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Can A Stiff Neck Cause Headaches?

Women Suffering From Neck Pain

Many people reach out to APCC to ask about their headaches or neck pain in Boca Raton. But does neck pain cause headaches? Well, oftentimes, these symptoms go together. Of course, both are severely uncomfortable and can limit your ability to enjoy your daily activities.

It could be even a sign of something more serious. So if you have any doubts about your condition, it’s best to speak with a doctor specializing in neck pain. However, keep reading if you want to learn more about the connection between neck pain and headaches.

Can Neck Pain Cause Headaches?

Absolutely neck pain can give you a headache. The other way around is also true. To be specific neck pain is associated with two primary types of headaches such as:

Cervicogenic Headache

So, how can a pulled neck muscle cause headaches? CGH, or cervicogenic headaches, happen when pain in your neck travels upwards toward your head. Symptoms include a steady and dull ache. The level of pain can be mild to moderate.

Many cervicogenic headaches are on one side of your neck, face, or head. An important factor to keep in mind with CGH is that they are often secondary symptoms of other conditions.

You may have had an adverse event that affects your cervical spine. This includes muscle strain, trauma, neck stiffness, pinched nerves, sore neck muscles, cancer, and infections. So can neck strain cause headaches? — it certainly can.

CGH can be difficult to get a proper diagnosis for. That’s why it’s so important to visit a neck pain specialist. Not only can they help you relieve your pain, they can also uncover serious conditions that need emergency intervention.

Occipital Neuralgia

Neck aches causing headaches can also  be due to this condition. A pinched nerve in your neck can cause headaches called occipital neuralgia. Occipital neuralgia typically results from a neck injury, stiff neck or neck arthritis. These conditions are known to cause pinched nerves.

People often describe the symptoms of occipital neuralgia as stabbing pain, throbbing pain or electric shock. You may also experience pulsating pain throughout your skull or neck. It can even occur behind your eyes.

It’s important to receive a doctor’s official diagnosis and pain treatment because it can get worse. And to recap this section, the answer to “can a stiff neck cause a headache” is a resounding Yes.

Can A Sore Neck Cause Headaches? – Conclusion

The neck pain specialists at APCC can help you heal your neck pain and headache symptoms. We use a holistic treatment approach to treat the root cause of your discomfort and pain. That way you can enjoy a healthy, pain-free lifestyle now and going forward.