Are Neck Pain and Sinus Pain Related? The Connection Most People Miss
If you’ve been blaming your sinuses for that pressure behind your eyes, the ache in your temples, or the pounding across your forehead — you might be chasing the wrong problem.
At Slovin Chiropractic Center in Norwalk, CT, we see this all the time. Someone comes in saying, “My sinuses are killing me.” But after a proper exam, the real culprit isn’t congestion or infection — it’s their neck.
Let’s unpack what’s really going on and why your “sinus pain” might be coming from somewhere entirely different.
The Sinus Myth
It’s easy to assume pressure in your face equals a sinus problem. But research tells a different story. According to the American Migraine Foundation, nearly 90% of what people call “sinus headaches” are actually migraines.
Another study found that more than 80% of patients diagnosed with chronic sinusitis actually had migraines instead. That’s a staggering number of people taking decongestants, antibiotics, and nasal sprays for pain that’s not sinus-related at all.
If your “sinus” pain also comes with nausea, light sensitivity, or a throbbing, one-sided headache — chances are high you’re dealing with a migraine, not sinus pressure.
How the Neck Creates “Sinus” Pain
Here’s where things get interesting. Your upper neck (the top three vertebrae) shares nerve pathways with the trigeminal nerve — the same nerve that sends signals to your face, forehead, eyes, and sinuses.
When those neck joints are restricted or irritated, they can refer pain along those shared pathways. The result? Facial pressure, forehead pain, or eye strain that feels exactly like a sinus issue.
Even your muscles can fake sinus pain. Tightness in the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) — that big muscle that runs along the side of your neck — can send pain to your cheekbones, temples, and eyes. Many patients with “sinus headaches” actually have SCM trigger points or upper cervical tension driving the problem.
Can Sinus Problems Cause Neck Pain?
Occasionally, yes — but it’s rare. A true sinus infection, especially one involving the sphenoid sinus (deep behind the nose), can cause discomfort that radiates into the upper neck.
If you’ve got a fever, thick discolored nasal discharge, loss of smell, or pain that worsens when you lean forward, it could be sinus-related. In that case, your first stop should be your primary care doctor or an ENT.
But if you’ve had recurring “sinus” pressure for months with no infection, and especially if your neck feels tight or your pain gets worse when you turn your head, the issue is probably musculoskeletal — not sinus.
What We Look For at Slovin Chiropractic Center
At Slovin Chiropractic Center in Norwalk, we don’t guess. We examine.
When a patient comes in with facial or sinus-type pain, here’s what we look at:
1. A detailed history.
We ask about triggers, timing, posture, sleep position, and any associated symptoms. Pain that worsens with posture or neck movement tells us we may be looking at a cervical cause.
2. Targeted examination.
We assess motion in the upper cervical spine and check for trigger points in the neck and shoulders that could refer pain to the face. We also look for nerve irritation patterns that match your symptoms.
3. Clear differentiation.
If your symptoms suggest a sinus infection, migraine, or another medical condition, we coordinate with your other doctors. But if your pain pattern lines up with cervical dysfunction, that’s where we focus.
Treatment That Actually Works
Once we confirm the neck is the true source, treatment becomes straightforward — and effective.
- Chiropractic adjustments restore normal motion to the joints in your neck, relieving pressure on nerves that refer pain to the face.
- Myofascial release and trigger point therapy target muscles like the SCM that mimic sinus pressure.
- Posture and ergonomic training help you stop recreating the problem at your desk or while sleeping.
- Home exercises reinforce proper neck stability so the relief actually lasts.
Many of our Norwalk patients notice that the “sinus” pressure they’ve had for years suddenly disappears — not because we treated their sinuses, but because we treated the real cause: their neck.
The Bottom Line
Neck pain and sinus pain can absolutely be related — but most of the time, the connection is misunderstood.
If your “sinus” pain keeps coming back, doesn’t respond to medication, or flares up with neck movement or posture, it’s worth having your cervical spine evaluated.
At Slovin Chiropractic Center, we specialize in identifying the true source of your pain and giving you a clear, personalized plan to fix it — not mask it.
Because once your neck moves the way it’s supposed to, that heavy facial pressure and pounding headache often fade with it.
