The Hidden Cause of Your Headaches with Dr. Jono Taves

In this eye-opening episode of the SuperSelf Podcast Series, Pete Ferrari sits down with Dr. Jono Taves, Mayo Clinic-trained physical therapist and founder of the Novera Headache Center, to challenge the way chronic headaches and migraines are commonly understood and treated. For many people, the path looks familiar: headaches become frequent, a migraine diagnosis follows, and the next step is another medication designed to reduce or prevent the symptoms. But Jono asks a different question: *Where is the pain actually coming from?* Drawing on his work with complex headache and migraine patients, Jono explains why problems involving the upper neck, shoulders, jaw, posture, movement, and even breathing mechanics can contribute to head and facial pain. Rather than looking only at the headache itself, his approach examines the entire system surrounding it. Pete and Jono explore why imaging such as MRIs and X-rays may not always tell the full story, how seemingly harmless daily habits can accumulate into mechanical stress, and why someone does not need a dramatic injury for their neck to become part of the problem. From migraine and tension headaches to cervicogenic headaches, sleep position, mouth breathing, exercise, nutrition, medication use, and patient self-advocacy, this conversation is about moving beyond symptom management and becoming more curious about the reason your body is hurting in the first place. This is not about ignoring conventional medicine or pretending every headache has the same cause. It is about asking a better question before accepting that chronic pain is simply something you have to live with. **Episode Highlights:** - 07:54 – Why athletes may develop headaches after exceeding their body’s load tolerance - 18:00 – Preventative versus abortive migraine medications and the problem with relying only on symptom management - 30:10 – How overall health can change your body’s tolerance for a local source of pain - 40:43 – Why joints that stop moving well can become irritated and painful - 52:28 – When should someone start looking beyond medication for answers? **Key Takeaways:** - A diagnosis describes your symptoms, but it may not explain their source. - The neck may deserve more attention in chronic headache cases. - Normal imaging does not automatically mean normal function. - You do not need a dramatic injury to develop a mechanical problem. - Pain is information. Rather than immediately treating pain as something that must be silenced, ask what the pain might be communicating about how your body is moving and tolerating stress. **About the Guest:** Dr. Jono Taves is a Mayo Clinic-trained physical therapist and the founder of Novera Headache Center, a practice focused on evaluating and treating complicated headache and migraine cases. His work centers on identifying potential mechanical and structural contributors to chronic head and facial pain, particularly dysfunction involving the neck, shoulders, and jaw. Through Novera, Jono works with patients who often arrive after years of medications, imaging, specialist appointments, and persistent symptoms without a clear explanation for why their headaches continue. His approach combines hands-on manual therapy, movement restoration, lifestyle assessment, patient education, and collaboration with other healthcare professionals when broader health factors need to be addressed. Jono is also the creator of The Headache Doctor, where he shares educational content about headaches, migraines, neck-related pain, and root-cause-focused care through podcasts and social media. Connect with Dr. Jono Taves: - Website - Facebook - Instagram - YouTube *This episode is brought to you by Jaca Rare Sugar.* Jaca is a revolutionary, rare sugar called allulose with 0 net carbs, 0 glycemic index (diabetic & keto friendly), and 90% fewer calories than sugar. Jaca tastes, cooks and bakes like old school sugar with none of the harmful effects.  www.jacasugar.com