How Can Headache Neck And Shoulder Pain Be Relieved

The first step in treating or preventing any headache or pain in your neck and shoulders is confirming the cause. To do that, you may want to seek the advice of a healthcare professional. Most of the problems weve identified above can be diagnosed by your doctor, but you may also choose to talk to your dentist if you think you may be suffering from TMJ disorder.

• If your problem is poor workplace posture, making some ergonomic changes may help. Try adjusting your chair and/or monitor placement to ensure youre sitting upright and not slouching or hunching over the keyboard. Also consider putting in place a timer or other system to make sure you get up and take a regular break. It will give your body and your mind a break from the strain.6
• If you suspect tension or stress is to blame for your headaches and tense neck and shoulders, then stress relief is the place to start. You should consider all the usual suspects: meditation, exercise and a healthy diet.7
• If TMJ syndrome or disorder is to blame for your head and neck pain, your plan will depend on what specifically caused the damage to your joint. More extreme cases may require orthodontics or even surgery. More commonly, though, you may be treated for bruxism. This can be with either behavioral techniques or with a mouth guard you wear at night to prevent teeth grinding.8

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Schedule An Appointment For Your Neck Pain With Disc

If you have neck pain and headaches, figuring out what is causing the pain can help you get relief. At DISC, our team of specialists at practices throughout the greater Phoenix, Arizona, area can diagnose your condition. We can then offer you relief tips for headaches caused by neck pain.

We always recommend the least invasive options first. You might see improvement with conservative solutions like heat and cold, relaxation techniques or medication. If your neck pain and headaches continue, surgery might be the best option to help you get the relief you want. To learn more, contact DISC today to schedule an appointment.

Check If It’s A Tension Headache

Common symptoms of tension headaches include:

• pain on both sides of your head, face or neck
• feeling like something is pressing on your head or being tightened around it
• the affected area may feel tender and your head may hurt more when touched

You should be able to continue doing daily activities without making the headache worse.

Tension headaches last at least 30 minutes but they can last much longer, sometimes for several days.

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What Causes Neck Pain

The neck is also called the cervical spine. Its made up of seven bones responsible for supporting the head and allowing nerves to travel from the spine to the brain. When any part of the neck is injured or strained, pain can occur. Some common causes of neck pain include:

• Your car: How you drive can contribute to neck pain. The way you sit in the drivers seat should make it easy for you to hold your spine straight without leaning forward or craning your neck. If the seat is too far back or too low, youre likely to lean forward and put stress on the neck. Driving for long periods can also cause eye strain, which can lead to discomfort in the neck.
• Your phone: If youre always checking your phone, you might have noticed soreness in the neck. Looking at your phone with your head dropped and your shoulders stooped affects your necks curve, potentially leading to problems. When youre stooped forward, theres more weight and pressure on the neck, which can lead to muscle strain.
• Your work style: Sitting in front of a computer or at a desk all day is known to contribute to spinal problems, including neck pain. If your computer monitor is too low or too high, you have to strain your neck to clearly see the screen, putting more pressure on your neck.

Potential Causes Of Cervicogenic Headaches

The cause of a cervicogenic headache is often related to excessive stress to the neck. The headache may result from cervical osteoarthritis , a damaged disc, or whiplash-type movement that irritates or compresses a cervical nerve. The neck’s bony structures and its soft tissues can contribute to the development of a cervicogenic headache.

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When To See A Healthcare Provider For Headache And Nosebleed

Sometimes, a nosebleed and headache cannot be managed at home.

If a nosebleed continues for more than 20 minutes after home treatments like pinching, it’s time to contact a healthcare provider. Other signs to contact a healthcare provider during a nosebleed include:

• Bleeding that goes down the throat
• Nosebleed caused by major trauma
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Nosebleeds that interfere with breathing

A headache can usually be managed with over-the-counter medications. But contact your healthcare provider if any of the following accompanies the headache:

• Vision or hearing changes

When Does A Headache Indicate A Serious Health Problem

Most headaches are painful but not dangerous. However, headache pain can be a warning sign of a more serious health problem. Learn when you should contact your health care provider to find out if your headaches are a sign of a more serious problem like a brain tumor.

Thomas P. Mecke is a chiropractor in the Osher Clinical Center for Integrative Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital

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Neck Pain Can Be Associated With Tension Headaches

Tension-type headaches can be the result of neck and scalp muscles tensing or contracting, according to MedlinePlus. Stress, depression, head injury, anxiety, and any activity where you hold your head in one position without moving can cause the muscle contractions.

In addition to having different causes, there are key differences between tension headache and migraine symptoms: Tension headache pain is a dull, pressure-like pain thats typically on both sides of the head, whereas migraine pain is often described as throbbing pain on one side of the head.

