Nine out of every 10 individuals suffer from headaches. A headache can throw a wrench in your day, forcing you to withdraw from plans or activities you were looking forward to, and even leave you in bed for the remainder of the day.
While there are a variety of causes for headaches, a cervicogenic headache occurs when the pain is radiating from a source in your neck. In this article, we’re going to explore the symptoms, causes, and treatment for cervicogenic headaches. What should you know?
What is a Cervicogenic Headache?
Sometimes, you may experience both a cervicogenic headache and a migraine simultaneously. That can make it extremely difficult to know what’s going on.
Yet, one of the primary symptoms of a cervicogenic headache is neck pain or difficulty moving your neck. Sometimes, this is characterised by a pain that starts at the base of the skull and radiates up one side. Additionally, if you move your neck and your head begins to hurt, this is a sure-fire sign that you’re experiencing a cervicogenic headache.
What Do Cervicogenic Headaches Happen?
A cervicogenic headache often occurs due to an untreated neck injury, such as from whiplash, a fracture, arthritis, a pinched nerve, a slipped disc, or strained neck muscles. At the same time, neck injuries aren’t the only causes of this type of headache.
A poorly set up workspace could even be to blame for increased headaches. Often, we don’t pay close attention to the way we are sitting for hours at a time, so we sit how we are comfortable. Many of us work at a computer for hours a day, with our bodies slouched forward. This can quickly lead to muscular imbalances, aches, and pains — some of which may lead to a cervicogenic headache.
On top of this, poor mattresses and pillows can also cause neck pain or issues to arise. If you’re waking up in pain, your pillow or mattress might be the culprit. While seeking out treatment for your current pain is always a good idea, it also might, then, pay to replace your pillow or mattress. This can prevent future pain down the line.
Yet, sometimes, a person doesn’t notice any pain in their neck when experiencing a cervicogenic headache. This might actually indicate that an undetected spinal misalignment is at play.
If you’re suffering from cervicogenic headaches, it can be easy to take some ibuprofen or acetaminophen and forget about it. However, figuring out the underlying cause and treating it is important for future prevention of injury and pain. Visiting a chiropractor, as discussed in more detail below, can help get to the root cause of your headache dilemma.
Cervicogenic Headache Signs & Symptoms
So, how exactly do you know if you have a cervicogenic headache? Common symptoms of this type of headache include:
- Steady pain that isn’t throbbing
- Pain in your head when you breathe deeply, cough, or sneeze
- A stiff neck that doesn’t have the proper range of motion
- Getting a headache when you stay in the same position for too long
- Pain on one side of your head or face
- Pain that lasts for hours or days with no relief
- Pain that stays in one spot
Cervicogenic headaches are not the same as migraines, but they can have some overlapping symptoms. These include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Adverse to bright lights or loud noises
- Blurred vision
- Pain in your shoulders or arms
How Can Chiropractic Care Help?
Chiropractic care is backed by the latest in scientific research and technology. In fact, there is strong evidence showing how chiropractic care can help relieve and eliminate headaches and migraines.
At your initial visit, your chiropractor will perform a thorough assessment to determine the root cause of your headaches and pain. This helps your chiropractor determine the best way to treat your issue and help you feel better.
From there, your chiropractor may perform adjustments to improve the function of your neck and spine. Adjustments can further help reduce stress in various regions of the body, as well as alleviate any spinal misalignments.
If you’re suffering from cervicogenic headaches and looking for a trustworthy chiropractor who can help, book your appointment with the Kiama Family Chiropractic team today.
From headaches and neck pain to sciatica and pregnancy care, our team is passionate about improving the lives of the community. Begin living life on your terms, and without pain or headaches holding you back.