What Is a Cervicogenic Headache?
Cervicogenic Headache is a headache caused by a problem in the neck, with pain referred from cervical joints, muscles, or nerves into the head. The pain often begins in the neck and may spread toward the back of the head, forehead, or behind one eye. Neck movement can influence the symptoms.
Quick Facts About Cervicogenic Headache
Category
Referred pain condition
Used for
Classifying neck-related headaches
Common confusion
Often confused with migraine
Also called
Neck-related headache
Often discussed with
Headache Treatment, Neck Pain Treatment
Key Takeaways About Cervicogenic Headache
- Neck structures refer pain into the head.
- Neck movement may change headache symptoms.
- Migraine and cervicogenic headache are not the same condition.
How Cervicogenic Headache Works
Cervicogenic headache develops when pain signals from the upper neck are felt in the head. The brain can interpret signals from nearby neck and head structures as pain in the forehead, temple, or eye area. This referred pain pattern helps separate the condition from headaches that begin within the head.
Related glossary terms: Cervical Spine, Forward Head Posture, Facet Joint.
A clinical assessment considers the neck’s range of motion, posture, muscle tension, and joint response. Symptoms may become stronger with certain neck positions or movements. A cervical spine examination can help identify patterns that support a neck-related source, while a migraine assessment considers features such as sensory sensitivity and other headache patterns.
From the Arrowhead Clinic Chiropractor team
When we assess a cervicogenic headache, we review the person’s neck movement, posture, symptom pattern, and tenderness. We connect those findings with the goals of Headache Treatment and distinguish neck-related pain from patterns that may need a different clinical evaluation.
Cervicogenic Headache in Practice: A Real-World Example
A person develops pain behind one eye after prolonged desk work, and turning the neck increases the discomfort. During Headache Treatment, the neck findings help show how the symptoms may be referred from the cervical region.
Related Services
Related Terms
Cervical Spine
Cervical Spine is the upper section of the vertebral column that supports the head and connects…
Forward Head Posture
Forward Head Posture is a postural pattern in which the head rests ahead of the shoulders…
Facet Joint
A facet joint is a small, paired connection between the back portions of neighboring spinal bones…
Range Of Motion
Range Of Motion is the available movement at a joint, measured by how far a body…
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