Headaches

Cervicogenic Headache - Cause And Treatment


Defined Tag: Cervicogenic Headache.

Cervicogenic headache may be a mouthful but when you consider the that the contributing factor is the cervical spine it all makes sense.  This type of headache stems from the neck and upper back area in his mechanical in nature.  Since women have weaker neck muscles and tend to put more strain on the knack it affects mostly women. The Cervicogenic feels like a tight band around forehead and eyes.  This is because the nerves that connect the skull and act are referred to the forehead so any pressure or contraction of these nerves result in a headache.

Cervicogenic headache and pain can also result from whip lash injury, too much tension in the spine and neck, intervertebral disc disease, and progressive facet joint arthritis.

Patterns of headache relating to the muscular trigger points in the neck, shoulder blade or peri-scapular region, disc and joint levels in the upper spine, have been documented as related areas of cervicogenic headache. Headaches typically brushed off as a migraine, can in fact be related to the area of the base of the skull. This area, called the sub occipital region as it is located below the occipital part of the head, has joints which connect the top two or three levels of the cervical spine to the base of the skull. Since this area handles more than 50 percent of the total motion of the entire neck and head region, small, insignificant ‘details’ like bad posture and fatigue can take a disproportionate toll on the area, which in turn results in pain and cervicogenic headache.

Treating any cervicogenic headache might take physical therapy and a visit to a well-trained spinal physician.  Practicing good posture techniques and relaxation will probably be part of the therapy but surgery may also be an option.  Chiropractic manipulation, acupuncture, massage and pain medication can be options to treat the chronic pain from Cervicogenic headachesc

At the moment, the only diagnostic test which is recommended by all physicians in this area is the Occipital Nerve Block, which diagnoses as well as treats the problem. Relief is felt within seconds, and the patient is then steered towards physical therapy and a muscle relaxation program.