Neck pain that turns into headaches

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Trellum

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Just wondering how many of you experience that. It seems that lately my neck pain is triggering my headaches. If I'm having neck pain only on the left side, then I start to feel some pain in that side of my head. It's annoying as heck.

I need to relax and chill, I was told the joint of my jaw might be causing that as well, is triggered by my achy neck muscles and then I get the headache. It seems that joint also hurts a lot if exposed to extremely cold wind.

Would like to know if anyone else is suffering this and if they have found a way to treat it at home? I don't want to take painkiller just to treat that.
 
They are called Cervicogenic Headaches. I get them, they are awful, they mimic migraines in me. They start in the cervical spine of the neck and spread. This is what my regular physician told me, not my neurologist. Strong narcotics help, but if I don't have them, I put 2 Alka Seltzers in orange juice and chug, then take 2 Tylenol with a Monster and drink it slowly over an hour period, and in 15-20 minutes my headache is gone. There have been times I've had to go to the emergency room to get it taken care of, they know my history and get me back immediately.
I hope this helps!
 
I get cervicogenic headaches as well.. So does my mom. Her neurologist told her its because of the muscle spasms In her neck, I guess they spasm and press on nerves like the optic nerve which cause the headache. Mine often mimic migraines too and the way I know whether I have a migraine or its caused by my neck is actually because my neck will feel awful like the muscles are so tight and don't really spasm, it's more like a knot and just really tight and also I get almost like a stabbing pain in my neck.. Boy that she suckers hurt tho, I get them almost daily and nothing helps..
 
My neurologist prescribed baclofen for these headaches. It helped, but did make me sleepy until I got used to it. Have you tried that? It works on muscle spasms and spasticity..
 
I haven't tried it yet, I'm actually waiting to see my neurologist, but it seems it might not be so soon :( I have some MRI results I need to discuss with him (I've it at home, but haven't dared to open it). I will ask him about it right after he gives me the results, hope there is nothing wrong, eeek! This kind of headaches are new to me.
 
I get cervicogenic headaches as well.. So does my mom. Her neurologist told her its because of the muscle spasms In her neck, I guess they spasm and press on nerves like the optic nerve which cause the headache. Mine often mimic migraines too and the way I know whether I have a migraine or its caused by my neck is actually because my neck will feel awful like the muscles are so tight and don't really spasm, it's more like a knot and just really tight and also I get almost like a stabbing pain in my neck.. Boy that she suckers hurt tho, I get them almost daily and nothing helps..

Hey! My left eye also hurts me! I hate it! It sounds a lot like a migraine (my migraines were never one-sided). It's awful, I think the joint of my jaw has something to do with this. I've been getting those daily as well :eek: I blamed the tension, my neck pain is mild nowadays tho. But I can fee my neck is in pain. So sorry to hear you suffer from this as well. It's tough!
 
They are called Cervicogenic Headaches. I get them, they are awful, they mimic migraines in me. They start in the cervical spine of the neck and spread. This is what my regular physician told me, not my neurologist. Strong narcotics help, but if I don't have them, I put 2 Alka Seltzers in orange juice and chug, then take 2 Tylenol with a Monster and drink it slowly over an hour period, and in 15-20 minutes my headache is gone. There have been times I've had to go to the emergency room to get it taken care of, they know my history and get me back immediately.
I hope this helps!

Hi Trecca, thanks a lot! That's actually a wonderful idea! My headaches seem to start on one side of the neck, then that one side of the head and face starts hurting (last few days it has been so mild, btw). I'm waiting to see a neurologist for a definite diagnosis, but meanwhile I'll try your suggestion! Thanks a lot!
 
You are very welcome. Let us know how it goes! These pains are something I would not wish on my worst enemy, maybe my cheating beating ex husband, but that's beside the point, haha, he's the one that caused it all from beating me. My ex husband gave me 2 good things, one: my son, and two: the headache remedy. I do hope the remedy works for you.
 
I surely will, might have the chance to see the specialist this week, I can only hope! I need to find a way to relax a bit, it seems the joint of my jaw is also causing issues! And ouch! Sorry to hear about that, but glad you try to see it under a different light and even make jokes about it, you go girlie!
 
Oh yes, my headaches are caused from this and I get them almost every day. There are a few things I do at home that help. I apply heat to my neck and shoulders. Hot showers and bengay help. i just started doing trigger point therapy at home with a tennis ball. Drinking hot ginger tea also helps. If all this fails and the headache is still bad, I take Imitrex which is a prescription migraine medication.
 
Hi there, thanks a lot for those tips! Does your neck/headaches get worse when it's cloudy or stormy? Mine do! Only one side. Btw, what's bengay? I'll ask about imitrex to the neurologist in case everything else is cleared out, hopefully I'll see him tomorrow.
 
I get those headaches too, although I have been diagnosed (with yet another label!) as having spondylitis - it's a type of arthritis of the spine that affects the neck and causes severe headaches. My eyes get badly inflamed whenever I have one of those headaches, and it can take days to recover from one.

As well as my fibro and cf, my chronic pain is mostly down to arthritis; every joint in my body is affected, and daily life is difficult when I have major flare ups. For the most part though, I am managing to have at least 50% normal life - even on a bad day. It was very difficult at first, and the emotional stress was overwhelming. Luckily I have a good and supportive network of friends and family around me who keep me going.

I hope you're all feeling ok today.
 
Hi Cress! Yeah, feeling better. Been having headaches since I was a kid :( So I'm quite familiar with those. I never truly knew why, got a lot tests done and so on, but they all came back normal, including EEG and MRIs. I guess there are some things that have no explanation or can't be explained. I guess I will never know.

Btw, glad to hear you are doing learning to cope, learning how to see the positive side of everything, specially of this is super important.
 
I have similar symptoms.....horrible neck spasms that turn into cluster migraines. I see a pain specialist who only wants to do injections with steroids which in turn has only temporary relief and doesn't fix the cause of the problem. I recently saw al chiropracter for the first time he put together a I care plan for me that will get my neck back so that I don't have to have surgery. Of all the dr. I have been through he seems to be the most positive and does not push pills. I would definitely recommend seeing a chiropractor for an evaluation.
 
Hi there, thanks a lot for those tips! Does your neck/headaches get worse when it's cloudy or stormy? Mine do! Only one side. Btw, what's bengay? I'll ask about imitrex to the neurologist in case everything else is cleared out, hopefully I'll see him tomorrow.


Bengay is an over the counter rub for arthritis, sore mucsles, etc.
 
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