Do you sometimes get a severe headache? This is a common experience for many of us. But did you know, not all headaches are caused by a problem in your head? Sometimes, your head can also hurt because of a problem in your neck. That's exactly what we're going to talk about in this article today. Let's see what it is, why it happens, how to recognize it, and what else you can do.
What exactly is a Cervicogenic Headache?
Simply put, a cervicogenic headache is a headache that is caused by a problem in your cervical spine , that is, the bones or soft tissues of your neck. Sounds strange, right? A headache caused by a problem in your neck.
This is called referred pain in medicine. This means that the original source of pain is one, but you feel the pain somewhere else. To be precise, pain signals from damage, compression, or some other problem in your neck travel to your head and you feel it as a headache.
This is a type of secondary headache . This means that there is another underlying medical condition behind this headache. For example, a pinched nerve in your neck can cause this type of headache.
Is this a serious situation?
Some causes of cervicogenic headaches can be more serious . It can occur after an accident, such as a fracture in the neck, or it can be caused by an underlying medical condition.
However, pain can be a major obstacle to our ability to carry out our daily activities and move around freely. Therefore, if you have a headache after an accident, or if you have a headache that is persistent, does not subside, or is getting worse, you should definitely see a doctor .
How common is this headache?
Although we all get headaches all the time, this type of headache, called Cervicogenic Headache, is not that common. It affects between 0.4% and 4% of headache sufferers worldwide. That means it's a specific type of headache that affects a relatively small number of people.
What symptoms should we be aware of?
There are several main symptoms of Cervicogenic Headache. See if you have any of these:
- Pain on one side of the head: This is often limited to one side of the head. It may start at the base of the head, near the neck, and travel up one side of the head. Or it may start at the back of the head and feel like it's behind the eyes.
- Restricted neck movement: It may feel difficult to turn your neck, look up, or look down. It feels like your neck is stuck.
- Headaches that worsen with neck movement: You may feel like this headache gets worse when you move your neck or hold a certain position.
Sometimes, neck pain may or may not accompany a headache. It varies from person to person.
When do these symptoms appear?
Cervicogenic Headaches can occur at any age. They are especially likely to occur after an accident. However, studies have shown that the symptoms usually begin to appear after the age of 30. However, most people seek treatment for these headaches in their late 40s. So it is important to take care of this without delay.
What causes this?
As we've said before, this headache is caused by a problem in your cervical spine , or neck. Anything that affects the pain-sensitive areas of your neck, especially:
- Bones: That is, the vertebrae at the top of the neck (C1 to C3 Vertebrae)
- Joints: The joints between the vertebrae.
- Ligaments: Tissues that connect bones together.
- Nerve Roots: Nerves that emerge from the vertebrae.
- Vertebral Arteries: Blood vessels that supply blood to the brain through the neck.
Here are some common conditions and causes that may be associated with this headache:
- Arthritis: Arthritis of the joints of the neck.
- Fracture: A break in a vertebra in the neck.
- Pinched Nerve: A pinched nerve in the neck.
- Slipped Disc:
- Sprained Muscles: Injury to the muscles of the neck.
- Tumor: Although rare, it can also be caused by a tumor in the neck area.
- Whiplash: An injury caused by the neck being suddenly jerked forward and backward during an accident. Think of what happens to the neck when a car hits you suddenly. That's a similar situation.
How do you accurately diagnose this headache?
A doctor will confirm whether this is a cervicogenic headache by carefully listening to your symptoms, performing a physical examination, and, if necessary, running several tests.
It's actually a bit difficult to diagnose. Because of the referred pain we mentioned earlier, even doctors sometimes have a hard time figuring out if it's a neck problem. Also, these symptoms can be confused with other types of headaches, such as tension headaches or migraines .
Therefore, the doctor will order tests to rule out other conditions that have similar symptoms. The most common tests are:
- X-ray
- CT Scan (CT Scan - Computed Tomography Scan)
- MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
These tests can detect injuries, damage, or other medical conditions in the cervical spine.
