Migraine Headache Treatment
Are your migraine headaches coming from your neck?
If medication and dieting are not resolving your migraine headaches, the source of the pain may be elsewhere. A cervicogenic (cervico- the neck, genic – originating from) is a unique type of headache in which pain is referred from your neck or upper back. Cervicogenic headaches often appear on one side of the head and sometimes behind one eyeball. Take a look at the diagram below.
Typically, myofascial tender spots or trigger points are often the primary cause of pain. These trigger points are small bands of tightly contracted muscle that can feel similar to a "Charlie horse" or even worse. In these areas, blood flow is restricted, leading to oxygen deprivation and chronic soreness.
When experiencing neck pain, the Sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle is one to consider. This muscle is unique because it can create movements in multiple directions. It consists of two parts: the anterior and posterior bellies, each contributing slightly differently to various movements. The posterior portion is involved in side bending movements, while the anterior portion is more responsible for head rotation and protraction.
Locating the SCM muscle is relatively easy. By turning your head to one side, the muscle becomes engaged, and you can trace its path from behind your ear to your collarbone.
Cell Phone Headaches
Without realizing it, many of us put excess stress on our necks every day because of poor posture, ergonomic set-up, stress and cell phone use. Poor forward-head posture causes important neck-stabilizing muscles to lengthen and weaken and other muscles to tighten in the back of the head. This tightness can cause a headache and interfere with blood flow to the head, triggering a migraine. The more you bend the more it hurts: Bending the head at a 60-degree angle to look at a phone screen exerts approximately 60 lbs of pressure on the cervical spine.
Schedule Your Consultation
Schedule a 20-minute phone call with me, and we can determine if I am the right practitioner for you. I schedule new patient consultations between Monday and Wednesday from 7:00 am to 5:30 pm. My Baltimore office is conveniently located near Towson, Timonium, Cockeysville and Roland Park.
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