What Causes Headaches With Neck Pain

There are a variety of medical conditions that can cause headaches with neck pain. These conditions are both caused by irritation of sensory nerve fibers, and sometimes head or neck pain can spread to the other area because the sensory nerves of these structures are physically so close to each other.

Additionally, a medical condition that affects one can affect the other due to their proximity.

Causes of headaches with neck pain include:

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A Pharmacist Can Help With Headaches

You can ask a pharmacist about:

• the best painkiller to take, if you’re not sure which is suitable for you
• what to do if you’re pregnant some medicines are not recommended in pregnancy
• medicines for sleep problems like insomnia if you’re having trouble sleeping and you think it may be causing your headaches

• is annoying but does not stop you doing daily activities

What Else Can A Physio Do For My Severe Headache

You want more?

Working at the level of the tissues under load in the neck will provide amazing relief and respite for sufferers of tension headaches and neck pain. There is also another under utilised treatment area which can also be beneficial. Our brains.

Our brains are the only area in our body we truly feel pain. We do not have pain receptors in our neck, in our arms, our fingers or toes. We only have signalers which send information up to the brain, but none of these signals are yet pain signals! Theyre purely bits of information our brain computes into a feeling, and pain is one of the most primal of all our feelings.

Our brain takes the signals from our tissues such as pressure, temperature or internal strain and then performs a complex equation where the output, a feeling is produced. Too much temp, pressure, strain or all three equals pain.

Now our brain also takes other signals into account when calculating what feeling and how intense it should be. Our level of rest, our levels of stress, our levels of nutrition all influence this equation. Importantly our own past history also influences this equation as well.

But, because of the other factors they are much less likely to suffer with a tension type of headache. If they do, it would be of a much lesser intensity.

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Can Neck Pain Cause Tension Headaches

If you struggle with episodic or chronic tension headaches, you know just how disruptive they can be. For many people, tension headaches seem to come out of nowhere and may last a full 24 hours, if not longer, making everyday activities both frustrating and difficult. Unlike some other types of headaches, you may actually be able to reduce the frequency or severity of your tension headaches or get rid of them altogether with simple behavioral modification.

Orthopedic expert Dr. Christopher Williams and the award-winning team at Interventional Orthopedics of Atlanta understand the problematic nature of tension headaches and can help you identify the potential cause of your pain, and provide treatment and recommendations for rapid, long-lasting relief. Learn more about one of the most common causes of tension headaches neck pain and how you may be able to improve your symptoms without prescription medication or invasive treatment.

Is Neck Pain A Symptom Of Migraine

Neck pain can be one of many symptoms experienced in migraine, and the neck pain is often in the same side as the headache, says Kumar. So, if a person has a right-sided headache during the migraine attack, they will have neck pain and tightness in the right side of the neck, she says.

Neck pain in migraine is especially common in people with chronic migraine, says Kumar. Chronic migraine is a headache occurring on 15 or more days every month for more than three months, according to the International Headache Society.

Almost 80 percent of people with chronic migraine will have neck pain as an associated symptom, says Kumar.

There is some debate about whether neck pain triggers a migraine attack or is a symptom. A study published in 2018 in the Journal of Headache and Pain used electromyography to measure activity in the trapezius muscle during rest, mental stress, and physical activity in people with migraine compared with people with other types of headaches. Investigators concluded that neck pain was more likely a symptom of migraine than a trigger.

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Can Physio Help With A Tension Headache Caused By Neck Pain

Were updating our post here seeing as the dreaded tension headache has become all too common in the work from home / COVID world we now find ourselves in.

If youve ever battled against a tension headache this will be familiar. The light and colour in your life just doesnt seem as bright when the pressure and pounding in your head feels relentless. The good news is that tension headaches are treatable and even preventable. Its something that physiotherapists treat every day in clinic. In this post well take you through it.

Need relief from your tension headache?

Tip One Improve Your Posture

Bad posture, such as slouching to see your computer monitor, can certainly contribute to neck pain since you will put extra weight on it. Once you become aware that youre having a bad posture, consider standing or sitting tall and straight.

One of the best ways to improve your posture is to make your living and working environment more ergonomic. If you tend to sit for many hours, consider investing in a good chair.

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Why Does My Neck Pain Cause Headaches

Neck pain and headaches are often mentioned at the same time, as a stiff neck can cause a headache.

In fact, many neck problems can irritate, strain, or compress the nerves in the neck, which could trigger a headache.

Often, neck pain is caused by poor posture, neck strain, or injury.

In other cases, it could be caused by medical conditions, including a pinched nerve or herniated cervical disk.

