Is Your Headache or Migraine Preceded or Accompanied by These Symptoms?
If so, this is a strong indicator that your neck is involved.
Although neck pain is common in the general population it is even more common headache and migraine patients.
In a study of migraine and tension headache patients, 76% and 89% respectively reported associated neck pain. Whilst some authorities suggest neck symptoms accompanying migraine are not relevant, a study demonstrating increasing neck pain with increasing headache suggests that the neck symptoms and headache were connected. This connection is strengthened by the findings of another study in which 70% of migraine patients reported neck pain during their migraine.
If your neck stiffness, discomfort or pain radiates down towards your shoulder blade, or running out over the top towards the shoulder this tells us that it is the C2-3 segment, that is, the joint between the second and third vertebrae that is at fault.
Confirmation occurs when a skilled examination gently stresses each of spinal segments individually resulting in temporary reproduction and lessening of your typical head pain.
