Neck pain that transfers to your head is not a normal headache and is the result of referred pain. This type of pain is often referred to as cervicogenic headaches (CH).
Know the Sole Cause of Neck Pain-Induced Headache
The cause of this kind of headache is due to the muscles around your skull. At the very base of your head (skull) there are some muscles that may become tight and cause you headache. These muscles are very important for the movement of your head, neck, and first and second vertebrae.
This headache originates from certain reasons, the sole reason being that when immense tension is exerted on those muscles, they start to ache. The cause of the tension although can be anything it can include specific things such as using electronic devices for too long and straining the neck muscles or may be due to wearing a new pair of glasses.
This kind of pain usually starts from the neck and radiates to the head, leading to headaches, due to the proximity of these two body parts.
The pain that results is nothing like a normal neck or muscle pain. It feels like someone has wrapped something around your neck and that the neck pain is scattered in your whole head.
When we experience this kind of head pain, we usually think of taking a pain killer or we go for a head massage. Although these ways are not too bad, they are not a long-term solution and it is important to know why your muscles are in tension.
Most commonly neck pain can lead to primary types of headaches (meaning they have no known exact cause,) tension headaches (which might occur on one or both sides of the head), migraine headaches (which can be with or without an aura, such as sensitivity to light), occipital neuralgia (which affects the occipital nerve and is characterised by throbbing pain and headache) and sometimes secondary headache types, which are most often induced by injuries, infections, disorders or other factors.
Know the Symptoms
Maybe the headache you have is a normal headache and it’s not something worrisome such as a tension pain. In case it might actually be caused by something more serious it’s always better to know the problem to find the best solution.
It’s also helpful to know the symptoms, so that you can find a remedy as soon as possible. Some signs and symptoms of headache and neck pain that go hand-in-hand include:
- Pain and stiff neck with limited range of motion
- You are aware of already existing cervical spine or neck problems
- You may be confused where the pain really is and where it starts, as it will be all over your head and maybe neck too
- You will find an unusual pressure on your head and neck. A kind of pressure that will want you to rest, but when you will rest your head on the pillow, the sensation amplified
These are some very basic symptoms from which you can identify a cervicogenic headache. Always remember that these kinds of headaches are quite common. They are not serious or fatal, but they are quite irritating.
Because going to the doctor all the time to treat such ailments it may be better to try some home treatments before seeking medical advice. Some home remedies include:
- Light exercising to help with the stiffness in the neck, rather than intense activity that targets the whole body.
- Resting is advised if a strain is to blame for the symptoms that occur.
- Over-the-counter pain relievers to reduce inflammation in both the neck and the head to temporarily alleviate the pain.
- Alternatively, you may want to consider spinal decompression therapy to address underlying spinal and neck disorders by using a spinal decompression device, such as the Spinal Backrack:
