Cervicogenic Headaches And Migraines: Everything You Need To Know

Identifying the origin of a headache is very difficult. Almost all types of headaches share common symptoms of nausea, sensitivity to light, and throbbing pain.

Similarly, Cervicogenic headaches and migraines have many traits in common, so many that both may be mixed up. Both are unilateral headaches and sometimes mimic each other, making it difficult to distinguish. However, as for a number of reasons they differ.

Herniated Disc – An Overview

Cervical discs are shock-absorbing organs located in between neck-vertebrae. They play a significant role in neck and spine functionality. Cervical discs can become herniated when the ligaments tear and leave a space in between ligaments for the disc to escape. In most of the cases, sports injuries are the reason for a herniated disc. The pain caused by herniated discs does not necessarily start at the neck. In fact, most chiropractors have observed patients reporting pain that radiates from their shoulders down to their arms. These professionals suggest chiropractic treatment and some tips that they should follow while dealing with a herniated disc.

Although, the cause of a cervicogenic headache is often related to excessive stress to the neck. The headache may result due to a herniated or a damaged disc.

Symptoms Of Cervicogenic Headaches

➢    Severe pain on one side of the head or face.

➢    Stiff neck.

➢    Steady pain for hours/ days. Doesn’t throb.

➢    Nausea.

➢    Blurry Vision.

➢    Occurs on coughing, sneezing, or deep breathing.

Treatment Options for Cervicogenic Headaches

➢    Medication.

➢    Nerve Block.

➢    Physical Therapy.

➢    Spinal Manipulation.

➢    Yoga.

➢    Deep breathing techniques.

Migraines – An Overview

Migraines are severe, recurring headaches. It is a neurological condition in which the patient suffers from pain that is throbbing and pulsating. Many migraine patients can clearly identify triggers that cause headaches such as allergies, stress, etc. while some experience a warning symptom before a full-blown migraine attack.

Hormonal changes, stress, depression, anxiety, neck tension, physical over-exhaustion, irregular mealtimes, dehydration, flickering screens, strong smells, temperature changes are some of the triggers that are likely to set off migraines. The symptoms of migraines differ from person to person. To improve the condition of the patient, many important tips are suggested by chiropractors for migraines, such as gentle exercise, yoga, rest and physical therapy, etcetera.

Symptoms:

➢    Constipation.

➢    Food cravings.

➢    Frequent yawning.

➢    Increase thirst and urination.

➢    Fatigue.

➢    Bloating.

➢    Vision loss.

➢    Tingling sensation on one side of the body.

➢    Muscle pain.

➢    Throbbing headache.

➢    Sensitivity to light, sound, and sometimes smell and touch.

Treatment Options:

➢    Massage Therapy.

➢    Lifestyle changes.

➢    Biofeedback.

➢    Acupuncture.

➢    Aromatherapy.

➢    Butterbur.

➢    Medication.

➢    Surgery.

Herniated Discs and Migraines – Is your Herniated Disc causing your Migraines?

Many patients with cervical disc injuries report getting headaches regularly. In some cases, the headache symptoms mirror those of migraines, but this might not be the case always.

Unlike cervicogenic headaches caused by neck pain and injury, migraine headaches are thought to be a vascular-based deformity in the brain. Since the cervicogenic pain originates at a spot that is located very close to the trigeminal nerve, it is possible for patients to experience pain that spreads to their upward and facial regions. These headaches can be conflated with migraines. A chiropractor for migraines can perform a diagnosis to determine if headaches are related to migraine condition or are cervicogenic.

Most people have a lot of misconceptions about chiropractors.; the most common being, they treat conditions in adults. However, that is absolutely false. A chiropractor for kids can be helpful in various ways. They can help your kids by:

➢    Improving sleep quality.

➢    Treating ear infections.

➢    Reducing the pain associated with growing pains.

➢    Enhancing digestion.

Final Words

Herniated disc pain may act as a stressor or a trigger of migraine headaches and neck injuries may be the reason for tension headaches. But they are not likely to cause migraines in patients who have never experienced episodes before.