CERVICOGENIC HEADACHES

A headache is either simple or serious. What we mean by that is that it is not normal to have a headache. It may be common, but it is not normal. If a patient is having a headache it may be due to some serious vascular issue, tumor, or other more serious condition. Those must be properly diagnosed and an effective referral made.

If the headache is found not to be serious, then there is something simple causing the pain. Once the cause is located, then it can be corrected. The most simple of those headaches is called the cervicogenic headache, or headache originating from the neck.

Cervicogenic (say: SUR-vico jen-IK) headache is not a single disorder. It means that the source of headache is a problem in the neck. This can come from a wide range of other causes, from traumatic injury to arthritis. Cervicogenic headaches are the most common type of headache, and the most easily corrected.

Signs and symptoms

Pain is most often on one side of the head only.

It is often a dull or piercing pain, starting in the back of the head or the neck, and moving forward to the forehead or temples.

Headache can occur with pain and stiffness in the neck.

Headache can occur with pain or stiffness in the shoulder and arm on the same side.

Some people have some mild sensitivity to light and sound, and even nausea and vomiting with severe pain. This can cause confusion between headache and migraine.

A stated above, there are many causes of cervicogenic headache, bit all of those causes begin with the musculoskeletal system in the neck. There are several types of pain generators in the neck joints, neck muscles, and soft tissues of the neck. The examination done in our office will help pinpoint the exact cause of your headache pain. With proper diagnosis, we can then outline the most effective treatment to correct your pain.