Could Your Headache Actually Be Coming From Your Neck?
Could Your Headache Actually Be Coming From Your Neck?
If you get headaches over and over, you probably know the routine.
Your head starts hurting. You take something for the pain. Maybe the headache gets better.
Then a few days later, it comes back.
But what if the problem isn't actually starting in your head?
For some people, recurring headaches can be connected to problems in the neck. When a headache originates from structures in the neck, it is often called a cervicogenic headache.
And this isn't just a chiropractic idea.
The International Headache Society officially recognizes cervicogenic headache as a type of secondary headache caused by a disorder or problem involving structures in the neck.
How Can Your Neck Cause a Headache?
Your head and neck are closely connected.
The joints, muscles, and nerves in the upper part of your neck send information into areas of the nervous system that also receive pain signals from the head.
Because these signals can overlap, your brain may sometimes interpret pain coming from the neck as pain coming from the head.
This is known as referred pain.
In other words, where you feel the pain isn't always where the problem started.
That's one reason a problem in your neck can sometimes feel like a headache.
What Is a Cervicogenic Headache?
A cervicogenic headache is a headache that originates from structures in the neck.
The pain may begin around the upper neck or base of the skull and then travel toward the side or front of the head.
Because the pain is felt in the head, it can be easy to assume the problem is entirely in the head.
But sometimes the neck is playing an important role.
According to the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3), reduced neck movement and headaches that become worse with certain neck movements can be clues that the cervical spine is involved.
That doesn't mean every headache accompanied by neck pain is cervicogenic. Migraines and other types of headaches can also cause neck discomfort, which is why a proper evaluation matters.
Signs Your Headache May Be Coming From Your Neck
There are several clues we look for when someone has recurring headaches.
You may notice:
Headaches that begin near the base of your skull
Neck pain or stiffness along with your headache
Pain that tends to affect one side more than the other
Headaches that get worse when you turn or tilt your head
Reduced movement in your neck
Tight or tender muscles around your neck and shoulders
Headaches after spending long periods at a computer
Headaches after driving or looking down at your phone for long periods
You don't need to have every one of these symptoms for your neck to be involved.
More importantly, the presence of neck pain alone doesn't prove that your neck is causing your headache.
We have to look at the entire picture.
Why Do Neck-Related Headaches Keep Coming Back?
This is an important question.
Pain relievers may help reduce headache symptoms. But if the headache is being driven partly by problems with the muscles, joints, or movement of the neck, reducing the pain doesn't necessarily address those contributing factors.
Think about a smoke alarm that keeps going off.
You could cover up the sound, but that doesn't tell you why the alarm keeps being triggered.
Recurring pain can be similar.
Instead of only asking:
"How do I make this headache stop?"
It may be worth asking:
"Why does this headache keep coming back?"
If the neck is contributing to the headache, improving how the neck moves and functions may be an important part of managing the problem.
What Does the Research Say?
Research into cervicogenic headaches has looked at treatments including spinal manipulation, joint mobilization, soft-tissue techniques, and specific neck exercises.
A 2022 systematic review and meta-analysis examined 20 studies involving 1,439 people with cervicogenic headaches.
The researchers found that manual therapy and exercise may help reduce headache intensity, headache frequency, and headache-related disability. When the researchers looked specifically at the higher-quality trials, they found moderate-quality evidence supporting spinal manipulation compared with sham treatment.
However, the authors also pointed out limitations in the available studies and called for more high-quality research.
Another 2022 systematic review found moderate-certainty evidence that manual therapy reduced headache frequency in the short term. The same review found evidence suggesting that neck exercise may provide longer-term benefits for some patients.
More recently, a 2024 randomized clinical trial studied 99 people diagnosed with cervicogenic headache. Researchers compared exercise alone with exercise plus a specific form of manual therapy.
The combination treatment resulted in greater improvements in headache frequency, intensity, duration, headache-related disability, and upper-neck movement. Some of those improvements were still present at the 26-week follow-up.
The takeaway isn't that one treatment "cures headaches."
It's that when a headache is truly coming from the neck, evaluating and treating the way the neck moves and functions can make sense—and there is clinical research supporting that approach.
Could Your Phone or Computer Be Part of the Problem?
Think about how much time most of us spend looking at screens.
We work on computers.
We look down at phones.
We drive.
We sit for long periods.
These activities can place the neck in the same position for long periods and may aggravate an already sensitive neck.
That doesn't mean "bad posture" automatically causes headaches.
But if your headaches consistently show up after working at your computer, driving, or spending hours on your phone, that's useful information.
