Can Neck Pain Cause Headaches?

If you suffer from neck pain, you are certainly not alone. There are countless people who live with neck pain every day, and your neck pain may have an adverse impact on your overall quality of life. Furthermore, neck pain can also lead to significant complications, and one of the most common complications is headaches.

If you suffer from headaches regularly, you understand that they can make it hard for you to focus on everything you have to do during the day. If you want to prevent your headaches from coming back, it is important to understand the relationship between neck pain and headaches. What do you need to know about your neck pain, and how can it lead to headaches?

neck pain

Where Does My Neck Pain Come From?

Before we can understand the relationship between neck pain and headaches, it is important to take a closer look at where your neck pain might be coming from. Some of the most common causes of neck pain include:

  • Prior Injuries: If you have suffered serious injuries in the past, then you might be dealing with neck pain. For example, you might have been involved in a slip and fall accident, a sports injury, or even a motor vehicle collision that could contribute to your neck pain.
  • Poor Sleep Position: Your neck pain might also be due to your sleeping position. If you feel like your neck pain is worse in the morning and gets better during the day, this is a sign that you’re sleeping position might be contributing to your neck pain. You need to make sure you have a pillow that is not too tall and not too short. It needs to keep your head in alignment with the rest of your body.
  • Phone Use: We are addicted to our phones. You might even feel like a body part is missing if you walk out the door without your phone. If you spend a lot of time looking down at your phone, your neck can get stiff and sore. It is important for you to take breaks as you use your phone.
  • Poor Posture: You also need to think about your posture. If you slump or slouch, you can place a lot of extra stress on your neck, contributing to neck pain. You should also think about your posture when you drive. You need to keep your spine straight and position your head in alignment with the rest of your spinal column. This can help you maintain your posture as you drive.
  • Work Ergonomics: If you spend all day sitting at a desk, you need to think carefully about your posture. If your computer monitor is not at eye level, you may place a lot of extra stress on your neck by looking up or down. You should also try not to slump over your desk as you work. This can contribute to neck and back pain.

These are just a few of the many causes of neck pain. It is important for you to think about what might be contributing to your neck pain. That way, you can figure out how headaches and neck pain are related. 

What Type of Headaches Does Neck Pain Cause?

There are several common types of headaches. The most common type of headache is called a tension headache. This is the type of headache caused by neck pain. The other two common types of headaches are cluster headaches and migraine headaches. They are unlikely to be caused by your neck pain, but it is important to reach out to a healthcare provider to learn more.

Tension headaches themselves come in many shapes and forms. Most people describe tension headaches as a “vice” squeezing the head. If you feel like someone is pinching your head, you are probably suffering from tension headaches.

Tension headaches are caused by neck pain due to muscle, tendons, and ligament issues. If you suffer from neck pain, there is a chance that the muscles at the base of your skull are a bit stiff and sore. As a result, there is an extra force pulling on the muscles around your scalp from the base of your neck. As the muscles in your neck pole at the rest of the muscles in your scalp, it causes your head to feel tight. This is how neck pain can contribute directly to your headaches. 

How Can I Treat and Prevent Headaches?

If you want to treat tension headaches, you need to address the root cause of the issue. A few tips you may want to follow include:

  • Make sure you get plenty of sleep at night. If you give your muscles, ligaments, and tendons a chance to recharge, you might prevent your headaches from coming back the next day.
  • You need to have proper posture when you drive and work. Make sure your head is in proper alignment with the rest of your spine.
  • You should be cognizant of how much you use your phone. If you use your phone a lot, you may want to lift your phone up to the level of your face instead of looking down at it.

You should also reach out to a local chiropractor who can help you treat your neck pain. 

How Can a Chiropractor Treat my Neck Pain and Headaches?

A chiropractor can help you not only treat your neck pain but also prevent your neck pain and headaches from coming back. A chiropractor will take a look at the alignment of your neck and spine, making sure everything is in the right spot. A chiropractor can also use manual therapy to help you alleviate stiffness and soreness in your neck. Then, your chiropractor can talk with you about changes you can make in your lifestyle that can prevent your vertebrae from falling out of alignment. A chiropractor can also help you improve your posture to keep your muscles, ligaments, and tendons loose. 

Trust Doctor Wagner for Help With Neck Pain and Headaches

If you are looking for help with neck pain and headaches in the local area, it would be our pleasure to assist you. At Doctor Wagner, we have a tremendous amount of experience treating neck pain and headaches. We can help you figure out where your neck pain is coming from, and we can customize a treatment plan to meet your needs. We always take the time to get to know our patients personally, and it would be our honor to take care of you as well. Contact us today to make an appointment with our team!

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