However, sometimes these scans don't show anything special, but it's not always possible to say that a headache isn't related to a neck problem. This is because these scans often only look at the structure. The doctor will perform a manual examination to check things like the function of the neck, its range of motion, and the condition of the joints.
The doctor will also check whether your symptoms match the criteria provided by the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3).
How do I get rid of this headache? (Treatment)
The doctor may suggest various treatments to treat the underlying cause of Cervicogenic Headache. Some of them include:
- Physical Therapy: This is a very important treatment method. It recommends exercises that strengthen the neck muscles and improve neck mobility.
- Medications: This includes medications taken by mouth or injections given to the area of pain.
- Radiofrequency Ablation: This is a specialized procedure that uses radio waves to destroy the nerves that are causing pain.
- Surgery: This is the last resort. Surgery is considered only if all other treatments have failed.
The doctor doesn't immediately go for surgery. He comes to that decision after trying other treatment methods.
What kind of medicine is used for this?
The following medications are used to treat various conditions that cause cervicogenic headaches:
- Nerve Block Injections: An injection of anesthetic and steroid that is given near the painful nerve. This can quickly reduce pain.
- Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs): For example, drugs like `(Duloxetine)` or `(Venlafaxine)`. These are used to treat some types of nerve pain.
- Antiseizure Medications: Medications like Gabapentin and Pregabalin are sometimes prescribed to control nerve pain.
Your doctor will advise you on which medications are best for your symptoms and what their side effects are, so you can make an informed decision.
What does a person with this headache experience?
Cervicogenic headaches can be debilitating to your daily activities. But you don't have to suffer with this pain all the time. Don't worry , there are treatments for many of the conditions that cause them. Your doctor can help you find a treatment or combination of treatments that is right for you.
How long can this headache last?
This will vary depending on the type of treatment you receive. You may experience immediate relief from the pain after receiving a nerve block injection. However, the relief from the injections may be temporary. Therefore, you may need to receive several injections to control the pain.
Many people have great success with physical therapy to control these headaches. One study found that 72% of people had at least a 50% reduction in headaches after 12 months of physical therapy. However, you may feel that your headaches are getting worse at first. Your physical therapist will plan exercises and stretches to help you manage this.
Can this headache be prevented?
It's not possible to prevent all causes of cervicogenic headaches, but there are a few things you can do to reduce your risk:
- Take safety measures to prevent accidents and falls.
- Be mindful of your posture. Especially when working on a computer or using your phone, sit properly, without keeping your neck in the same position. Don't slouch.
- Use a good pillow and mattress. Choose a pillow that provides support for your neck.
- Get a light massage. This will help relax the neck muscles.
- Exercise regularly.
Remember: Keeping your neck healthy is the best way to protect yourself from headaches like these.
When should I see a doctor?
It's easy to just ignore a headache when it comes. But frequent headaches can be a sign of an underlying medical condition. So, if you're experiencing frequent headaches for no apparent reason, see a doctor . Especially if the headaches are getting worse, or if the headaches are accompanied by other symptoms, such as pain in other parts of the body, let your doctor know right away .
What questions should I ask the doctor?
When you go to see the doctor, you can ask questions like:
- What is the cause of this headache?
- What treatment do you recommend?
- Are there any side effects from the treatment?
- How long will it take for the pain to subside?
Knowing the answers to these questions will give you a better understanding of your situation.
Is Cervicogenic Headache the same as Migraine?
No. Cervicogenic headaches can also cause pain on one side of the head, just like migraines. However, they do not have the additional symptoms that are commonly seen with migraines, such as light sensitivity, sound sensitivity, nausea, or vomiting .
Finally, things to remember (Take-Home Message)
When we get a headache, we immediately think that something is wrong with our head. But in reality, headache pain can also start in other parts of the body. This is also the case with cervicogenic headaches. This means that a problem in the neck is the real cause of this headache.
No one wants to waste their day because of a headache. So don't just live with the pain. A doctor can help you find out what's causing your headache. There are a number of treatments that can be tailored to your needs and help you reduce the frequency of these headaches. So, get proper medical advice and try to stay healthy.
` Cervicogenic Headache, neck pain, headache, referred pain, secondary headache, pinched nerve, physical therapy, nerve pain
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