Cervicogenic Headaches: How Your Neck May Be Triggering Your Head Pain
Your source of headache could be in your neck, and here’s why.
The idea that headache or head pain may originate from a problem in the neck or cervical spine has long fascinated scientists and clinicians. However, due to a lack of distinct indicative signs for specific types of headaches, cervicogenic headaches have often been confused with migraines without aura or tension-type headaches.
Cervicogenic headache is essentially head pain stemming from neck or cervical spine issues. It is thought to be referred pain caused by irritation of cervical spine or neck structures, particularly involving the C1, C2, and C3 spinal nerves. Many people complain of neck stiffness and pain at the base of the skull that radiates toward the top of the head (usually staying on one side) and forward or into the temporal region. This type of head pain is typically aggravated by neck movements such as turning the head to the sides or bending it backward (extension).
History of this Head Pain
The term ‘cervicogenic headache’ was first published as a distinctive diagnostic disorder in 1983. Many clinicians and scientists have long known that problems in the cervical spine and neck can cause issues in other parts of the body. When the cervical spine problems involve neurological complications, the quality of life can be debilitating.
The challenge with headaches is that they lack distinctive diagnostic indicators for specific types, such as migraines without aura or tension-type headaches. While the symptoms have been somewhat vague, it’s been recognized that these types of headaches often bring other symptoms. These may include visual disturbances, tinnitus, postural instability, and pressure or pain in the eye on the same side as the headache.
In the early era of research, scientists used anesthetic nerve blocks at specific areas where spinal roots emerge between each segment of the spine. For instance, they injected nerve blocks at the spinal roots between C2-C3, C3-C4, C5-C6, and so on. This method allowed them to distinguish which nerve roots affected various body parts. Nerve blocks, or nerve ablation, are still used as one solution for headaches.
A notable example is the headache involving the greater occipital nerve, known as occipital neuralgia. Many studies have reported that blocking the greater occipital nerve appears to alleviate headaches due to these issues.
Common Symptoms Related to Cervical Spine Issues
Understanding the role of the cervical spine is essential because it can potentially play a contributory or causative role in neurological complications throughout the body. Headaches are one of the most common nervous system disorders, and they often involve associated symptoms such as visual disturbances, postural instability, dizziness, and sometimes ringing in the ears (tinnitus). Other common signs and symptoms that stem from cervical spine problems include arm pain, elbow pain, shoulder pain, scapular pain, and head pain.
What Are the Causes?
There can be many possible causes of headaches due to cervical spine issues. Sustaining head and neck trauma, such as whiplash or injuries from car accidents, can result in chronic headaches. Unstable neck structures can irritate the joints and tissues surrounding the cervical spine, leading to health problems. Poor cervical spine alignment, abnormal curvature, and degenerative changes can also contribute to neck joint irritation.
If someone is suffering from chronic headache issues, it’s very unlikely to be due to a fracture or tumor. Most patients with persistent headaches are often referred to neurologists or ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) doctors, and they have likely been cleared for tumors or foreign bodies through MRI brain scans. However, it’s always wise to rule them out if they are suspected to be the cause of your health problem. While it’s possible for headaches to be caused by these more serious conditions, most patients would have discovered such issues due to acute trauma or injury at the time of the event.
NUCCA Chiropractic – A Unique Solution
For individuals with cervical spine problems, particularly those involving the upper cervical spine, high-force, high-velocity adjustments to the joint are not recommended. The upper cervical spine comprises crucial structures of our body, including the brainstem, upper cervical spinal cord, and important arteries and veins that connect to the brain.
NUCCA (National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association) or upper cervical chiropractic offers a gentle solution to restore head and neck alignment precisely and safely. This procedure involves an imaging-guided protocol to analyze the structural integrity of the head and neck spine and correct it gently without twisting or manipulating.
As a result, the overall cervical spine becomes more aligned along the vertical axis, reducing stress on the joints and distributing weight more evenly throughout. This can alleviate pressure on the cervical spinal nerves, particularly in the upper neck region.
If you or your loved ones are suffering from chronic headaches, please call (847) 497-5003 to schedule an initial consultation at Head & Neck Spinal Care in Wheeling, Illinois.