Patients with a history of migraines often report having neck pain prior to or during a migraine attack. While the exact cause of migraines is unclear, there are many possible explanations why headache and neck pain can occur together depending on the anatomical structures involved.
- Common Pain Pathways: Sensory nerves that carry pain signals from the forehead, eye, and temple converge with sensory nerves from the neck vertebrae, joints, discs, ligaments, and muscles at a junction called the trigeminocervical nucleus. So it is possible that pain input from the head region can be misinterpreted as originating from the neck and opposite may also occur.
- Connection between the outer covering of the brain and the neck muscles: Tension in the muscles at the back of the neck (suboccipital muscles) may cause pulling of the covering of the outer brain (dura mater) which can cause headache and neck pain to occur simultaneously.
- Immune response to neck trauma: An injury to the cervical spine can result in an immune response with the release of inflammatory substances in the area that can trigger a headache.
- Distention of blood vessels in the head and neck: Blood vessels in the head and neck region are sensitive to pain. Stretching or distortion of these blood vessels can lead to radiating pain in the head and neck region.
Neck pain also occurs with cervicogenic headaches which produce symptoms that are similar to migraine, but they are generally due to a mechanical problem in the neck and these headaches are generally not throbbing in nature which is characteristic of migraines.
The treatment for the headache and neck pain will vary depending on the underlying cause. Book an appointment with the Headache Specialists at North Suffolk Neurology for an in-depth evaluation of your headache and a personalized treatment recommendation.
North Suffolk Neurology is a full-service Neurology, Headache Medicine, and Sleep Medicine practice consisting of dedicated, experienced staff committed to helping our patients and their families maintain and improve their health. For all in-office appointments & inquiries, please call (631) 364-9119. You can also schedule a telehealth appointment by calling (631) 886-4571.