There are several factors that can contribute to neck pain, including injuries, strains, and certain medical conditions.

Some common causes of neck pain include:

• stiff neck muscles

A herniated cervical disc occurs when one of the soft discs between one of the seven vertebrae in your neck becomes damaged and bulges out of your spinal column. If this presses on a nerve, you can feel pain in your neck and head.

A pinched nerve occurs when a nerve in your neck is irritated or compressed. With so many sensory nerve fibers in the spinal cord in your neck, a pinched nerve here can result in a number of symptoms, including:

• headache caused by moving your neck

Other symptoms can include shoulder pain along with muscle weakness and numbness or tingling sensations.

Some types of headaches can contribute to neck pain, which may be caused by issues with certain muscles or nerves.

The source of a tension headache is often traced back to a buildup of:

Some types of headaches could be caused by certain neck problems, including injury, inflammation, and chronic neck tension.

Preventing A Stiff Neck And Headaches

If you suffer from chronic or long term headaches and neck pain, you might consider the following preventative practices:

• Maintain a good posture – Most people sit behind a computer or desk to work. This often results in a forward head posture, where the muscles in the shoulder and neck tighten causing stiffness and headaches. When standing or sitting, ensure that your shoulders are in line with your hips and that your ears are directly over your shoulders. This may also involve customising your workspace so that your computer is at eye level and ensuring that your feet and elbows are well-supported.

• Take regular breaks – If you work behind a computer most of the day, take regular breaks. Stand up and walk around, and stretch your neck and shoulders.

• Do not sleep on your tummy – Prone sleeping is a major cause of neck stiffness. Sleep on your side with your head and neck aligned with the rest of your body, or sleep on your back with a pillow under your thighs to flatten your spinal muscles.

• Do not carry heavy bags over one shoulder.

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How Are Tension Headaches Treated

The goal of treatment is to stop headaches from occurring. Good headache management depends on reducing stress and tension. Some suggestions include:

• Going to sleep and waking at the same time each day
• Exercising regularly each day for at least 30 minutes
• Eating regular meals without skipping any, especially breakfast
• Avoiding headache triggers, such as certain foods and lack of sleep
• Resting in a quiet, dark environment as needed
• Stress management
• Medicine, as recommended by your healthcare provider

Does Neck And Shoulder Pain Cause Headaches

Neck and shoulder pain often co-exist with headaches and may even cause or aggravate them.

Studies show that tension-type headaches often occur alongside an increase in tenderness in the neck and shoulder muscles. Tender spots in the muscles or connective tissues of the body are often referred to as trigger points and are painful when touched. Trigger points can be felt as nodules, or knots, in tight muscles.6 7

Tension or stress headache sufferers may be more sensitive to the pain caused by tenderness in the neck and shoulders. This could either bring on or worsen a headache.2

In tension-type headaches, the pain is described as a band tightening around the head or a feeling of pressure in or around both sides of the head. Its estimated that up to 80 percent of adults experience this type of neck pain and headaches in the back of the head.

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How To Treat Headaches With Neck Pain

Talk to a healthcare provider about the following treatments if you experience headache with neck pain.

Treating headaches with neck pain includes methods that address symptoms and treatment of the underlying cause. Often, the medications used for headaches with neck pain effectively reduce both symptoms, but this depends on the cause.

Treatments that can relieve both headaches and neck pain when they occur together include:

• Getting some sleep to relieve fatigue
• Pain medication to relieve pain after minor trauma
• Fluids for meningitis treatment and antibiotics for bacterial meningitis
• Surgical procedures for a tumor or subarachnoid hemorrhage
• A procedure to relieve hydrocephalus

When Should You Consult A Doctor

Generally speaking, you should consider consulting a doctor when your health conditions get worse. Some of the most common signs include:

• Pain running down your arms
• Stiff neck that leads to high fevers
• Seizures, loss of balance, blurry vision, or slurred speech
• Nausea or unintended weight loss
• Headaches triggered by issues like sneezing, coughing, running, or bending

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Cervical Musculoskeletal Dysfunctions In Headache

Cervical musculoskeletal dysfunctions of joints and muscles have been observed in patients with migraine, TTH and cervicogenic headache . In the context of the neurophysiological interconnection between the dorsal root of C2 and the TCC, it may be not surprising that in participants with headache most cervical musculoskeletal dysfunctions are present in the upper cervical spine. Palpation of trigger points in suboccipital muscles and trapezius , restricted motion of the cervical segments C0-3 , and stress on joints in the upper cervical spine are related to different types of headache. Although there seems to be a relation between cervical musculoskeletal dysfunctions and headache, these are documented in studies with a casecontrol design. Thus, no causal relation can be determined, nor solid conclusions can be drawn on this relation.