Why Your Neck Pain Might Be Causing Your Headaches
That Headache Might Not Be Starting in Your Head
Another headache.
You drink some water. You rub your temples. Maybe you take something for the pain. It settles down…
And then a few days later, it’s back.
If headaches keep interrupting your work, workouts, sleep, or time with your family, it’s easy to focus entirely on where you feel the pain.
But sometimes, the headache isn’t actually starting in your head.
Your neck may be part of the problem.
And if you’ve been treating the headache without looking at your neck, that may help explain why it keeps coming back.
How Can Neck Pain Cause a Headache?
Your neck contains joints, muscles and nerves that work together all day to support and move your head.
When some of those structures become irritated or aren’t moving well, pain can sometimes be felt somewhere else.
Including your head.
This is called referred pain.
One type of headache associated with problems in the neck is called a cervicogenic headache.
Basically, your neck is causing trouble and your head gets the complaint department. 😅
5 Signs Your Headaches May Be Connected to Your Neck
1. Your Headache Starts Around Your Neck or Base of Your Skull
Pay attention to where the discomfort begins.
If it starts around the:
Upper neck
Base of the skull
Back of the head
…and then moves toward the side or front of your head, your neck may be involved.
The upper joints and muscles of your neck can refer pain into different areas of the head.
2. Your Neck Feels Stiff When You Have a Headache
Try turning your head from side to side.
Does one direction feel significantly tighter than the other?
If headaches regularly show up alongside neck pain, stiffness or reduced movement, that is worth assessing.
Your headache and stiff neck may not be two separate problems.
3. Certain Neck Positions Make Your Headache Worse
Maybe your headaches tend to show up after:
Working at a computer
Driving for a long time
Looking down at your phone
Spending hours in one position
If your symptoms change depending on what your neck is doing, that gives us an important clue.
And yes, apparently staring six inches closer to the computer screen does not make the spreadsheet more interesting. 💻
4. Your Headaches Keep Returning
You get rid of the headache.
Great.
Then it comes back.
If you’re constantly dealing with the same headache pattern, it’s worth asking why it keeps happening.
For some people, addressing neck movement, muscle tension, strength and other contributing factors can be an important part of managing recurring headaches.
5. You Have Shoulder or Upper-Back Tension Too
Your neck doesn’t work by itself.
Your upper back, shoulders, shoulder blades and neck all work together.
If your headaches come with:
Tight shoulders
Upper-back stiffness
Neck tension
Reduced neck movement
…we may need to look at the entire area instead of chasing the headache alone.
What Is a Cervicogenic Headache?
A cervicogenic headache is a headache where the source of the pain comes from structures in the neck.
That’s different from saying that all headaches are caused by your neck.
They aren’t.
Migraines, tension-type headaches and other headache disorders can have different causes and may require different approaches.
That’s exactly why an assessment matters.
Instead of simply saying, “You have headaches,” we want to understand what type of headache you’re experiencing and what may be contributing to it.
How We Approach Neck Pain and Headaches at Soulstice Wellness Centre
At Soulstice Wellness Centre in Cochrane, we assess more than the spot that hurts.
For someone experiencing neck pain and recurring headaches, we may look at:
Neck movement
Upper-back mobility
Muscle function
Shoulder mechanics
Neurological findings
Previous injuries or concussions
Daily activities that may be aggravating symptoms
Depending on what we find, your treatment plan may incorporate chiropractic care, Contemporary Medical Acupuncture, soft-tissue techniques and targeted rehabilitation exercises.
The goal isn’t simply to make today’s headache disappear.
We want to understand why you’re experiencing it and determine what we can do to help you manage it better over the long term.
When Should You Have Your Headaches Assessed?
If you’ve been thinking:
“These headaches are becoming normal for me…”
That’s a pretty good reason to stop treating them as normal.
Especially if your headaches are regularly accompanied by neck pain, stiffness or reduced movement.
And if you develop a sudden severe or unusual headache, or a headache accompanied by concerning neurological symptoms, seek prompt medical assessment rather than assuming it’s coming from your neck.
Are You Ready to Take Control of Your Headaches?
Imagine getting through your workday without waiting for that familiar headache to creep in.
Imagine training, driving, sleeping and spending time with your family without constantly thinking about your neck.
If recurring headaches and neck pain are starting to control your day, let’s find out what’s actually going on.
📞 Call 403-932-1991 or book online with Soulstice Wellness Centre to schedule your assessment.
Stop guessing about your headaches. Let’s figure out whether your neck could be part of the problem and build a plan to get you moving forward.