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Neck pain and headache are among the most common recurring ailments. Suffering from any of these two can leave you feeling miserable. They often come along together making the situation more dire. It can leave you feeling stressed out, unable to concentrate or complete work as the lingering pain radiates from the head and neck region, leaving you desperate for relief. It’s crucial to know what causes headache with neck pain to find a viable treatment. Here, we are exploring some possible avenues that you can refer to.
The spine consists of three major sections and the spine is what makes up the neck. It supports the head, facilitates movement, and allows the nerves to travel between the brain and spine. If you are complaining about neck pain associated with headache, there are a few common reasons why it could be happening.
Phone:Are you using your phone in this posture – head dropped and stooped shoulder? That’s generally the posture we take when using the phone and it’s the culprit behind your neck pain.
Posture:Let’s address the elephant in the room, bad posture is one of the biggest reasons for back issues and here, neck pain is no different. Doctors will recommend posture correction for spine care if you walk into their clinics complaining about back issues.
Past Injuries:Sometimes, past injuries and trauma could flare up your neck pain putting you in a difficult position.
Work Culture:In the hustle work culture we live in today, we often spend hours sitting on an office chair without thinking about proper spine care. It’s often due to the desk or chair being set too high or too low, which puts strain and pressure on your neck, contributing to the pain.
Of course, these aren’t the only causes of neck pain. It could be before improper sleeping positions, herniated discs, pinched nerves, and stiff neck muscles to name a few.
It’s only natural that you might ask how both neck pain and headaches are related? Turns out there are different types of headaches right from migraine to cervicogenic to occipital neuralgia among others and some are associated with neck pain as well. Generally, neck pain is behind headaches due to stress, strained muscles, and whatnot. Your neck pain may be instigating the headache or the other way around.
Knowing what type of headache you are suffering from can put you in a better position towards finding a suitable treatment.
This type of headache is characterised by sharp, electric-shock-like, and painful sensations on the back of the head, ears, and neck. Often confused with migraine, Occipital Neuralgia occurs when there’s a pinched nerve causing the pain to branch out to a larger region.
CGH is characterized as a referred pain that occurs due to neck strain, injury, pinched nerve, arthritis, and wrong sleep position, etc. It mainly occurs from the bottom of the skull and radiates to one side of the head. It might make it difficult to move the neck from one side to another.
Certainly one of the most common types of headaches, migraine affects a majority of people as it adds dull and throbbing pain on one side of the head. It can affect the neck too which is considered as a symptom of migraine. The pulsating pain borne out of migraine is unsettling and you might become sensitive to sound or light.
As the name hints, this type of headache is often moderate in intensity but rather a constant pain affecting one or both sides of the head. It can radiate to the face, ear, shoulder, and neck region. Unlike migraine, Hemicrania Continua pushes continuous pain of varying intensity at intervals. If you exhibit these symptoms, seek out treatment as soon as possible.
As the name suggests, this type of headache occurs when the scalp and neck muscles become tense due to fear, stress, tension or emotions, etc. Tension headache primarily happens to someone under high stress . It is a non-throbbing dull pain often affecting the neck, scalp, and forehead. The pain mainly affects the entire head and not either halves.
TMJ headaches don’t just affect the head but also the jaws and the surrounding muscles. Common factors contributing to TMJ are genetics, arthritis of the jaw, grinding teeth, jaw clenching, and jaw injury to name a few. It could occur due to muscle fatigue and may add to neck and face soreness.
Here are some top picks on what you can do to relieve headaches caused due to neck pain. The efficacy of these tips might differ but generally, these are some ways that should work.
A lot has been said about it and yet, people don’t feel like paying attention to it. Your spine has three natural curves and it is in its relaxed state when these curves are attained. However, poor posture introduces discomfort and pain in the neck and back region. In fact, if poor posture is not corrected, it can lead to a range of musculoskeletal issues, including herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and slipped discs, among others.
Applying heat or cold to the affected region can make the pain subside. For instance, cold therapy is advised when someone is suffering from a migraine. Similarly, applying heat or cold to the affected region relaxes the muscles, reduces the tension, and relieves you from a throbbing headache. It’s no wonder you feel energised after taking a hot bath.
There’s a correlation between stress and neck pain. High levels of stress reduces the quality of life. Practising meditation, relaxation techniques, and deep breathing among others helps ease stress levels. Although stress management may seem like a lot of work, indulging in activities, playing with kids, and simply taking the negative thoughts out of the mind can make a huge difference.
Working for extended periods without taking breaks can disrupt the work-life balance. Experts recommend taking frequent breaks during work, walking, and stretching in between to relieve muscle tension. In fact, all these activities are known to improve productivity and are certainly good for spine care.
Small things can help improve one’s lifestyle drastically. Quitting smoking, taking proper medication, and using proper lifting techniques when carrying something heavy, are some ways to maintain good overall spine health.
If you are bothered by a constant headache with neck pain, it’s time to get help. We at QI Spine Clinic have been treating patients suffering from a wide range of neck pain and back pain using state-of-the-art and non-invasive methods.
Contact us at 086558 85566 to schedule an appointment and take the first step toward reclaiming a normal life.
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