A headache generated by the neck. It is commonly misdiagnosed as migraine and treated accordingly, which is why it does not respond.
What it is
The upper three cervical nerves share a pathway with the trigeminal nerve, so the brain interprets neck signals as head pain.
It is a frequent consequence of whiplash and of upper cervical facet injury.
How it usually presents
- Pain starting at the base of the skull and spreading forward, usually to one side.
- Almost always the same side, unlike migraine which often alternates.
- Triggered or worsened by neck movement or sustained posture.
- Reduced neck rotation on the painful side.
- Usually without the nausea, aura and light sensitivity typical of migraine.
How we treat it
- Occipital nerve block, which is both diagnostic and therapeutic.
- Medial branch blocks of the upper cervical facets, and radiofrequency ablation where confirmed.
- Physical therapy for the upper cervical segments.
To be assessed, call (314) 310-5577 or request an appointment. If this began with a crash or a fall, see accident and injury care.
Common questions
How do I know it is not migraine?
The pattern is the clue: consistently one-sided, starting in the neck, provoked by neck movement, without aura. A diagnostic block settles it.
Hurt in an accident? Start here.
You do not need a lawyer, a police report or a referral to be seen. Bring your symptoms and we will work out the rest.
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Same-day appointments are often available for new accident and injury patients.