Headache and Migraines Forum - Cervicogenic headaches??

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Q: Cervicogenic headaches??

asked by: beth1954 on May 6th, 2009

New User

Hello--I'm new here. I have been having headaches most of my life. I have had migraines since I was about 12 years old. They come and go. Sometimes I have had over 50 migraines in a 2 month period.

Then I started getting headaches that seemed to start in my neck, go over the top of my head, and NOTHING can make them go away. I have Norco, Darvicet, Soma...none of them can really touch it. (Don't worry-I don't use them all at the same time!)

That has been going on for years. I had a car accident in February where I rear ended a car at about 35-40 mph. My neck seemed not too bad at first, but as time went by it got worse and worse. Now I have daily excrutiating headaches. All of them start in my neck and work their way to up over my head, sometimes around my head like a band. When I cough, it makes me feel like my neck is going to split open. I have been to a neurosurgeon and had an MRI yesterday. I'm really nervous to find out what is going on.

It's hard to go to work, and I could just bust out crying from the pain. Crying or Very sad

Replies(3)

MandMs

replied on May 7th, 2009

Extremely eHealthy

It seems that you are indeed suffering from cervicigenic headache (chronic unilateral pain that is referred to the head from either bony structures or soft tissues of the neck).
Two things are exclusive for this type of headache and help to distinguish them from migraine.
The first is that the headache can be made worse or actually onset by head or neck movement (you'll have changed neck posture or restricted neck range of motion).
The second is that there is marked tenderness in the suboccipital region or just under the base of the head.
History of car accident is also suggestive for this type of headache.
Medications alone are often ineffective or provide only modest benefit for this condition.
Anesthetic blockade, thermal neurolysis, combined with physical therapy is recommended, too.
A variety of surgical interventions can be suggested in certain cases.

Best wishes!

beth1954

replied on June 28th, 2009

New User

The neurologist decided that my headaches at the base of my head, in my neck, etc. are not cervicogenic headaches, and are not related to the neuroenteric cyst that is on my spine in the C-2 to C-3 area. I was very upset by this. I don't think he really cared. He referred me to a physical therapist.

I have only been there for 3 visits, but I don't think it's going to help at all. The physical therapist is trying to build up my muscles in my neck and upper back--not a bad idea, but I have a gut feeling it's more than that.

beth1954

replied on June 28th, 2009

New User

By the way, excuse my typing if there are alot of errors. there is something wrong with my computer, and everything is so tiny I can hardly read i t. I tried to reset the text size with no luck!

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