There are many types of headaches, and there is much that is still unknown about direct causes and specific conditions. It’s not always easy to tell what kind of Headache you might be experiencing and why it’s happening. Our Chiropractor in West Vancouver sees patients with headaches everyday. Let’s talk about the most common type of Headache that he treats.
Cervicogenic Headaches are caused directly by a problem from the neck. This type of Headache can be related to the bones and joints in your neck, joints elsewhere in the body, or a poor neck posture that can cause damage to the neck muscles and surrounding ligaments and tendons. High blood pressure or infections can also cause Cervicogenic headaches.
Symptoms that might suggest you are experiencing a Cervicogenic headache can include pain on the side of your face, forehead, or neck. A pain that is consistent and doesn’t “throb” like other headaches might, or general head pain when moving your head or coughing or sneezing.
More than likely, this kind of Headache happens at the end of the day or first thing in the morning when you wake up. Poor neck and head position are to blame in this case.
Symptoms – tips from your Chiropractor to understand your Headache
Typically, Cervicogenic headaches begin on the side of the head and move from the back of theneck and head towards the front. This isn’t dissimilar to some types of tension headaches and migraines, and so these headaches are often confused with each other. Here’s a rundown of the most common symptoms of a Cervicogenic Headache, which should help you better self diagnose.
Pain
Headaches do cause pain, and Cervicogenic headaches may cause significant pain across the forehead, back of the skull, face, and head.
- Pain on the side of the head, neck, or face may be felt throughout the Headache.
- Pain around the eyes, similar to a migraine.
- Pain across your forehead and temples.
- Pain may extend down to the neck, shoulder, or arm on one side.
- The pain will also likely be triggered by moving the neck too sharply is a good giveaway that what you might be experiencing is a Cervicognenic Headache.
Other symptoms
Cervicognenic Headaches will also reduce your neck’s mobility, with the restriction possibly also affecting your shoulders and arms. Even if the movement is still fluid, there will likely be a pain if you try to move your neck and head.
Much like a migraine, a Cervicognenic Headache can cause high sensitivity to both light and noise and a feeling of nausea. Some people have also complained that their head felt “heavy” and general fatigue in the neck and shoulders. Again, like a migraine, it may cause you to feel quite sick. A Cervicognenic Headache can last for many hours, potentially even for multiple days.
What causes Cervicogenic Headaches?
Cervicognenic Headaches can have various causes, and it’s not always clear why you might be experiencing this type of Headache. Some reasons are more clear cut than others; here’s a quick look at the various causes.
Problems with the neck
The most common cause of Cervicogenic headaches is general problems with the neck. Like the rest of your spine, the cervical vertebrae are made up of bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, and tendons that help support the load of your head. People who regularly strain their necks – possibly because of their profession or involvement in a sport – are more likely to suffer from prolonged or consistent Cervicognenic Headache. Microtrauma to the neck like a bad posture when working on the computer or from a hard check in hockey or soccer can all result in Cervicognenic Headaches.
Environmental factors
Cervicognenic Headache can also be caused by trauma, such as a fall or a whiplash during a car accident. Arthritis may also lead to problems in the top vertebrae, which may result in headaches of various kinds. Any kind of trauma to the spine – including fractures and breaks – can have knock-on effects, including headaches.
Treating Cervicogenic headaches – Chiropractic Care
Cervicogenic headaches, like other types of headaches, may linger or self-resolve by themselves. Regardless, if your headache does not go away or is causing you a lot of discomfort, you should have it checked out right away. Cervicogenic headaches could be a representation of an underlying condition that should be addressed.
It’s quite likely a doctor or Chiropractor will ask questions about any previous medical conditions and where the headache seems to originate. You should mention whether or not a headache gets worse over time, whether there has been any trauma to your neck or head, and whether there is nausea, vomiting, or even partial or loss of vision, no matter how brief. Before going on with any treatment, you should be clinically evaluated with a physical exam to rule in or out any other causes of your headache. Once all these steps have been completed, a possible diagnosis of the type of headache should be presented.
If it is determined that your headache is Cervicogenic and musculoskeletal in origin, our Chiropractor in West Vancouver will offer some treatment options. These options may include soft tissue therapies to reduce the sprain or strain in the ligaments and tendons around the neck and head. Muscle releasing techniques or a referral to a massage therapist might also be on the agenda. If a facet joint in the cervical spine is impeded or fixed in an abnormal position, a precise manipulation of that joint can offer quick and immediate relief. Home care can include cold or heat, stretching, and rest. Sometimes medication in the form of muscle relaxants and pain relievers can help. Usually, Cervicogenic Headaches tend to resolve quickly after a visit or two to our Chiropractor in West Vancouver. You will also be given tips and guidelines to help you prevent Cervicogenic headaches from recurring in the future by our Chiropractor in West Vancouver.
Cervicogenic headaches can be debilitating if it is not resolving. The fix is actually quite a simple one. You don’t have to live with the pain and discomfort. Find out what options are opened to you by calling your Chiropractor. You might be surprised to find out that you can put away those pain pills right away after your first visit.
