Cervicogenic headache means head pain that comes from the neck. This may mean that your upper neck joints of the spine are not able to function properly, or perhaps you have a breakdown of your cervical spine discs. Disc pathology may stem from osteoarthritis, nerve pressure (spondylosis) and or dural irritation. Myofsacial syndromes of the neck such as trapezius myalgia can cause reoccurring head pains.

You may have suffered from whiplash or endured prolonged postures or had to perform repetitive movements in your job or worked in a high pressure environment to build up chronic myofascial syndromes and or injury to the upper cervical ligaments.

Other atypical factors to consider could be Polymyalgia Rheumatica or carotid artery irritation (from tension and dysfunctional movement of the neck).

Investigations may include a blood test called ESR, or an MRI to observe cervical facet joints, discs, fatty infiltration into muscles, osteoarthritis, spondylosis, and a specialist MRI may be required to diagnostically image the ligaments of the upper cervical spine. Imaging can help to identify any facet syndrome that may be a contributory factor to your pain experience.

The pain typically starts in your neck or the back of your head (differentiating it from TMJ pain) and moves up one side of the head. You might notice the pain begin there and then spread to other parts of your head, like your forehead, around your eye, or your temple(side of head). Usually, it affects one side of your head only or just more than the other. The intensity of the pain can vary from mild to severe and usually your neck will feel stiff, with tender spots and will move less than usual during an episode.

Unlike some other types of headaches, cervicogenic headaches don’t usually come with nausea or sensitivity to light and sound, but they do tend to be reoccurring.

You may also like to read about: Cervical Facet Syndrome, TMJ syndrome and Tension Type Headaches.

Treatment: 

Typically aerobic exercises are recommended along with regular spinal adjustments, dry needling and myofascial techniques over a 3 month period (1). Sometimes as frequent as 3 or 4 times a week for 4-6 weeks (16-24 visits) (2).

References:

1. Côté P,  et al (2019) Non-pharmacological management of persistent headaches associated with neck pain: A clinical practice guideline from the Ontario protocol for traffic injury management (OPTIMa) collaboration. Eur J Pain. 2019 Jul;23(6):1051-1070. doi: 10.1002/ejp.1374. Epub 2019 Feb 28. PMID: 30707486.
2. Haas M, et al (2004) Dose response for chiropractic care of chronic cervicogenic headache and associated neck pain: a randomised pilot study. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2004 Nov-Dec;27(9):547-53. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2004.10.007. PMID: 15614241.