Headaches are one of the most common experiences of pain. Unfortunately, headaches really can—and do—detract from the quality of daily life.

One of the most common types of headache is called “cervicogenic headache.” Cervicogenic headache is a syndrome characterized by chronic hemicranial pain that is referred to the head from either the body structures or the soft tissues of the neck. While this type of headache is often a result of head or neck injury, it sometimes occurs in the absence of trauma.

In the US, nearly 20% of patients who experience chronic headache are diagnosed with cervicogenic headaches. Cervicogenic headaches are also four times more prevalent in women than in men.

Patients with cervicogenic headache often have altered neck exposure or restricted cervical range of motion, as pain can be triggered or reproduced by active neck movement, passive neck positioning, or on applying digital pressure to the involved facet regions or over the ipsilateral greater occipital nerve.

An Aspirin a Day Won’t Make the Pain Go Away

You should book an appointment for therapy as soon as possible if you are experiencing any of the symptoms of cerviogenic headaches, such as:

• a recent history of indirect neck trauma (whiplash);
• a unilateral headache that does not change sides;
• pain that is located in the occipital, frontal, temporal, or orbital regions;
• pain that lasts from hours to days;
• an ache that usually begins in the neck;
• headache that is moderate to severe, non-throbbing and non-lancinating;