A lesser-known, but nonetheless potent form of headaches

The cervicogenic headache receives a smaller portion of the spotlight than migraines or tension headaches, which are thought to affect up to one out of every six adults in the United States. The American Migraine Foundation defines a cervicogenic headache as a secondary headache- that is, caused by another condition. In this case, the headache’s source is derived from a disorder in the cervical spinal segment, where there is a complex relationship between spinal bones, spinal nerves, intervertebral discs and soft tissues. Let’s dive a little deepr into the causes of cervicogenic headaches.

 Cervicogenic headaches are the result of referred pain

The true source of the pain and dysfunction may be found in the neck, but the pain is referred, via the nervous system, to the head, where it is perceived as a headache. It is important to determine whether your headache is actually originating in your neck. Typical concurrent symptoms include:

• Reduced range of motion in the cervical vertebrae
• Pain radiating from the neck
• Pain on only one side of the head
• A worsening of symptoms when pressure is applied to the neck, or during certain movements 

Typical causes of cervicogenic headaches that originate in the cervical spine include: spinal fractures, tumors, herniated discs and even rheumatoid arthritis. 

Chiropractic is effective therapy for cervicogenic headaches

At our office in Alameda, we have helped many people with cervicogenic headaches find relief from their symptoms using targeted spinal manipulation. By providing gentle adjustments to the cervical vertebrae, many of our patients are able to find relief from their symptoms. Chiropractic is proving to be one of the most useful tools in the treatment of cervicogenic headaches. If you want to find out more, give our office in Alameda a call to schedule an appointment today.