It gives us another clue about what may be triggering your symptoms.
What Do We Look For?
At Thrive Chiropractic & Functional Health, we don't assume every headache is caused by the neck.
We want to understand what may be contributing to your specific headaches.
For someone experiencing recurring headaches along with neck pain or stiffness, an evaluation may include looking at:
Neck movement
Joint mobility
Muscle tension and tenderness
Upper-back movement
Posture
Previous injuries
Activities that trigger the headache
How often the headaches occur
Where the headache begins and where the pain travels
These clues can help us determine whether the neck may be playing a role.
How Can Chiropractic Care Help With Neck-Related Headaches?
When the neck appears to be contributing to someone's headaches, the goal isn't simply to "crack the neck."
The goal is to improve how the neck and surrounding areas move and function.
Depending on what we find during the evaluation, care may include:
Chiropractic adjustments
Gentle joint mobilization
Soft-tissue treatment
Neck mobility exercises
Upper-back mobility
Strengthening exercises
Posture and movement recommendations
This combination is important.
The research on cervicogenic headaches suggests that both hands-on treatment and appropriate exercise may have a role, rather than relying on one treatment alone.
When Should You Be More Concerned About a Headache?
Most headaches are not medical emergencies, but some require immediate medical attention.
Seek urgent medical care for a sudden, extremely severe headache or a headache associated with symptoms such as weakness, numbness, confusion, fainting, difficulty speaking, significant vision changes, high fever, or a recent serious head injury.
A headache that is new, unusual, rapidly worsening, or significantly different from your normal headaches should also be evaluated by an appropriate healthcare provider.
Stop Chasing the Headache and Start Looking for the Cause
If your headaches keep returning, there may be more to the story than where you feel the pain.
Especially if you also experience neck pain, stiffness, limited movement, or headaches that begin near the base of your skull, your neck may be worth a closer look.
At Thrive Chiropractic & Functional Health in Branson, Missouri, we help people with neck pain and recurring headaches determine what may be contributing to their symptoms and what treatment options may be appropriate.
If you're tired of dealing with the same headache again and again, we'd be happy to help you figure out your next step.
Schedule a Complimentary Pain Relief Consultation at Thrive Chiropractic & Functional Health to find out whether your neck could be contributing to your headaches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can neck problems really cause headaches?
Yes. A cervicogenic headache is a secondary headache caused by a disorder or problem involving structures in the neck. Pain from the upper neck can sometimes be felt in the head because pain signals from the neck and head converge within the nervous system.
What does a cervicogenic headache feel like?
Cervicogenic headaches often begin around the upper neck or base of the skull and may travel toward the side or front of the head. Some people also notice neck stiffness, reduced neck movement, or headaches that worsen with certain neck positions or movements.
How can I tell if my headache is coming from my neck?
Clues may include neck pain or stiffness, reduced neck movement, headaches triggered by neck movement, pain beginning near the base of the skull, or headaches that consistently occur after activities that strain or hold the neck in one position. These signs do not prove that the neck is the cause, so an evaluation may be needed.
Can chiropractic care help cervicogenic headaches?
Research suggests that manual therapy, spinal manipulation, mobilization, and specific neck exercises may help some people with cervicogenic headaches. Treatment should be based on an appropriate evaluation and may include both hands-on care and exercise rather than relying on one treatment alone.
When should I seek medical care for a headache?
Seek urgent medical attention for a sudden severe headache or a headache accompanied by weakness, numbness, confusion, fainting, trouble speaking, major vision changes, high fever, or a recent serious head injury. New, rapidly worsening, or unusually different headaches should also be evaluated by an appropriate healthcare provider.
Research & References
Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society. International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd Edition (ICHD-3). Section 11.2.1: Cervicogenic Headache.
Bini P, Hohenschurz-Schmidt D, Masullo V, Pitt D, Draper-Rodi J. The effectiveness of manual and exercise therapy on headache intensity and frequency among patients with cervicogenic headache: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Chiropractic & Manual Therapies. 2022;30:49.
Demont A, et al. Efficacy of physiotherapy interventions for the management of adults with cervicogenic headache: a systematic review and meta-analyses. PM&R. 2023.
Satpute K, Bedekar N, Hall T. Mulligan manual therapy added to exercise improves headache frequency, intensity and disability more than exercise alone in people with cervicogenic headache: a randomised trial. Journal of Physiotherapy. 2024;70(3):224–233.
Jull G, Trott P, Potter H, et al. A randomized controlled trial of exercise and manipulative therapy for cervicogenic headache. Spine. 2002;27(17):1835–1843.
Comments