If you’ve dealt with persistent sinus pressure or “sinus headaches,” you’ve probably tried everything from allergy medication to antibiotics—sometimes even invasive procedures. And yet, the pressure lingers. Many people assume this pain must be coming from the sinuses themselves. But there’s a surprising and often overlooked truth: the problem could actually be in your neck.
Why Sinus Pain Isn’t Always From the Sinuses
In the traditional healthcare model, ongoing sinus pressure sends patients to an ENT. Imaging might reveal mild inflammation, a deviated septum, or other irregularities—findings that can exist in perfectly healthy people without headaches. These findings often lead to treatment, but relief is inconsistent. That’s because the true cause of sinus pain isn’t always in the sinuses at all.
The neck can refer pain into the sinus region through a process called referred pain. Sensory signals from the neck meet sensory signals from the face and sinuses at the brainstem. The brain sometimes misreads neck pain as coming from the sinuses, creating that familiar ache or pressure—even if the sinuses are perfectly healthy.
How Neck Tension Directly Impacts Sinus Function
Neck and jaw tension can do more than just mimic sinus pain—they can physically disrupt the way your sinuses drain and regulate pressure. This can cause congestion, hypersensitivity to seasonal changes, and lingering sinus pressure. At Novera Headache Center, patients often notice sinus drainage during treatment sessions focused solely on the neck and jaw, even without direct sinus work.
The Clues It’s a Neck-Related “Sinus Headache”
Neck-related sinus pain often:
-
Persists for months or years
-
Appears alongside headaches or migraines
-
Worsens with seasonal changes or weather shifts
-
Fails to resolve fully after antibiotics or allergy treatments
If your “sinus headache” has been hanging around well past any cold or flu—and especially if you also deal with neck issues—it’s worth considering that your neck could be the real culprit.
A More Conservative, Effective First Step
Rather than starting with invasive sinus procedures, it’s wise to rule out neck involvement. Skilled physical therapy that restores mobility and reduces tension in the neck and jaw can not only ease sinus pressure but also improve overall headache and migraine symptoms.
Patients at Novera frequently find that when the neck is addressed, the sinus pain that plagued them for years simply disappears. This approach isn’t just about symptom relief—it’s about solving the root cause.
Bottom line: Don’t automatically separate your sinus headaches from your migraines or neck pain. They could all be connected—and the connection might just be the key to lasting relief.
