Understand the Causes of Cervicogenic Headache

Oct 24, 2024

What are the Causes of a Cervicogenic Headache?

Cervicogenic headache is a type of headache that develops due to a problem in your neck. It is also called a secondary headache as it is a symptom of an underlying condition. The source of the pain is different from the part of your body where you feel the pain. Cervicogenic headaches can be caused by a pinched nerve in your neck, even if you feel the pain in your head. Many other causes trigger this type of headache. Let us see the symptoms and causes of cervicogenic headache.

Cervicogenic headaches stem from issues or injuries affecting the upper spine, neck, or nearby structures like joints, ligaments, nerves, and arteries, though the exact trigger may be unclear.

Symptoms of Cervicogenic Headache

A Cervicogenic headache often occurs only on one side of your head. It may begin at the bottom of your head and move up either the right or left side of your head. It may also develop in the back of the head and radiate to the front of the head, right behind your eyes. The pain can range from moderate to severe but not extremely painful. You may consult a neck pain specialist doctor if you experience these symptoms.

Causes of Cervicogenic Headache

Cervicogenic headaches can be caused by various issues though one cannot figure out exactly what triggered it. The pain may result from conditions or injuries that affect your upper spine or neck. Problems with joints, the top three backbones, nerve roots, ligaments, and vertebral arteries that deliver blood to your brain and spinal cord can also cause cervicogenic headaches.

It can also be caused by neck injuries and other conditions, which include:

1. Forward neck posture: This pain in the neck develops when a person keeps the head tilted forward as they do things like looking at the computer or phone. This can cause strain on your cervical spine and lead to headaches.

2. Neck injury: many types of injuries can also cause cervicogenic headaches. These include fracture or broken neck caused by weakened bones or a traumatic injury like a car accident; a sprained muscle that occurs when the tissue that connects the bones gets stretched or torn; herniated or slipped disk when one of the disks that provides cushioning between the vertebrae becomes damaged; and pinched nerve which refers to the compression of nerves in the neck by the surrounding tissues.
3. Whiplash: It is a type of neck injury which is caused by the sudden and forceful forward and backward motion of the neck. It can damage muscle and tissue in the neck and mostly occurs when riding a car that gets rear-ended. It can also be caused when you get sports injury or result from trauma like a fall or physical abuse.
4. Arthritis: Arthritis in the neck is also a cause of cervicogenic headaches. Wear and tear of the joints in the neck can cause osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is another potential cause in which the immune system attacks the joint lining, often affecting the neck.
5. Tumours: Tumours are clumps of abnormal cells that form into solid lumps. Benign tumours can cause problems if they grow in certain areas. Cervicogenic headaches develop when a tumour grows in the cervical spine.

Conclusion:

Cervicogenic headache occurs due to problems in your neck. It can be caused by various problems like tumours, injuries, and other health conditions like arthritis. However, treating the cause of the headache can relieve your pain.

What are the Causes of a Cervicogenic Headache?

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