Headaches have been recorded as early as 3000 B.C. in an epic poem written in Sumeria. Since then it has been referenced time and time again in various journals of early medical pioneers such as the great Hippocrates now known as the father of medicine. There are many classifications of headaches and the symptoms and causes often overlap. For this instance we will talk of the most frequent types seen in this practice. It should be recognized that headaches may signify severe conditions or illness such as brain tumors, dissecting vertebral arteries, hypertension, stroke and infection such as bacterial meningitis. If your symptoms also include high fever, neck rigidity, persistent headache such as the worst ever or blindness please seek medical attention immediately.
Cervicogenic Headaches
These headaches are characterized by neck pain that spreads to the back of the head toward the front. The headaches are moderate in intensity with a burning or aching quality. The pain usually follows the distribution of the occipital nerve and gives rise from the C1-4 cervical nerve roots. The neck is often tender to firm touch especially in the upper parts closer to the base of the head. These symptoms are often caused from spinal joint fixation (biomechanical joint problems), whiplash injuries, degenerative disc disease, herniated discs and rarely tumors, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and osteomyelitis (bone infections).