Headache pain can be experienced in any region of the head. It can be isolated to a specific area, one side or both sides of the head, be felt as a squeezing pressure, or radiate from one point to another area of the head. The discomfort may be described as a dull ache, throbbing, or sharp pain. The condition can come on abruptly or slowly and the pain may last for less than an hour or continue for up to a week. In any form, headaches are frustrating, can be debilitating and they are sometimes accompanied by neck pain.
Headaches that originate from the neck or upper shoulders which are concentrated in the temples, orbital region, or forehead are called cervicogenic. The causes can be many but some are: muscle spasms, whiplash, arthritis, degenerative disk disease, or other medical problems. The source of the problem typically occurs in the top three vertebrae of the cervical spine. The resulting pain is experienced in the head, and classifies the headache as a type of referred pain.
A child or an adult can develop a cervicogenic headache. The condition can be difficult to detect because patients often experience migraines or tension headaches simultaneously. As a result, a doctor can easily misdiagnose the headache. A physical examination, X-ray, and an MRI or CT scan are commonly used to make a diagnosis. One telltale symptom of this condition is that certain neck movements or keeping the neck in the same position for a prolonged period typically make the head and neck pain worse.
Several treatments are available for this type of headache. Since patients respond differently to each type of treatment, they must work closely with their doctors to discover the most effective approach. Injecting anesthetic drugs at identified trigger points in the muscles surrounding the upper portion of the cervical spine is one popular treatment. Other types of injections include Botox, steroids, or corticosteroid drugs.
Various types of medications are also used to treat headaches including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), anti-seizure drugs, and low doses of antidepressants. Over the counter creams that contain numbing agents such as Biofreeze may relieve muscle pain experienced in the neck. Massage therapy is sometimes recommended as a palliative treatment to relieve stress in the muscles.
Doctors of Chiropractic utilize adjustments to the upper cervical spine to relieve nerves and joints that have become irritated and are causing these headaches. In trials involving patients with a headache from neck dysfunction, neck pain, or both, manipulation alignment of the upper cervical spine was associated with a significant improvement in health outcomes. Research workers at Duke University have noted that by releasing tight, short muscles, this adjustment permits optimum blood flow, reducing headache pain.
In a study published in the February 2010 issue of The Spine Journal, patients with chronic cervicogenic headaches received either a light massage or chiropractic care. Those who received chiropractic reported much greater improvement than the group receiving the light massage did. In terms of patient satisfaction, a May 2009 Consumer Reports article revealed that chiropractic was rated top among all healthcare providers by the more than 14,000 consumers surveyed.
Headaches that originate from the neck or upper shoulders which are concentrated in the temples, orbital region, or forehead are called cervicogenic. The causes can be many but some are: muscle spasms, whiplash, arthritis, degenerative disk disease, or other medical problems. The source of the problem typically occurs in the top three vertebrae of the cervical spine. The resulting pain is experienced in the head, and classifies the headache as a type of referred pain.
A child or an adult can develop a cervicogenic headache. The condition can be difficult to detect because patients often experience migraines or tension headaches simultaneously. As a result, a doctor can easily misdiagnose the headache. A physical examination, X-ray, and an MRI or CT scan are commonly used to make a diagnosis. One telltale symptom of this condition is that certain neck movements or keeping the neck in the same position for a prolonged period typically make the head and neck pain worse.
Several treatments are available for this type of headache. Since patients respond differently to each type of treatment, they must work closely with their doctors to discover the most effective approach. Injecting anesthetic drugs at identified trigger points in the muscles surrounding the upper portion of the cervical spine is one popular treatment. Other types of injections include Botox, steroids, or corticosteroid drugs.
Various types of medications are also used to treat headaches including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), anti-seizure drugs, and low doses of antidepressants. Over the counter creams that contain numbing agents such as Biofreeze may relieve muscle pain experienced in the neck. Massage therapy is sometimes recommended as a palliative treatment to relieve stress in the muscles.
Doctors of Chiropractic utilize adjustments to the upper cervical spine to relieve nerves and joints that have become irritated and are causing these headaches. In trials involving patients with a headache from neck dysfunction, neck pain, or both, manipulation alignment of the upper cervical spine was associated with a significant improvement in health outcomes. Research workers at Duke University have noted that by releasing tight, short muscles, this adjustment permits optimum blood flow, reducing headache pain.
In a study published in the February 2010 issue of The Spine Journal, patients with chronic cervicogenic headaches received either a light massage or chiropractic care. Those who received chiropractic reported much greater improvement than the group receiving the light massage did. In terms of patient satisfaction, a May 2009 Consumer Reports article revealed that chiropractic was rated top among all healthcare providers by the more than 14,000 consumers surveyed.
About the Author:
Elsie Betty Stoffel is an author writing about healthy living. Would you like to know more about chiropractor Pittsburgh? Get more information about chiropractic Pittsburgh.
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