Tension vs. Cervicogenic Headache

Tension vs. Cervicogenic Headache

Headaches are a universal problem, but not all of them are created equal. Two common headaches you may be victim to are tension and cervicogenic. They can feel very similar but will come from different causes. At one of the highest rated car accident medical care facilities of Kentucky, Chambers Medical Group, patients can wrestle with both types of headaches and wonder where they came from and more importantly how to stop them. Knowing the difference can point you toward relief, whether it is a quick fix or a deeper dive into what is going on. Dr. Aaron Workman of Chambers Medical Group breaks down what sets tension headaches apart from cervicogenic.

Tension Headache

Tension headaches are the leaders of head pain. Think of them as the background noise of stress. They usually wrap around your head like a tight band, squeezing your forehead, temples, or the back of your skull. The ache is steady, not throbbing, and it might feel like your head is in a vise, but it is rarely debilitating. Stress, poor sleep, or hunching over a screen too long can spark them. I have had patients describe it as a dull nag that lingers for hours, sometimes days, eased by rest. They are tied to tight muscles in your neck or shoulders, but the pain stays in your head.

Cervicogenic Headache

Cervicogenic headaches are a different beast. They start in your neck, not your noggin. The pain starts at the base of your skull or upper neck and creeps up, often landing on one side of your head. It is a deep, persistent ache, sometimes with a pulling sensation, and it might shoot into your temples or behind an eye. Unlike tension headaches, movement can provide some important information. When turning your head, tilting it, or even just sitting funny, the headache can become worse. I have seen it flare after whiplash or years of bad posture. This is your cervical spine saying, “Do Something Different!” Stiffness or a limited neck range of motion is often present and will remind you this is all coming from your neck and shoulders.

The Different Causes

What is driving them? Tension headaches rely on lifestyle, stress, clenched jaws, or missing sleep which all put tension on the head, neck, and scalp. They are just your body’s way of griping about too much life going on around you. Cervicogenic headaches, though, have a structural edge. Think of irritated nerves or joints in your neck, maybe from arthritis, an irritated disc, old injury, or whiplash trauma from a motor vehicle accident (MVA). The pain is referred, meaning the neck is the culprit, but your brain feels it higher up.

Key Differences

Tension headaches hit both sides, feel symmetrical, and stay consistent whether moving the neck or not. Cervicogenic ones are usually one sided, worsen with neck movement, and might bring shoulder stiffness. Tension might ease with a hot shower or ibuprofen, whereas the cervicogenic often needs more proactive work such as physical therapy or posture tweaks.

There are some proactive ways to ease the pain. For tension headaches it is important to de-stress at the end of the day, stay on top of hydration and do not forget to breathe. Maybe try some type of meditation with breathing exercises to unwind. If it is cervicogenic, focus on that neck with some type of easy exercises, a good chair, a proper pillow for your body type, or help from your doctor if it is stubborn. If you find yourself with a headache following an MVA then find a Chambers Medical Group clinic near you for proper help. Either way, do not just deal with it. It hurts for a reason and will continue to be an issue. A headache is like a morning alarm that will only be turned off by addressing the source.

— This article is written by Aaron Workman, DC, one of the members of Chambers Medical Group’s team of car accident chiropractors who offer a variety of treatments and therapies ranging from diagnostic testing to various soft tissue therapies for car accidents and injuries in Kentucky.

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