Many believe that to diagnose a Cervicogenic (originating from the neck) Headache, neck pain must be present. But, is a headache without neck pain really not related to the neck?
Think about it this way: Just like some people have leg or arm pain due to their spine without actually feeling spinal pain, you can have a headache that stems from a neck disorder without feeling neck pain. This shows that expecting neck pain as a sign of a Cervicogenic Headache is a misunderstanding of how our bodies work. Simply put, you can have Cervicogenic Headache even if your neck feels fine.
An absence of neck pain does not rule out Cervicogenic Headache.
Understanding and diagnosing Cervicogenic Headache requires intimate knowledge of anatomy and biomechanics specific to the upper cervical spine, something that goes beyond what is usually taught in medical school. Sadly, even in the fields of physiotherapy, osteopathy, and chiropractic, where hands-on examination skills are crucial, there is a trend toward less emphasis on these essential skills. Moreover, despite headache being incredibly common, there’s surprisingly little focus on them in healthcare education
So, if you have a headache but no neck pain, it doesn’t mean your neck is not involved. A skilled expert manual therapist with a wealth of experience in dealing with the upper neck and headache can often quickly tell if your neck is the culprit. In many cases, the link between the neck and the headache becomes clear, even if you haven’t noticed neck symptoms yourself.
