Reading Time: 7 minutes | Who This Blog Is For: People who want to understand what cervicogenic headaches are and how Sacramento chiropractic care can help
We see this combination almost every day at our Sacramento chiropractic care office: patients who come in complaining about debilitating headaches, and when we ask about their neck, they pause and say, "Well, now that you mention it..."
The connection between neck pain and cervicogenic headaches is real, and it's something we've become pretty passionate about helping people understand. Why? Because too many treat their headaches as separate issues when the real problem might be starting in their neck.
What you're experiencing might be called a cervicogenic headache—and that changes everything about how you should approach treatment.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways: Dealing with Cervicogenic Headaches
- Cervicogenic headaches originate from neck problems and refer pain to your head
- Unlike regular migraines, these headaches worsen with neck movement and often start at the skull base
- Sacramento residents face unique risk factors including tech neck, stress, and poor sleeping positions
- Upper cervical misalignment can irritate nerves and create the perfect conditions for chronic headaches
- Simple at-home tests can help identify if your headaches are cervicogenic
- Professional upper cervical evaluation is crucial for lasting headache relief
What Exactly are Cervicogenic Headaches?
A cervicogenic headache is literally a headache that originates from your cervical spine (your neck). Unlike typical migraines or tension headaches, these headaches start because of problems in your upper neck and then refer pain to your head.
Think of it like this: your neck is like the foundation of a house. When the foundation shifts, cracks start appearing in the walls upstairs. In your case, when your upper cervical vertebrae (especially the atlas and axis) get misaligned, it creates a chain reaction that ends up as pain in your head.
We had a patient last month—a software engineer from Elk Grove who commutes to Sacramento daily—who'd been taking headache medication for two years. Turns out, what she thought were chronic headaches were actually cervicogenic headaches caused by her forward head posture from computer work. Once we addressed her upper cervical alignment, her headaches practically disappeared.
The Tell-Tale Signs Your Neck Is Behind Your Headaches
Here's what we look for when determining if someone's dealing with cervicogenic headaches:
Location and Pattern
Cervicogenic headaches typically:
- Start at the base of your skull or upper neck
- Travel from the back of your head to the front
- Usually affect one side more than the other
- Feel like a deep, aching pain rather than throbbing
Regular headaches usually:
- Can start anywhere in your head
- Often throb or pulse
- May switch sides or affect both sides
- Come with nausea, light sensitivity, or visual disturbances
Neck Movement Connection
This is the big one. If your headaches get worse when you:
- Turn your head to look over your shoulder
- Tilt your head back to look up
- Sleep in an awkward position
- Sit at a desk for long periods
...you're likely dealing with cervicogenic headaches.
We tell our patients to pay attention to this connection for a week. Keep a simple log: When does your head hurt? What was your neck doing beforehand? The pattern usually becomes pretty obvious.
Neck Stiffness and Tension
Most people with cervicogenic headaches also experience:
- Stiffness in the upper neck and base of the skull
- Tight muscles along the back and sides of the neck
- Difficulty getting comfortable on their pillow at night
- A feeling like their head is "heavy" or hard to hold up
Trigger Points
We often find tender spots in specific areas:
- Just below the base of the skull
- Along the upper neck muscles
- Around the temples (this is where the pain refers to)
When we press on these trigger points, patients often say, "Yes! That's exactly where my headaches start!"
Why Sacramento Residents Are Particularly Prone to Cervicogenic Headaches
Living and working in Sacramento creates some unique challenges for neck health:
- Tech Neck Epidemic: Between remote work and long commutes, we're seeing more forward head posture than ever. Your head weighs about 10-12 pounds, but for every inch it moves forward, it effectively doubles the weight your neck muscles have to support.
- Stress and Traffic: I-5, Highway 50, the Business 80 corridor—Sacramento traffic is stressful. When we're stressed, we unconsciously tense our neck and shoulder muscles, creating the perfect storm for cervicogenic headaches.
- Sleeping Position Issues: Many of our patients sleep on their stomachs or use too many pillows, keeping their necks in awkward positions for 6-8 hours every night.
