What Causes a Headache With Neck Pain?
Headaches with neck pain can make you feel miserable. But not all of them are the same.Sometimes neck problems are what inspire a throbbing head, or it could be that the headache has another cause that leads to neck issues.
Several conditions can cause neck pain and headache. Some conditions may start as a neck problem and then send symptoms up to the head, whereas other conditions begin in the head and send pain down to the neck. Getting an accurate diagnosis is important in order to create a treatment program to successfully manage the condition and reduce pain.
Causes of neck pain
There are several factors that can contribute to neck pain, including injuries, strains, and certain medical conditions.
Some common causes of neck pain include:
- stiff neck muscles
- phone use
- computer use
- poor posture
- sleeping positions
- injury
- herniated disc
A herniated cervical disc occurs when one of the soft discs between one of the seven vertebrae in your neck becomes damaged and bulges out of your spinal column. If this presses on a nerve, you can feel pain in your neck and head.
A pinched nerve occurs when a nerve in your neck is irritated or compressed. With so many sensory nerve fibers in the spinal cord in your neck, a pinched nerve here can result in a number of symptoms, including:
- stiff neck
- throbbing headache in the back of your head
- headache caused by moving your neck
Other symptoms can include shoulder pain along with muscle weakness and numbness or tingling sensations.
Treating neck pain and headache :
Treatment for neck pain and headache can vary based on many factors, including the cause, severity, and type of issue that you’re experiencing.