1. A Literal Pain in the Neck
Doctors see many patients that request a cure from the common headache. While headaches may come from many causes, one cause is not from the head. A pinched nerve can interrupt the flow of blood to your brain and create a headache. The cervicogenic headache actually starts at the cervical spine. It happens to be the number one cause of headaches seen at doctor's offices. Cervicogenic headaches also represent a portion of the causes of cluster headaches and migraines.
2. Mixed Messages on Pain
The brain confuses where the pain comes from since the trigeminal cranial nerve has a connection at the root of the cervical nerve. The two function so closely that the message to the brain is not clear and it's misinterpreted. The misinterpretation leads the patient with the headache to believe that the pain is in the head, not the neck.
3. Signs of a Cervicogenic Headache
If you feel a lower pressure pain threshold when the doctor uses an algometer as a measuring device, or if you have pain that radiates toward the from the back of the head, then you may have a cervicogenic headache. You also may have pain that occurs more dramatically when you move your neck or your head. Pain usually occurs on a daily basis although the intensity may not be the same. The real clue to most cervicogenic headaches is pain and tenderness when someone taps or pushes on the top area of your spine, just below the skull. An occipital nerve blocker that relieves the pain is another test and treatment.
4. Treatment for a Cervicogenic Headache
The headache treatment plan varies by the actual cause of the pain. Doctors usually prescribe pain medication or suggest aspirin or other analgesics as the first step in treatment. Pain medication relieves the pain enough to allow the patient to participate in physical therapy, another form of treatment. Manipulation treatments from a chiropractor or osteopathic doctor can frequently help someone suffering from a cervicogenic headache. Any underlying cause, such as arthritis or spinal damage or malformation, requires treatment in an appropriate manner or the headaches won't go away.
5. Prevent Headaches Before They Start
Prevention of the cerviogenic headache depends on the cause. Physical therapy and neck adjustments prevent further pain. Good posture is one method of treating the pain that requires no money. Relaxation techniques that reduce the tension in the neck can also reduce the number and intensity of the headaches.
