Orange County Headache Doctor on Cervicogenic Headache

Orange County Headache Doctor on Cervicogenic Headache

Headaches are caused by many factors and millions of Americans suffer from headaches daily.

What is a Cervicogenic headache?

Among the most common types of headaches is the "cervicogenic headache."

A cervicogenic headache is pain in the head that usually begins in the back of the head and can wrap around the sides.
 

Cause of Cervicogenic Headache

The cause of cervicogenic headaches is a problem within the neck (cervical spine) that refers pain to the head. The most common source of this headache is the upper 3 vertebrae in the neck. Misalignment of these spinal segments or arthritic changes within their joints sends pain impulses to the head. Cervicogenic headaches may also emanate from the disc of C2-3 and the blood vessels contained in the neck.

How do the upper neck joints become a problem causing cervicogenic headaches?

• Physical strain (painting, yard work, working on cars or under sinks)
• Chronic postural stress (computer use, reading)
• Forward head posture (head not centered over the body)
• Car accidents
• Arthritis

Bogduk N. Curr Pain Headache Rep 2001 (Aug); 5 (4): 382–386

Diagnosing Cervicogenic Headache

The International Headache Society (IHS) criteria for cervicogenic headache:

>Pain localized to neck and occipital region. May project to forehead, orbital region, temples, vertex or ears.

>Pain is precipitated or aggravated by neck movements or sustained neck posture.

>At least one of the following:
1. Resistance to or limitation of passive neck movements

2. Changes in neck muscle contour, texture, tone or response to active and passive stretching and contraction

3. Abnormal tenderness of neck muscles

>Radiological examination reveals at least one of the following:
1. Movement abnormalities in flexion/extension

2. Abnormal posture

3. Fractures, congenital abnormalities, bone tumours, rheumatoid arthritis or other distinct pathology (not spondylosis
or osteochondrosis)


Classification and Diagnostic Criteria for Headache Disorder, Cranial Neuralgias and Facial Pain. (1988) IHS Classification
Committee, Cephalalgia 8 Suppl 7:1-93

Chiropractic and Cervicogenic Headaches
 

You may know of people who swear by their chiropractor to relieve their headaches. That's called anecdotal evidence and there's ample amounts of that type of evidence from patients and their chiropractors. Sadly however, there are many in the medical field who still do not recognize chiropractic's contribution to headache relief.

The medical literature DOES support the use of chiropractic for headache relief.

“Manipulation is effective in patients with cervicogenic headache”.

Duke University Evidence-Based Practice Center, USA (2001)

Chiropractic adjustments restore normal motion and function to the upper neck joints that are not working properly. Researchers found that chiropractic spinal manipulative treatment was superior to massage as a cervicogenic headache relief treatment.

It was also shown that chiropractic over longer periods of time had produced greater and longer lasting headache relief. Patients felt better as time went on; the relief of pain and decreases in headache frequency were better at 12 weeks than they were at 8 weeks.

Mitchell Haas, DC, Adele Spegman, PhD, RN, David Peterson, DC, Mikel Aickin, PhD, Darcy Vavrek, ND Spine J. 2010 (Feb);
10 (2): 117–128


Medical doctors, neurologists, and physical therapists treating headaches often misdiagnose cervicogenic headaches as tension headaches, vascular or migraine headaches.

Because the diagnosis is wrong, and manipulation is not used as treatment, the headaches usually fail to respond well causing prolonged pain and drug dependence.

"It is usually erroneously diagnosed as classical migraine, tension headache, vascular headache. Such patients have
usually received an inadequate treatment and have often become neurotic and drug-dependent”

Frykholm, neurosurgeon, Sweden (1972)

Frykholm R. (1972) Cervical Migraine: The Clinical Picture. In: Hirsch C, Zotterman Y, eds. Cervical Pain. Oxford England: Pergammon Press, 13-16

If you suffer chronic daily or weekly headaches that have not responded to medication, therapy or massage, maybe it's time to give chiropractic a try.

Find out if you are suffering from Cervicogenic Headaches

FREE Headache Severity Evaluation Call (714) 938-0575 Now (Valued at $250)

Your Headache Severity Evaluation will include:

• Headache Questionnaire
• Headache Consultation with Dr Barry Marks Headache Doctor
• Headache Examination
• Computerized head and neck test
• Personalized written Headache Relief Plan

Orange County Headache Treatment Center
1745 W Orangewood Ave #114 Orange, CA 92868

• Proper Differential Diagnosis
• Treatment of Multiple Headache Types
• Cold Laser Therapy for Headaches
• Home Exercise for Headaches

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