A cervicogenic is a condition of headache that eventually develops through the neck and goes up to the head. Although a lot of people may confuse this condition with migraine related headaches since both of them are much alike, comprising neck pain and headache.
For those who are new to this term, here’s stating cervicogenic headache in simple terms. Cervicogenic headache clearly indicates that headache usually initiates from the neck. Although you’ve been experiencing pain in your head or over some part of the face, the real problem lies in the neck. Some of the possible pain triggering areas in the neck are the discs, discs, spinal cord covering, neck muscles and tissues, and blood vessels. Many people neglect this condition and live life without being diagnosed.
Symptoms of Cervicogenic Headache
- Neck pain, one arm pain, or shoulder pain
- Headache
- Increased headaches with restrictive neck movements
- Triggering pain with pressure and sensitivity over the neck
- Stiffness in the neck with a restricted range of movement
- One-sided pain in the neck
- Pressure sensation over the back, front of the head, side, or near the eye area. Such pain is usually episodic, although it can be constant as well
- Vomit or nausea in some cases
Causes of Cervicogenic Headache
- Degenerative deviations in the neck joints such as osteoarthritis.
- Discs of the cervical spine.
- Impactful injury or trauma to the neck.
- Neck muscle spasms.
- Poor neck posture for a longer duration.
Diagnosis of Cervicogenic Headache
The diagnosis of cervicogenic headache is challenging, as it can be easily confused with other types of headache. Firstly, the doctor will get detailed information related to the history of the pain. Apart from this, the doctor will also gather medical and personal history for instance, regarding stress, work, sleep pattern, existing medication, and eating habits. There can be diagnostic evaluation conducted by the doctors such as MRI, X-ray, CT scans, etc. to support the detection. The doctor might suggest for nerve block injection to confirm the diagnosis.
Cervicogenic Headache Treatment
The treatment of cervicogenic headaches usually emphasizes eradicating the root cause of the pain. However, treatments usually depend based on the severity and symptoms in an individual. Here are some of the treatments usually recommended by doctors to manage cervicogenic headaches.
Medications
A healthcare expert can prescribe pain relievers to soothe painful episodes. Some medicines that are usually suggested by doctors are as follows:
- Muscle relaxant drugs
- NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
- Antidepressants
- Physical therapy
- Anti-convulsion medicines
- Physical therapist
A physical therapist can help to stimulate lenient tissues and adjust joints to relieve painful episodes.
- Nerve blockers
The doctor with inject local anaesthesia to numb the area to further inject the drug. This helps to stimulate the area with medication while spreading the drug throughout the affected area.
- Radio Frequency Ablation
Patients with chronic conditions can benefit from radiofrequency ablation. Also known as radio frequency neurolysis, this method is appropriate to deploy radio waves to heat the tip of a needle before inserting the affected area. The transfer of heat from the needle to the affected area severely disrupts the nerve’s ability to pass on pain signals to the brain while granting relief to the patient from the same.
Home remedies to deal with cervicogenic headache
Some specific alternative treatments and workouts can offer considerable relief from the condition. Some are listed below:
- Deep breathing or yoga
- Relaxation routine
- Changes in lifestyle such as balancing work-life, improving sleep cycle and posture, rectifying sitting posture, etc.
- Cognitive behavioural therapy
Takeaway
Cervicogenic headaches could severely impact the normal life of an individual if left untreated for a long. If you are dealing with symptoms or in doubt, ensure to see your healthcare expert to rule out any possibility. In case, you are dealing with a recurring headache that does not respond to any treatment or medication can be your sign to see the doctor immediately. Since cervicogenic headache usually triggers the underlying neck problem, it can be pulled down with home remedies, medication, and alternative therapies. Don’t let the pain keep you side-lined, get access to the right medication and medical approach before the condition aggravates. Healing Pharma has a wide range of over-the-counter and generic medicines available which, can be availed on proper prescription.
