Headaches can be classified into a handful of different types. Cervicogenic headaches are those that originate in the neck. They are different to migraines, tension headaches, and cluster headaches.
How these headaches happen
Muscles, nerves, discs, and ligaments in the neck can be irritated, and sometimes this manifests as a headache. Whether this is due to something local, like a simple overstrain, or something further afield like an old injury causing compensation, the process is the same.
Some of the nerves that supply the neck also supply the areas of the head that can be affected by cervicogenic headaches. When the pain signal from one of these nerves reaches the brain, it might be misinterpreted as pain from the head itself. This doesn’t mean anything is actually happening to cause pain in the area you feel it- it’s just the neck.
Another explanation is that some of the small muscles at the base of the skull blend into the soft tissues of the scalp. If the muscles get tight, they can pull across the top of the head and cause the headache.
In either case, pain might travel over the top and centre of the head, into the forehead; or it might stay on one side of the head. It can focus over an ear or eye too, but won’t extend further into the face than that. It also won’t be accompanied by an aura or nausea as you might get with a migraine.
Managing cervicogenic headaches
Episodes of cervicogenic headaches are typically quick to self resolve, but if they are frequent or persistent you may want to seek treatment. Osteopaths are qualified to treat this kind of headache.
Osteopaths look at the body as a whole, looking for causes of your pain as well as how to ease your symptoms. If an area of the upper back isn’t moving well, it might be causing muscles or joints in the neck to overwork- in cases like this is would be important to treat the upper back to keep the headaches at bay long term.
Your osteopath will also be able to give you advice to help manage your symptoms and reduce the frequency in which your headaches occur.
If this sounds like your pain, book in with Ashleigh today.
