We discuss the difference between migraines and neck headaches. There is a portion of people that experience migraines that are actually neck headaches in disguise. Often the symptoms of migraines and neck headaches can be similar. These symptoms include unilateral head or face pain, pain referred to the occipital, frontal, orbital, temporal regions, typically moderate to severe intensity, but non-throbbing but reported deep in nature. Other similarities include headaches that are triggered by sustained positions or postures or awkward neck positions, restricted active and passive range of motion at the neck, pressure over the C2, C3, and C4 regions of the spine and the suboccipital musculature. Lastly signs and symptoms can be similar and include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, blurred vision, neck, shoulder and arm pain. When we evaluate selling with the previous symptoms and signs we take them through a thorough history and a McKenzie mechanical evaluation in an effort to see if any positions or movements will reduce or eliminate the headache that the currently complaining about. Sometimes you can have both a migraine and a neck headache at the same time and have a partial reduction or improvement in symptoms once you stretch the appropriate structures. One of the more common exercises that reduce neck headaches or cervicogenic headaches is gross cervical flexion and sitting. Oftentimes imaging may assist in identifying possible candidates for neck headaches, but cannot provide a diagnosis by imaging alone. Other serious medical pathologies or conditions can be picked up on MRIs and x-rays.
18 апр 2018
