dismal. Most either didn’t work at all, left her groggy and low-functioning, or completely knocked her out. Triptan medications helped somewhat when taken early—but they brought their own set of harsh side effects.

While the origin of her headaches was clearly physical trauma—she’d struck her head on the passenger window—another pattern became apparent: her migraines worsened around menstruation. They grew more frequent, more intense, and less responsive to medication. This hormonal link is something I’ve seen again and again in my Functional Medicine career. Most people with severe headaches are dealing with multiple contributing factors.

While I was in chiropractic school, I began working with my mother and uncovered several muscular issues in her neck, shoulders—and surprisingly—even her lower back. With care, her headaches improved by 95 percent. They became rare, much less intense, and more manageable overall.

Her lower back was a key piece of the puzzle. As an endodontist (a root canal dentist), my mom spent years hunched over patients. The entire left side of her low back was a tight, knotted rope of muscle—from the lumbar spine all the way up through the shoulder and neck. Though it may seem unrelated, this chain of tension was a major contributor to her pain.

One of the most important lessons from her case is this: I never assume the source of pain lies where it hurts. Had I done that, we might never have made progress. That said, not everyone with headaches has related lower back issues. There are many potential contributors—muscle tension, blood flow restriction, spinal misalignments, hormonal imbalance, digestive dysfunction, liver stress, adrenal fatigue, shoulder issues—the list goes on.

What’s essential is identifying and addressing all contributing factors simultaneously. At Pollack Wellness, we’ve helped countless patients finally experience real relief—often without relying on medications.

If you’re dealing with chronic headaches, know that healing is possible. With the right support and a holistic approach, you can get your life back.

Dr. David L. Pollack is the founder of Pollack Wellness, located at 66 Commack Rd., #204, Commack, NY. For appointments or information, call 631-462-0801 or visit PollackWellness.com.