Cervicogenic Headaches

[ImHavingAnOldFriendForDinner]

Posting here for traffic so apologies.

Does anyone get these?

I've got neck problems and after an X-ray was told that I have cervical spondylosis and the headaches are cervicogenic.

What the hell can I do to stop them or take the pain away? Painkillers aren't touching it, my face hurts as well and I want to rip my head off and kick it down the garden!

I've got a physio appointment on Tuesday.

Help!

The NHS guidance says that you need to talk to a doctor if the pain is getting worse.

But could a massage help? If you posted in a local Facebook group you might find someone who is willing to help you tomorrow.

Are you seeing a consultant?

I see a chiropractor for mine but I don’t have Spondylosis as far as I know.

I see an osteopath and although he's gay if I could marry him I would

He stretches my neck out and unclogs all the cervical shit (I have a C5/6 C6/7 disc protrusion)
The headaches are awful I know
Diazepam can help, if you can get a GP to prescribe

I saw an osteopath back in September and ended up in A&E because apparently he was so rough he gave me a form of whiplash, never known pain like it! That's when the headaches started really, before that it was just neck pain on and off. A&E doctor gave me 2 weeks worth of Diazepam which was amazing but I've used them all now.

I've done an online consult form for my Gp this evening and asked for a neurology referral letter as I have private health through work so I'm hoping I might be covered.

I have heat pads and ice pads but not sure which one to use as Google tells me different stuff.. Going to take a codeine and go to bed I think. 🤯

Op can you explain more what exactly this headache is?

It can switch between being on the left or all over, feels like my head is being squeezed. Pain is also in my face and jaw.. It's not like a migraine so that I can't move or I'm being sick it's just a constant pressure and the only time it eases is laying down and keeping still or sleeping. I'm not sure how much else to describe it, it's just there constantly.

Thanks op I'm being selfish asking because I am crippled by similar but have never beeb referred. So by cervical they actually been your csexic?

Cervix? Something out of alignment?

@Naughtynovembertree no problem, sorry you're having similar problems. Does it sound the same? I've been told that I have mild signs of disc degeneration and the physio said that everything in my neck is tight and causing pain to go up the back of my head, I could kick myself actually because the physio was working but also costing £40 per week so I stopped and now I'm paying for it in pain rather than cash! Just feel like my head is in a vice and someone is repeatedly tightening it.

I have muscle pain in my neck and shoulders that causes headaches, as well as a crunchy bone pain, which may or may not be related - sitting can results.
Physio has helped me but the thing that made the biggest difference was acupuncture.

Still not sure where this pain is coming from!
Cervical sounds like near hips? But you said a disc?

One thing I have got recently which has been really good is a tens machine? £30 off amazon.

Cervical spine is basically “neck” from base of skull as far as shoulders for those confused....

Sorry specially neck vertebrae- it’s about your spine not soft tissue

I have terrible neck problems .. abs sometimes get vile headaches but I’m lucky in that paracetamol gets rid of them most if they time. They also improve with just living as normal as I can which is difficult to start with because if the pain. I see a chiropractor once a month which really helps.. I couldn’t manage without it tbh!

I have them and along with a number of other conditions I live with chronic pain

Things that help

I have a special shaped pillow, if goes every where with me

I take a low level anti depressant (Nortriptyline) for pain relief, I also use CBD oil which although it doesn’t work for all my pain does help with this

I have a fantastic physio who has taught me how to relax certain points which I do very carefully with a gentle massage gun

But when the headache kicks in I have to ride it out, only ice packs help

I do a set of yoga neck stretching exercises that help relax the muscles

Hello @ImHavingAnOldFriendForDinner
Ok so I do think this is cervocogenic but its more specifically Occipital neuralgia.
One sided headache mostly? Long term ache worsening into intense pain? Pain into eye?
So if it is occiptial neuralgia you can test for this if lying face up on a bed and enaging your front neck flexors and pushing the back of your head into a pillow gives you relief?

Massage or any osteo will make this worse.
Accupuncture focussing on meridians in opposite foot helps and long term you can have a botox block for 5 months pain free. Diamazepam tends not to work but naproxen 500mg does. I assume its Occipital N you have from your description.

I also take Propranolol for mine. It’s meant to help migraine headaches but it seems to work. I do get migraine too though sometimes that make me vomit. But the more frequent are from my neck.
If you don’t have any contraindications you could ask for those. Wouldn’t hurt!

Who diagnosed the spondylosis from the x-ray OP? It sounds as though you need a rheumatology referral.

I don't have cervical spine issues but I do have lumbar problems and I've learnt over 20 years never to let anyone near it. Every time I've been convinced to try physio, osteo, chiro it's resulted in a huge setback. The only thing that works for me is exercise and keeping it supple, but not anything hugely impactful and not Pilates as many of the positions run counter to the shape of my spine which is essentially malformed.

My do has just started getting these, so following with interest.

I was diagnosed with something similar.

I was given (by the neurologist) a course of topirimate and told to only sleep on one pillow.

The one pillow thing was really hard to get used to. But I've made the switch and it's much better. But the topirimate worked too, I have been symptom free for a couple of years now.

Ask for a neurology referral. Be warned, I had a 13 month wait before covid.

Sorry everyone I didn't get any notifications for the last few messages!

@JuneOsborne I only sleep on one pillow it's a memory foam thing and like sleeping on a rock but it is fairly comfy! I'm waiting to see if I can access a neurologist through my husbands private health insurance 🤞🤞 I was worried I'd need surgery or something as the A&E doctor told me to never ever let anyone operate on my neck. The medication you're on sounds like it could help though.

@Mittenmob that's really interesting as the osteopath has made it much worse but the muscular skeletal man I saw through the GP told me to try Pilates!

@PragmaticWench my GP diagnosed it after an X-ray but told me it was general wear and tear due to age (I'm 42). I'm hoping to get a neurology referral to find out exactly what's going on.

@Megan2018 I haven't heard of those so I'm going to Google and will try asking the Gp, great to know they are working for you.

@Janeandjohnny that's really interesting thank you for your reply, I've had a quick Google but going to read up on it properly now.

I've had acupuncture before and it did help my neck so I'm going to call her tomorrow and hopefully she can fit me in this week. x

@ImHavingAnOldFriendForDinner
You are welcome. It took me years to get diagnosed. The one sidedness of it made me interested in case it was O.N.
I'd really avoid osteo or chiropractic as I found they hugely spiked my pain. The studies for Botox and nerve blocks are v good.

I find everyone tells me to try pilates, convinced I've never considered it in 20 years and that it will cure me I'm sure some of the moved would help but anything that involves hyperextension is too dangerous for me so any class or online tutorial is pretty useless as it's littered throughout.