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

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves takes listeners on a fascinating journey through history — exploring how habits like toothbrushing and hand washing became universal health practices, and why head and neck movement should be viewed the same way.

Using examples from dental hygiene and early medicine, Dr. Taves explains how simple, overlooked solutions — like brushing your teeth or washing your hands — transformed public health. He draws a powerful parallel to headaches and migraines, showing that regular movement and neck care could be the next major shift in preventive health.

Listeners will learn why our modern, sedentary lifestyles are creating “neck cavities,” and how small, consistent movement habits can prevent chronic pain, much like daily brushing prevents tooth decay.

Dr. Taves challenges us to rethink our approach to health: what if the key to long-term headache and migraine relief isn’t a new medication, but a new daily habit?

Novera: Headache Center

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves breaks down his proven Three Spoke Framework — a simple but powerful way to understand and treat nearly every type of headache and migraine.

He explains that while headaches can present in many confusing ways — from tension and hormonal migraines to aura, dizziness, or neck pain — most cases fit into three key categories:

1. Mechanical causes – Issues in the neck, jaw, or shoulders that send pain signals into the head.
   
   
2. Developmental factors – Airway, dental, or postural issues that affect how the body functions over time.
   
   
3. Systemic influences – Hormones, gut health, stress, and inflammation that lower the body’s pain threshold.

Dr. Taves discusses how understanding these three categories helps identify the true source of pain and create a personalized, medication-free path to lasting relief. He emphasizes that most patients are not outliers — and with the right framework, long-term improvement is possible.

Novera: Headache Center

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves explores why some patients fail to find lasting relief from headaches and migraines—even when they have access to the right treatment. Drawing from years of clinical experience, he explains how recovery often depends less on quick fixes and more on mindset, consistency, and trust in the healing process.

Dr. Taves highlights three major barriers that can keep patients from improving:

1. A short-term mindset — expecting immediate results instead of long-term progress.
   
   
2. A passive approach — wanting a provider to “fix” the problem without making lifestyle changes.
   
   
3. Excessive skepticism — being too critical to fully engage in the treatment process.
   
   

He compares true healing to building healthy habits—like brushing and flossing your teeth or exercising over time. Success, he says, comes from patience, persistence, and a willingness to take ownership of your health.

This episode helps listeners recognize the traits of a good candidate for migraine treatment and how to overcome the habits and attitudes that may be holding them back.

Novera: Headache Center

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves helps listeners identify whether their headaches or migraines might actually be rooted in the neck. He introduces a simple 12-question quiz designed to uncover the connection between neck issues and head pain.

Dr. Taves walks through key signs to look for—such as relief from chiropractic treatment, history of neck injury, posture habits, or pain that follows a “ram’s horn” pattern. He also explains how everyday factors like desk jobs, stomach sleeping, and even sinus pressure may point to the neck as the true source of symptoms.

Listeners will leave with practical insight into how to self-assess their situation and why addressing the neck can be the missing link to lasting relief. This quiz offers clarity for anyone who has wondered: “Is it really my neck?”

Novera: Headache Center

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves explores the confusing and often frightening world of atypical migraines. Unlike classic migraines—characterized by one-sided throbbing head pain and light or sound sensitivity—atypical migraines show up in unexpected ways, including:

• Visual disturbances and aura
• Numbness, tingling, or weakness
• Stroke-like symptoms such as facial drooping
• Brain fog, dizziness, or fatigue

Dr. Taves explains how the healthcare system typically treats atypical migraines as a “diagnosis of exclusion,” offering only medications to manage symptoms rather than addressing root causes. He emphasizes that many of these unusual migraine presentations stem from problems in the upper neck, which can confuse the brain’s pain-processing pathways and create a wide variety of neurological symptoms.

Listeners will learn why traditional imaging often misses the true problem, how the brain can misinterpret pain signals, and why focusing on neck movement and function can be key to finding lasting relief. Dr. Taves encourages patients not to settle for symptom management but to seek out a framework that addresses the underlying cause of their migraines.

Novera: Headache Center

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves breaks down the complex world of vestibular migraines—a diagnosis often given when dizziness can’t be explained by ear, eye, or neurological tests. He explains why vestibular migraines are considered a “diagnosis of exclusion,” what symptoms patients may experience (from spinning vertigo to low-grade dizziness and nausea), and why medication-based approaches often fall short.

Listeners will learn how dizziness connects to three key systems in the body:

• Vestibular system (inner ear) – regulating balance and movement.
• Visual system (eyes) – how vision therapy may play a role.
• Proprioceptive system (neck) – the often-overlooked source of chronic dizziness and migraines.

Dr. Taves highlights why the neck is frequently the missing link in diagnosis and recovery, and how restoring movement, reducing tension, and retraining the body can help break the cycle of dizziness and headaches. He also shares Novera’s treatment framework for vestibular migraine, designed to address root causes instead of just masking symptoms with medication.

Whether you’ve just been diagnosed or are searching for answers after years of dizziness, this episode offers clarity, practical next steps, and hope for long-term relief.

Novera: Headache Center

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves breaks down what it means to be diagnosed with “military neck”—a reduced or flattened curvature in the cervical spine. He explains how posture, tight muscles, and movement patterns contribute to this condition and why focusing on symptoms and movement (rather than perfect alignment) is the key to relief.

Listeners will learn how issues in the low back and mid-back affect the neck, why accessory muscles in the shoulders and neck often become overloaded, and how this leads to headaches and migraines. Dr. Taves also shares practical strategies like lumbar support, lat stretches, and chin tucks, along with how tools like the SAM device can help restore normal movement and reduce tension.

The message is clear: military neck is not a hopeless diagnosis. With the right approach, you can reduce headaches, improve mobility, and move forward with confidence.

Novera: Headache Center