About cervicogenic headaches and our treatment for it

There are no exact tests that determine whether a headache is a migraine, tension headache, or caused by cervicogenic factors.

The symptoms vary but often include a persistent ache starting at the base of the skull either on one or both sides. A stiff neck and restricted movement are other symptoms, accompanying pain behind the eyes and decreased concentration as indicators of a cervicogenic headache.

This varies between individuals, ranging from a matter of days to a number of weeks – depending on the severity and how well you respond to treatment.

These particularly headaches are generally the result of an activity that places strain on the upper neck, either during a trauma or prolonged poor posture. Stress can also increase tension around the body, including the neck and shoulders. It can often be impossible to determine an exact cause as it could be a range of factors.

Treatment is dependent on the cause and severity of the injury. A clinician will be keen to restore full movement to the neck through exercise, heat treatment and manual techniques. Pain management will also help ease the symptoms, and the clinician will advise you lower your stress levels as part of the treatment.

If the pain becomes severe or your experience new symptoms after some time has passed, you must seek further assistance.