Side-locked unilateral head pain is a key diagnostic criterion of Cervicogenic Headache (CGH). However, while this presentation characterises CGH, it is not confirmatory. There are medical conditions that manifest with unilateral side-locked headache. One of these conditions is Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) or Temporal Arteritis. For those who need to become more familiar with GCA…
Indeed, this is the elephant in the room! A key diagnostic criterion for CGH is side-locked unilateral head pain, i.e. head pain always occurs exclusively on the same side, never the other. This has been established by the medical model of headache, respectfully not fully au fait with musculoskeletal medicine. In my experience, whilst
Introduction: This article summarises the medical model’s contemporary perspective of Cervicogenic Headache (CGH) and discusses some factors contributing to the reported low prevalence of CGH. Cervicogenic Headache, a nuanced subset within the headache spectrum, is surprisingly reported less frequently, ranging from 0.1–4.1 per cent depending on which CGH diagnostic criteria are used1-4 (at this
Headache Was Alleviated In 75 Percent of Patients Analysing diagnostic blocks in 166 patients fulfilling diagnostic criteria for Cervicogenic Headache I have been consulting exclusively those with chronic headache/migraine for the past 30 years i.e. 33000 hours of clinical experience with over 8300 patients. The Watson Headache® Approach, which I have been teaching internationally since
Examining Upper Cervical Segments That reproduction of headache when examining upper cervical segments confirms cervicogenic relevancy – wrong! Whilst reproduction of typical symptoms does not confirm relevancy, if this occurs, one can be very, very, suspicious of cervical involvement. However, there are situations in which reproduction is possible and the source is not the upper
Reproduction of Headache That reproduction of headache when examining the upper cervical structures is inappropriate… is to be avoided – wrong! It is crucial! Reproduction (and resolution) is exactly what is needed24 – without it you are in ‘no man’s (or woman’s) land’… the guessing game continues! References: Kaube H, Katasavara Z, Przywara S, Drepper
