Cervicogenic Headaches
Cervicogenic headaches are a headache caused by strained, irritated or inflamed muscles and spinal joints at the top of you neck. You may or may not have a sore neck but the pain is referred often to, or a combination of your temporal, forehead, eye and jaw. This can be one or both sides or may change sides. Cervicogenic headaches are common and patients can often mistake them as a migraines. They are usually associated with the function of your neck and shoulders, at time may be a compensation symptom due to other areas of the body not moving or faction well. It is important that your osteopath has a good look at your overall mobility and function. We find some patient’s symptoms have not improved because the main issue such as poor shoulder function, or poor lower back stability has not been addressed.
Caused by:
Musculoskeletal tension and restriction of the vertebra of the upper neck and thoracic spine.
- Poor posture
- Cervical spine (neck) injuries
- Cervical spine disc bulges, vertebra joint degeneration
- Shoulder issues
- Core instability and weakness
- Aggravated by palpitation of the vertebra and muscles of the upper cervical spine.
Symptoms:
- Aching over base of the skull, or one side of the head
- Nausea, dizziness, hard to concentrate
- Relief the stretching the muscle
Migraines
Migraines are called ‘vascular headaches’ They are due to spasms of the vascular structures in the cranium. They are classed as”
- classic migraines involving visual changes called aura, nausea and vomiting
- common migraines which have no aura, but can nausea and vomiting.
Migraines can be caused by many different factors. It is therefore important that your osteopath ask you about what you are feeling and other patterns associated with your migraine. Referral to your GP can be common with migraines.
Caused By:
- Stress
- Allergies
- Poor posture
- Cervical spine (neck) injuries
- Cervical spine disc bulges, vertebra joint degeneration
Symptoms:
- Sensitive to light and sound
- Visual changes (aura)
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Throbbing, pounding headache
- Dizziness
How Can We Help
Your Osteopath will:
- Ask you various questions about your pain tell help determine what kind of headache or migraine you may have
- important information includes:
- where you feel it
- how long does it last
- how often it occurs
- what other symptoms you may feel
Examine by:
- looking at your posture and watching how your neck and other areas of the body move
- hands on examination to feel the neck vertebrae, joints, muscles, and other relevant areas
Diagnosing:
- educate you on what type of headache or migraine you have, why it occurred and how to fix and manage it
- imaging include an xray or MRI of your neck may be needed
Treatment can include:
- hands no manual therapy to loosen tight muscles and move restricted joints that are causing the headache
- dry needling
- posture and dally movement advice
- exercise rehabilitation to strengthen muscles and improve stability and mobility of your spine and shoulders
Your Osteopath at All About Movement will refer you to your GP if they feel another opinion, investigations, medications, or Specialist referral are needed. We will also refer other health professional for other forms of treatment so you are getting the best all round care.
