You had a busy day at work–collating spreadsheets, meeting with clients over Zoom, and typing up several end-of-quarter reports. By mid-afternoon, you noticed pain in the side of your neck. By the time you’re driving home in five o’clock traffic, it’s gotten worse — and you have a throbbing headache to go along with it.
Sound familiar? Headaches are some of the most common medical complaints in the world, and almost everyone has experienced one at some point in their life. There are also over 150 different types of headaches, all with a variety of triggers and causes.
However, some of the most common headaches stem from musculoskeletal issues, like muscle restriction or radiating neck pain. That’s why our unique blend of chiropractic care, physical therapy, and pain management injections can help you find lasting relief.
Today, we want to explore the connection between neck pain and headaches and share how we can help you resolve your discomfort. Want to learn more? Contact Vibrant Health Solutions to set up an appointment.
Neck Pain and Headaches: More Closely Related Than You Might Think!
Headaches and neck pain often go hand in hand. In fact, there’s a specific term for neck-related headaches: cervicogenic headaches.
These headaches develop due to tension or strain in your neck’s soft tissues and joints, which can put pressure on nearby nerves. You might experience pain or stiffness in your neck itself, but sometimes, the pain radiates into your head.
What Do Cervicogenic Headaches Feel Like?
The pain typically starts in the neck or at the base of the skull and radiates to the back of the head, temples, or behind the eyes. You might also experience neck-related symptoms, such as pain or tenderness in the neck or shoulders and limited mobility in your neck. You might also notice that the pain intensifies with certain movements or prolonged positions, like sitting at a desk for extended periods.
What Causes Cervicogenic Headaches?
- Poor posture
- Repetitive movements
- Whiplash or other neck injuries
- Arthritis in the cervical spine
- Muscle tension in the upper neck and shoulder
The Vibrant Health Solutions Approach to Managing Headaches and Neck Pain
A Comprehensive Assessment
If you’re struggling with headaches and neck pain, book an appointment at our clinic! Our case manager will perform a comprehensive consultation to help us better understand your symptoms and determine the underlying reasons for your discomfort. We’ll review your health history, discuss your symptoms, and try to pinpoint any potential triggers for your headaches. For example, do you tend to develop them after work? When you’re stressed? When you eat certain foods?
Next, our nurse practitioner will review your health history and perform a physical examination, including ordering any diagnostic tests as needed. This information helps us understand the type of headaches you’re experiencing so our entire team can create the right treatment program for your needs.
A Customized Plan of Care
Developing your care plan is a collaborative effort between our in-house specialists. We pull from several healthcare fields to create a truly personalized program to help you find relief from headaches and neck pain:
Chiropractic Adjustments
Our chiropractors target spinal misalignments that may put pressure on nerves and contribute to your pain. Chiropractic adjustments correct these misalignments by sharpling thrusting the cervical (neck) spine through its current range of motion.
Trigger Point Injections
These saline-based injections relieve pain by breaking up trigger points, which are small knots in your body’s connective tissue. They provide lasting relief without the need for strong medications.
Therapeutic Exercise
Because cervicogenic headaches often stem from muscle tightness, poor posture, and similar issues, we can show you exercises designed to strengthen the muscles that support your neck, preventing strain and reducing the likelihood of future headaches.
Find Relief from Headache and Neck Pain Today
At Vibrant Health Solutions, we focus on long-term results rather than trying to simply mask your pain. Our team of specialists will work together to help you achieve the possible outcomes, minimizing your headaches and preventing future episodes of pain.
Contact us today to meet with our nurse practitioner and start your journey to lasting relief!
Patient Success Story
“Thank you for working with me to learn ways to improve my neck and shoulders, to reduce my headaches. I feel I have learned how to continue to exercise at home to maintain and improve strength and flexibility. All the individual work on my neck really helped it to relax which helped me do the exercises.” – Julie W.
FREE Workshops
Back Pain and Sciatica Workshop
Wednesday, 23 Oct 2024, 6:30 PM
Shoulder Pain and Rotator Cuff
Wednesday, 9 Oct 2024, 6:30 PM
Beet and Apple Salad
This vibrant Beet and Apple Salad features roasted beets tossed with a tangy mustard-vinegar dressing, fresh apples, and crunchy pistachios for a flavorful and colorful dish.
Preheat the oven to 375°. In a baking dish, lightly drizzle the beets and thyme with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Cover with foil and roast until the beets are tender, about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Let cool, then peel the beets and cut them into 3/4-inch dice.
In a large bowl, whisk the vinegar with the mustard. Whisk in the remaining 1/2 cup of oil until emulsified. Add the horseradish and season with salt and pepper; toss with the beets and apples. Transfer the beets to a platter, top with pistachios and serve.
https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/beet-and-apple-salad. PHOTO: © DAVID MALOSH
- 4 large beets (2 1/2 pounds)
- 5 thyme sprigs
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil (plus more for drizzling)
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- ¼ cup apple-cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 3 tablespoons prepared horseradish
- ⅓ cup salted pistachios (chopped)
- 1 green apple (thinly sliced)
Meet Logan Powell
Logan Powell, PTA, completed his Physical Therapist Assistant degree at Kansas City Kansas Community College. He became interested in Physical Therapy after receiving treatment himself, and wanted to help people! He loves the outdoors, fishing, hiking, watching historical fiction and medieval fantasy, and spending time with family.
Exercise of the Month
Sitting Cervical Side-Bending Right with Overpressure
Start by sitting upright in a chair with your lower back supported. Tuck in the chin to straighten the neck. Place your right hand over the top of your head, with fingers pointed towards the ear. Keep your left hand on the back of the neck as support. Bend your neck to the right, allowing your right hand to assist you in going deeper into the motion. Hold for 3 seconds.
Let’s Get You Better ASAP!
Don’t let pain dictate your life. Take the first step towards reclaiming your mobility and well-being with our expert support. Start your journey to a healthier you today.
