Dealing With Headaches & Migraines?
Watch this video to learn how headache pain forms.
Headache Pain Is Very Common
Headaches are extremely unpleasant and impact over half of the population.
Cervicogenic headaches, which affect a large percentage of headache sufferers, are caused by issues with the neck. A cervicogenic headache typically manifests as restricted motion in the joints of your upper cervical spine. Your neck has several joints, each of which can move freely and independently.
In some cases, there may be some restrictions in the upper cervical spine that initiate a painful cycle of stiffness, muscle tightness and joint inflammation. This may cause increased irritation and sensitivity in the nerves leading from your neck into the back of your head.
What Are The Symptoms Of Headaches?
Cervicogenic headaches are typically more prevalent on one side of your head, but may also be present on both sides of the head.
Pain frequently begins at the base of the skull and then spreads to the top of the head and even the area over the eyes. The pain may occasionally radiate into your arm.
These headache episodes can last anywhere from hours to days. The pain is ongoing but fluctuating and is often described as "deep." You may also be subject to chronic neck tenderness and stiffness.
What Are The Causes Of Cervicogenic Headaches?
Cervicogenic headache symptoms may be caused by numerous triggers but most commonly they are created by reproduced or awkward movements and postures.
The condition is more commonly found when patients have recently experienced some form of trauma, such as a motor vehicle accident or an earlier concussion.
Middle-aged persons are frequently affected, and women are four times as likely than males to have the disorder. Sometimes bad posture, such as a "slouched" or "forward head" position, causes cervicogenic headaches.
When To Seek Help For Your Headaches
Are your headaches becoming progressively worse over time?
Make sure to contact us immediately if at any point you find yourself experiencing a sudden onset of a severe headache, a new or unfamiliar headache, or if you notice significant neck stiffness, rash, numbness or tingling on your face.
If you experience abrupt lightheadedness, dizziness, loss of consciousness, trouble speaking, trouble swallowing, trouble walking, nausea, numbness radiating into your arms or legs, or fever, call our office right once.
What Are Some At-Home Treatments For Headaches?
Dehydration can greatly aggravate cervicogenic headaches.
Make sure that you are drinking 6-8 glasses of water each day, more in hot weather or when you've been sweating. Since cervicogenic headaches are the result of a mechanical problem, medicines are often ineffective. We have numerous tools to help us fix this issue, which is fortunate.