In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves breaks down a question many people ask after years of suffering: What is a migraine — and why does the definition matter?

Dr. Taves explains how migraines are diagnosed in today’s healthcare system, what symptoms typically qualify someone for a migraine label, and why migraine is often categorized as a primary headache—meaning it’s treated as something with no clear cause and managed mainly with medication. 

He also explores why that model can be limiting for patients who want long-term improvement, and why focusing only on the diagnosis can prevent deeper investigation into what may be driving symptoms like head pain, nausea, light/sound sensitivity, and neurological changes. 

This episode challenges common assumptions about migraines and offers a hopeful perspective: if symptoms have an underlying cause, they may be more treatable than most people realize. 

Novera: Headache Center

If you’ve tried everything for headaches or migraines and still feel stuck, this episode is for you.

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves explains why evaluating both the neck and shoulders is critical for long-term headache and migraine relief—and why so many treatment approaches fall short.

You’ll learn why the upper neck (C1–C3) is the most common source of head and facial pain, how restoring movement—not just reducing inflammation—can calm pain signals, and why focusing only on imaging, injections, or alignment often leads to short-term or incomplete results.

Dr. Taves also breaks down how shoulder dysfunction can pull the neck back into tension, triggering recurring headaches and migraines, even after initial relief. This episode walks through the clinical reasoning behind addressing the neck first for pain reduction, then the shoulders for lasting results—so you can move away from constant flare-ups and dependence on medication.

If you’re tired of chasing symptoms and want a clearer path forward, this episode provides a framework for understanding what’s really driving your headaches and migraines.

Novera: Headache Center

In this episode, Dr. Jono Taves breaks down the most common headache and migraine relief tools people buy for home use—especially around the holidays. From ice caps and nerve stimulation devices to neck massagers, traction units, and specialty pillows, he explains how each category works, what kind of relief it can realistically provide, and where its limitations lie.

Dr. Taves organizes these tools into clear categories, helping listeners understand which devices temporarily reduce pain signals, which relax muscles, and which may actually support better neck function. He also shares his professional recommendations based on treating thousands of headache and migraine patients, emphasizing an important takeaway: while many tools can be helpful, most do not address the root cause of recurring headaches.

This episode is designed to help you spend your money wisely, set realistic expectations, and understand how at-home tools fit into a bigger, long-term solution for headaches and migraines.

Novera: Headache Center

Many people with migraines are told their symptoms are purely neurological and must be managed long-term with medication. In this episode, Dr. Taves explains why that model often leaves patients trapped in a cycle of trial-and-error prescriptions without clear answers. He shares the clinical pattern that changed his entire perspective: again and again, patients formally diagnosed with migraines experienced real improvement when restrictions in the upper cervical spine were identified and treated through specialized physical therapy.

Dr. Taves breaks down how the upper neck (from the base of the skull through about C3) can refer pain into the head and face and create symptoms that look exactly like classic migraine. He explains why standard imaging and routine medical exams frequently miss these issues — because they don’t test true upper-cervical function or motion.

You’ll learn why migraines often “start in the neck,” how to think about root cause versus symptom management, and why restoring normal joint movement in the upper cervical spine can be a reliable, medication-free path toward lasting relief for many headache and migraine sufferers.

Novera: Headache Center

If you’ve been dealing with headaches or migraines and still haven’t started treatment, you’re not alone — and there are clear reasons why. In this episode, Dr. Taves breaks down 7 of the most common barriers that keep people stuck, like waiting for the next medication to work, feeling like it’s “not a good time,” trying to pinpoint triggers first, or being told it’s not a neck issue.

He explains why symptom-management thinking delays real recovery, how migraines quietly steal your time and energy, and why taking action sooner often makes the path forward simpler. You’ll leave with a clearer view of what’s holding you back — and how to move toward lasting relief with confidence.

Novera: Headache Center

In this powerful episode, Dr. Taves sits down with award-winning film composer Grant Fonda, who spent more than 20 years living with daily headaches, severe fatigue, numbness, and symptoms so alarming they led to emergency hospital visits and a diagnosis of “complex migraines.” Providers offered medications, expensive lifelong drugs, and limited answers — but no solutions.

Grant shares the turning point that brought him to Novera: Headache Center, the surprising root cause behind his symptoms, and how targeted neck-focused treatment dramatically improved his sleep, pain, headaches, brain fog, and overall health — leaving him feeling the best he has in decades.

This conversation is filled with hope, clarity, and a reminder that life-changing relief is possible, even after years of suffering.

Novera: Headache Center

In this episode, Dr. Taves and Dr. Sarah Thomas explore how GLP-1 weight loss drugs—such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro—may influence headaches and migraines. They break down how these medications work in the body, how blood sugar stability impacts migraine symptoms, and why some people notice improvement while others experience worsening headaches.

They also discuss an important but often overlooked consideration: even if GLP-1 medications help with weight loss or migraine symptoms, there may be other factors to think about before relying on them long-term. From side effects to the difference between symptom management and addressing the root cause, this episode helps listeners understand the full picture so they can make informed decisions.

Novera: Headache Center

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves dives into the surprising connection between tinnitus (ear ringing) and the neck. Many people are told their tinnitus is purely an ear problem — but for some, the root cause is actually mechanical and related to the upper cervical spine—the neck.

You’ll learn:

• How to identify if your tinnitus changes when you move your neck or jaw
• The difference between ear-based tinnitus and somatic tinnitus
• Why muscle tension, joint stiffness, or previous whiplash injuries can influence ear ringing
• How posture and neck mobility affect the nerves that connect to the ear
• Simple steps you can take to reduce ringing naturally

If your tinnitus seems to come and go — or changes when you move — this episode will help you understand why and what you can do about it.

Learn more or schedule a free discovery visit:

Novera: Headache Center

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves explores how issues with the jaw and airway can contribute to headaches and migraines. He breaks down how restricted breathing, muscle tension, and misalignment in the jaw and neck can impact the entire headache system — and why these problems often go undiagnosed.

Listeners will learn how airway obstruction and jaw tension can affect oxygen flow, stress responses, and nerve sensitivity, all of which may increase headache frequency and intensity. Dr. Taves also shares practical insights on how to identify if jaw or airway dysfunction could be at the root of your headaches and what can be done to address it.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your jaw pain or nighttime breathing issues could be linked to your migraines, this episode is a must-listen.

Novera: Headache Center

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves breaks down why heat can trigger headaches and migraines — whether it’s from exercising on a hot day, sitting in the sun, or just raising your body temperature.

He explains how increased intracranial pressure, blood flow changes, dehydration, and stress on the neck and shoulders can combine to push your system past its threshold. You’ll learn:

 🌡️ Why heat and exercise often trigger migraines
 💧 How hydration and electrolytes really factor in
 💪 The surprising connection between the neck, jaw, and shoulders and heat sensitivity
 🧘 Practical tips for reducing risk — from warm-up strategies to movement habits that build tolerance

The key message: your headaches aren’t random — and avoiding heat isn’t the only answer. Once you address the underlying neck problem, your body can handle more without pain.

Novera: Headache Center