The Upper Cervical Connection
Here's where it gets interesting. The top two bones in your neck (atlas and axis) don't just hold up your head—they also house critical nerve pathways that affect everything from muscle tension to blood flow in your head.
When these bones shift out of alignment, even by just a few millimeters, they can:
- Irritate the occipital nerves (which run from your neck to your head)
- Create muscle tension that triggers headaches
- Affect blood flow to and from your brain
- Interfere with your brainstem function
We use precise, gentle corrections to realign these vertebrae. Our headache chiropractor in Sacramento CA, Dr. Gottlieb uses specific adjustments that restore proper position and movement.
Simple Tests You Can Do at Home
Before you come in for a professional evaluation, try these simple tests:
The Neck Rotation Test
Slowly turn your head as far as you can to the right, then to the left. If one side is significantly more restricted, or if the movement triggers a headache, that's a strong indicator of cervicogenic headaches.
The Suboccipital Pressure Test
Place your fingers just below the base of your skull, on either side of your neck. Apply gentle pressure. If you find tender spots that seem to "refer" pain to your head, you're likely dealing with cervicogenic headaches.
The Posture Check
Stand against a wall with your back flat against it. Can you get the back of your head to touch the wall without tilting your chin up? If not, you've got forward head posture, which is a major contributor to cervicogenic headaches.
What Most People Try First (And Why It Doesn't Work Long-Term)
We see patients who've tried everything:
- Over-the-counter pain relievers (work temporarily but don't address the cause)
- Prescription headache medications (often don't work well for cervicogenic headaches)
- Massage therapy (feels good but doesn't correct structural alignment)
- Physical therapy (can help, but often doesn't address upper cervical issues)
Here's the thing: if your headaches are truly cervicogenic, you need to address the cervical spine alignment. Everything else is just managing symptoms.
When to Seek Help from Professionals Like a Sacramento CA Chiropractor
Look, we're not saying every headache is cervicogenic. But if you're experiencing:
- Headaches that consistently start in your neck
- Pain that worsens with neck movement
- Headaches that don't respond well to typical migraine treatments
- Neck stiffness along with your headaches
- Headaches that started after a neck injury (even years ago)
...it's worth getting your upper cervical spine evaluated.
Your Next Steps: Talk to a Headache Chiropractor in Sacramento
If you suspect your neck pain might be causing your cervicogenic headaches, start by paying attention to the patterns we've outlined. Notice when your headaches occur, what triggers them, and how your neck feels.
For lasting headache relief, consider scheduling a consultation with a headache chiropractor in Sacramento who specializes in upper cervical care. Don't assume you have to live with chronic headaches. Sometimes the solution is more straightforward than you think—it just requires looking at the right place.
Frequently Asked Questions on Finding Headache Relief in Sacramento Through Upper Cervical Care
How can I tell the difference between a cervicogenic headache and a regular headache?
Cervicogenic headaches typically start at the base of your skull and travel forward, worsen with neck movement, and are often accompanied by neck stiffness. Regular headaches usually involve throbbing pain, may include nausea or light sensitivity, and don't necessarily correlate with neck movement. However, some people can have both types, which is why professional evaluation is important.
Can cervicogenic headaches cause the same symptoms as other types of headaches?
Yes, cervicogenic headaches can sometimes mimic other headache symptoms, including severe pain, sensitivity to light, and even nausea. This is why many people with cervicogenic headaches are initially misdiagnosed and don't get relief from traditional headache treatments. The key difference is usually the neck connection and response to upper cervical treatment.
Will my cervicogenic headaches come back after treatment?
With proper upper cervical alignment and lifestyle modifications, many patients experience long-term relief from cervicogenic headaches. However, factors like poor posture, stress, or trauma can cause the upper cervical vertebrae to shift again. We teach patients exercises and posture modifications to help maintain their alignment between visits.
Can I have both cervicogenic headaches and other types of headaches?
Absolutely. Some patients deal with multiple types of headaches, which can make diagnosis tricky. We often find that treating the cervicogenic component significantly reduces the frequency and intensity of all headaches. This is why comprehensive evaluation is so important.
To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Gottlieb, call 916-655-0569, or just click the button below.
If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
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