Home Remedies For Cervicogenic Headache.

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If your neck pain is exacerbated by certain movements or pressure applied to specific locations in the neck, cervicogenic headaches could be to blame. This type of headache often signifies degenerative neck arthritis or compressed nerves as possible causes.

Panther Physical Therapists provide free screening for this condition and can create an individualized physical therapy plan to alleviate its symptoms and stop them from returning.

Table of Contents

1. Massage your neck

Cervicogenic headaches can be extremely uncomfortable due to pressure or stress placed upon the neck and base of skull. You can prevent these types of headaches by maintaining good posture when sitting or standing and sleeping with a cervical pillow to support your head while sleeping.

Exercise for neck exercises that will stretch the muscles and increase range of motion. Try cervical towel rotation stretch and the scapular retraction exercise for starters.

An occipital neuralgia headache may result from having pinched nerves in your neck, whether due to injury, tight muscles, or arthritis – with pain typically concentrated in one location and often feeling like an electric shock.

2. Warm bath

A warm bath may provide relief from cervicogenic headache symptoms by loosening neck muscles and increasing range of motion in your head. You can begin by rotating your head in circles several times to stretch the muscles.

If your headache begins in your neck and spreads forward to the front of your head, this could be a cervicogenic headache. These types of headaches are caused by issues related to cervical vertebrae in the upper neck region.

Doctors typically employ physical assessment and nerve blocks to diagnose this condition. These pain-numbing injections will confirm that your neck is the source of any head pain you are experiencing. Nerve blocks may also be combined with physical therapy or massaging pressure points in order to alleviate cervicogenic headaches.

3. Exercise

Headaches can occur for many different reasons, and it can be hard to know the source. But if it arises from bone or muscle in your neck, cervicogenic headaches could be likely.

Cervicogenic headaches resemble pinched nerves in your neck that radiate pain into the back of your head, temples and forehead. The discomfort typically intensifies whenever you move your neck.

Exercise can provide great relief from cervicogenic headaches. A Panther physical therapist can teach you effective neck exercises to combat them, including the cervical towel rotation stretch that involves using a small folded towel as an aid to improve posture and strengthen upper back.

4. Take a hot shower

Hot showers can be an easy home remedy for cervicogenic headache, relaxing neck muscles and soothing nerves in the area, as well as reducing frequency and duration of neck pain episodes.

At home, try doing exercises like head circles or sustained natural apophyseal glide (SNAG). These stretches and exercises can help stretch and strengthen neck muscles as well as increase range of motion in your neck area.

Occipital neuralgia, also known as pinched nerve syndrome, can cause intense head pain that resembles electric shocks traveling up one side of your skull. It could be caused by tight muscles in your neck, whiplash or arthritis; taking over-the-counter painkillers like paracetamol may provide temporary relief.

5. Get a good night’s sleep

Sleep can help to alleviate symptoms of cervicogenic headaches. Restful and supportive rest can make all the difference, with firm and non-feathery pillows providing optimal support.

Medication like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxers and nerve blockers may provide some relief for cervicogenic headaches. When taken together with physical therapy and other home remedies they can significantly help lessen pain associated with this disorder.

Cervicogenic headaches differ from migraines in that they arise in the neck rather than from within the brain, and can be brought on by neck injuries such as whiplash or disc injury as well as poor posture in the workplace. They may also include symptoms like dizziness and light sensitivity which make for an altogether unpleasant experience.