We often forget that everything in our body is connected. If you have pain in your back, it’s not uncommon for the ache to stem from a problem with your feet. If you’re experiencing pain in two different areas at the same time, it’s important to consider how one area might be affecting the other.
Neck pain and headaches are both common issues that people face every now and then, but they don’t always occur at the same time. When they do occur simultaneously, you’re probably wondering if it’s possible that your neck pain can cause headaches. The answer is yes, and we’ll discuss how.
We’re going to talk about the basics of neck pain and headaches before diving into how they can be connected. We’ll also discuss some potential reasons why you’re experiencing neck pain that’s causing headaches.
The basics of neck pain and headaches
Before we talk about how neck pain can cause headaches, let’s talk about each issue on its own.
Headaches are one of the most common conditions experienced around the world. It’s estimated that nearly half of the adult population has at least one headache a year. People who experience recurrent headaches can be diagnosed with a headache disorder. Up to 4% of the world’s population has a headache for 15 or more days every month.
Neck pain is also a common issue, often occurring alongside other symptoms such as stiffness and reduced range of motion. It affects up to 50% of the adult population every year.
How can neck pain cause headaches
It’s possible that your neck pain is causing your headaches. That’s because the nerves in your neck, known as cervical nerves, send pain signals to your brain. There are eight spinal nerves that stem from the spinal cord and flow into the neck, called the cervical plexus. When these nerves experience pain due to strain, compression or irritation, those pain signals can translate into a headache.
It’s also important to note that it’s common for a headache to be the main issue, with neck pain occurring as a symptom. For example, migraine headaches are one of the most common types of headaches, characterized by throbbing pain on one side of the head. Approximately 69% of people who experience migraines report having neck pain at the same time.
Potential reasons for neck pain that can cause headaches
Neck pain and headaches are both conditions that can be either temporary or the signs of an injury or medical condition. There are quite a few potential causes for neck pain that result in headaches, including:
- Muscle strain — It’s common to experience muscle strain in your neck from everyday occurrences such as poor posture or extending your neck for long periods of time to look at your phone. While neck pain and stiffness are common symptoms of a muscle strain, it can also lead to headaches because the tissue in your scalp also tenses up.
- Whiplash — If you’ve been involved in a car accident that caused your head to rapidly move back and forth, it’s possible that you developed whiplash. This neck injury can affect the muscles, tendons, nerves and spinal discs in your neck. Cervicogenic headaches are common whiplash symptoms, which means it’s referred pain from the spine.
- Pinched nerve — Cervical radiculopathy, often referred to as a pinched nerve, occurs when there is pressure applied from surrounding bones, muscles or tendons. When the sensory nerve fibers in your neck are affected by the compressed or irritated nerve, it can result in a headache during neck movement.
- Herniated disc — There are seven spinal vertebrae in your neck, and they each have discs to act as a cushion between them. If the nucleus of a spinal disc in your neck leaks through a tear in the exterior, it can put pressure on your spinal cord or surrounding nerves and lead to headaches.
Panther Physical Therapy can help treat your neck pain that’s causing headaches
If you’re experiencing headaches that’s connected to neck pain, it’s important to focus on treating the source of the issue. That means that by alleviating the cause of your neck pain, such as a muscle strain or pinched nerve, it will have a domino effect and decrease your headaches as well.
Physical therapy is one of the best courses of action for treating neck pain. A physical therapist can design a treatment plan that includes techniques like manual therapy, targeted exercises and ergonomic suggestions. These treatments can go a long way in reducing the ache and increasing your neck’s range of motion as well as decreasing your headaches.
Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.