Headache tests and diagnostic assessments are an essential part of finding answers if you’re stuck dealing with chronic symptoms. And if you’ve lived with chronic headaches long enough, you know the cycle of having symptoms, finding short-term fixes, and back to square one.
At The Neural Connection, we understand that your pain isn’t “just a headache.” It’s a message from your nervous system telling you that something isn’t right.
Our integrative treatment approaches differ from the rest because, instead of chasing symptoms, we take the time to investigate the whole picture to address the root causes. Clinically, we often find that headaches are caused by multiple underlying issues that, when individually addressed, can make a big difference in treatment outcomes.
Through our personalized in-office headache tests and bedside examinations, we aim to uncover what’s really driving your symptoms and build a path forward that works for you. We believe true healing starts with understanding, for both the provider and the patient.
The Differences Between a Single Headache Test and Integrative Diagnostic Testing
Unlike conventional care, which often focuses on managing symptoms and trial and error with medications, our personalized headache tests and assessments include a comprehensive evaluation of your brain, body, and nutritional status. We look at how multiple systems—like your vision, balance, neck mobility, and nervous system regulation—might be contributing to your headaches and chronic pain.
Our goal isn’t to mask symptoms with a pill. At The Neural Connection, we focus on understanding and uncovering:
- How your headaches started (and what’s kept them going)
- Where compensations may be hiding and causing prolonged symptoms
- What the brain and central nervous system are (or aren’t) doing
- Why you haven’t found adequate treatment options so far
- And how to manage your symptoms at home with a personalized treatment plan
We combine clinical neuroscience with individualized care and compassionate listening to identify patterns that traditional medical testing often overlooks. Not because we think it’s easy, but because it’s the only combination we’ve found that actually helps patients get better.
Using Multiple Headache Tests to Determine The Root Causes of Symptoms
Many patients arrive at our clinic frustrated by how often they’ve been told “everything looks normal” on MRIs and CTs.
The truth?
A majority of headaches and migraines don’t show up on scans or diagnostic testing, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing wrong. Headaches can be driven by multiple factors, such as:
- Neck tension or whiplash injury
- Vestibular (inner ear) dysfunction
- Visual processing issues or eye strain
- Autonomic nervous system imbalance (like post-concussion dysregulation)
- Stress or trauma stored in the body
Because these systems are interconnected, a narrow-minded approach often misses the real issues at hand. More importantly, by the time patients find us, they’ve tried all of the traditional avenues of care, with little to no change in their symptoms.
At The Neural Connection, we treat your headache as a global brain and body event, not just a symptom. It’s at this crossroads where we find solutions for most patients’ chronic symptoms.
What to Expect During Your Initial Visit(s) at Our Office
Your initial evaluation with us is more than a standardized checklist. We spend 90 minutes doing a deep dive into your health history, previous treatments, and getting to know you. We understand that you’re not defined by your diagnosis and value building a trusting relationship to establish clear expectations and foster trust.
Our intake is a collaborative process that allows you to share your story and helps us understand how your systems are (or aren’t) functioning together.
Here’s what it typically includes:
In-Depth History Assessment(s)
During our intake process, we spend time asking you about your history, symptoms, and concerns about your situation. We also review previous labs, tests, and treatments with other providers to understand what has and hasn’t worked in the past. This allows us to gain a better understanding of what you may need moving forward and helps establish expectations for treatment.
Functional Testing & Neurological Examinations
During our in-depth examinations, we assess your visual, vestibular (inner ear), cervical (neck), and postural systems to see how well they integrate. We often find that performing multiple types of headache tests and diagnostic assessments can provide a lot of value, as every headache is different from the next.
By understanding the connections between the hardware (“the body”) and software (“the brain”), we have been able to help a lot of people who haven’t gotten help with traditional forms of care.
Metabolic Blood Analysis & Interpretation
While most headache tests and assessments involve structural examinations, there’s a plethora of evidence to support the notion that headaches can also be metabolic and inflammation-based in nature. Sadly, most providers look at headaches as a structural issue and rarely look at underlying digestive or dietary causes for symptoms. By looking under the hood to assess additional risk factors, we have discovered a range of additional options to help people find solutions for their symptoms.
Building a Roadmap of Treatment & Integration with Other Providers
Headache tests, in isolation, rarely provide enough detail and information to make a difference. It’s the integration of all these previously mentioned systems that will move the needle and help you find solutions for your chronic headaches.
Once we establish a plan of care, our goal is to ensure results as quickly as possible, while also taking time to teach and educate our patients on how to take care of themselves. We often find that communicating with other providers can keep everyone accountable and provide a greater quality of care over time, which is why we’re so keen on building those relationships.
At The Neural Connection, we won’t just leave you with a diagnosis’ You’ll walk out of the office with a deeper understanding of your conditions and a north star to follow moving forward.
How Our Integrative Headache Tests & Evaluations Lead to Better Outcomes
Because we understand that no two headaches are the same, your care plan is never pre-written. Based on your headache tests and diagnostic workups, we may recommend an array of personalized treatments and therapies, such as:
- Vestibular therapy to recalibrate balance and motion sensitivity, which are often underlying causes of persistent headache symptoms.
- Visual retraining and therapy can often reduce eye strain or visual overwhelm. This is especially true for those patients who always have tension at the base of their skull that wraps around their forehead and causes aching pain in the eyes.
- Manual therapies and movement re-education for neck and body dysfunction, which are often an essential part of headache management and pain relief. Movement retraining can look like many things, but it usually involves therapies and rehabilitation to support the spine and associated structures.
- Neurologic integration exercises to calm an overactive autonomic nervous system and ensure all systems are working together. Chronic stress and increased sympathetic tone can trigger neurological cascades of inflammation, which can promote headaches and pain. It’s essential to get these systems to balance and remain in tandem.
We design each treatment plan to address root causes, not just manage your flare-ups. Many of our patients report progress after years of being stuck, as they finally feel understood, supported, and aligned with a personalized plan moving forward.
Check out our 115+ 5-Star Google Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ to see what our patients say about us!
You Deserve an Integrative Approach to Finding Relief
At The Neural Connection, we believe persistent headaches deserve more than a “watch and wait” strategy. Our headache testing and diagnostic working protocol was designed to understand your unique story, identify the neurologic drivers behind your pain, and guide you with clarity and compassion.
Whether you’ve recently started having symptoms or you’ve “tried everything,” we’re here to help.
Contact us today for a consultation focused on functional recovery and building your personalized treatment plan for finding relief.
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*Note: The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute a doctor-patient relationship. Patients should consult their medical provider or primary care physician before trying any remedies or therapies at home.
