Understanding how these issues are linked makes it easier to see how to help with headaches due to neck pain. Your neck and head are closely related, so it should come as no surprise that pain in the neck can also cause headaches. The relationship between the two depends largely on the cause of your neck pain and the type of headache you experience.
There are many things that can cause headaches, but one of the main causes is your neck. Neck may refer to pain up to a headache. The neck can cause migraines. It can do all sorts of crazy things that have been introduced from somewhere other than your own head which can still create the same headaches as if you have another issue.
Here are three main ways in which you can do so:
- Your pain starts in the neck before it reaches the scalp or before you feel it in other parts of the head. If you have pain that starts, most often, in the lower part of the skull that extends to the back of the head, near the head.
- If you may give birth to a headache or a headache with a neck motion. If you move your head in different directions, be it forward to back, side to side, or turn, and you can make the headache symptoms go away with it.
- If you are taking special headache medications such as migraine medications, and they do not work, there may be other causes, and neck pain may be one of those things.
Not for every headache, of course, but the neck is the cause of many headaches. Those are just some of the simple things you can look for to give you a hint that neck may be contributing to your specific type of headache.
When is headache and neck pain serious?
Immediate medical attention is recommended in neck pain and headaches associated with one or more of the following symptoms:
- Pain and numbness shining under one or both arms
- Severe neck and fever or headache
- Headaches caused by coughing, sneezing, running, folding, urination, or Valsalva cunning (an attempt to exhale through closed mouth and nasal congestion)
- Heart attack, problem of speech, loss of balance and blurred vision
- Unexpected weight loss or nausea
These symptoms may indicate serious underlying conditions such as aneurysms, meningitis, stroke, or tumor. Neck pain due to an injury to the lower part of the skull (such as car or sports accidents) should be considered as an emergency and treated without delay.
Headaches caused by a neck problem
Headaches caused by a neck problem are usually chronic and vary depending on the cause. Typical examples include:
Cervicogenic headache; CGH usually starts as a dull pain in the neck and spreads over the back of the head, almost always affecting only one side. Pain can also spread to the forehead, temples, and area around the eyes or ears. CGH is caused by a primary disc, limb, muscle, or nerve disease in the neck.
Occipital neuralgia; Occupational neuralgia is characterized by intense, painful, electric-like sensations in the back of the head, neck, and ears. The pain is one-sided and begins in the upper neck and extends to the head. Occupational neuralgia is caused by irritation or injury to the occipital nerve.
Headaches such as CGH caused by other underlying conditions are called secondary headaches. Headaches that are not related to other underlying conditions are called primary headaches.
Symptoms of neck pain and headache on right side
- A headache or migraine is the worst ever
- loss of consciousness
- vomiting that will not stop
- the pain lasts more than 72 hours
- the presence of unusual symptoms
- strong feelings of “thunder” in their heads
- weakness or numbness of the face or hands
- stiff neck and fever
Other symptoms may include
- Your head can be seen from the back to the front of your head.
- Your headache is irritated or reduced by neck movements, continuous posture, lying on your stomach or with your head turned to one side.
- Your headaches usually look worse on one side of your head. The side is usually permanent and does not change sides.
- Your scalp appears to be flexible for as long as you apply pressure or compress your neck or lower part of your skull.
Causes of neck pain and headache on right side
Several conditions can cause neck pain and headache on right side. Some conditions can start as a neck problem and then send symptoms to the scalp, while other conditions start in the scalp and spread to the neck.
Stress; If you have stress, the muscles in the neck, head, shoulders and jaw can tighten. That can lead to tension headaches. Depression or anxiety can also cause similar symptoms.
Hangover; Too much alcohol can lead to poor sleep at night. Maybe you are jumping and turning, or you are falling into an unusually heavy sleep where your neck is in an awkward position. It is because alcohol causes the blood vessels in your brain to dilate and irritate nearby tissues.
Caffeine; it can cause head and neck pain if you cut out drinks like coffee and tea too soon. This can cause your blood vessels to dilate, or expand. That causes headaches. It is best to reduce your caffeine gradually instead of all at once.
Tension headache; Tension headache is a slow headache. Neck pain can often be accompanied by tension headaches. Fatigue, stress, and muscle tension are often the main causes of headaches. Tension headaches often result in throbbing pain that affects both sides of the head.
Injuries; Trauma, such as a car accident or other type of injury to the neck, can cause permanent pain. For example, whiplash occurs when the neck is suddenly forward and backward. It often causes neck pain and stiffness.
Neck muscles; The muscles around your neck, shoulder and shoulder blade can be stressed from a bad posture and cause weakness or excessive work that causes referral pain and causes symptoms of headaches.
Cervical and occipital nerves; Irritation of the arteries in your upper neck can cause headaches. Irritation may be due to disc herniation, swelling or bone growth due to rheumatoid arthritis.
Diagnosis of neck pain and headache on right side
The process of identifying the cause of neck pain is similar and depends very much on you. First, your healthcare provider will want to know if you have been in an accident, played a recent game, suffered from any illness, or had a traumatic event that caused neck pain.
This will determine the number and types of diagnostic tests that will need to be performed to determine the underlying cause of your neck pain. Next, your healthcare provider will determine the types of imaging tests that need to be performed At the very least, you may have X-rays to relieve fractures, osteoarthritis, or other bone conditions that may contribute to your pain.
In some cases, your healthcare provider will order an MRI or diagnostic examination to examine the soft tissue in your neck. If you have neck pain and high fever, nausea, vomiting, or confusion, your doctor may prescribe a spinal cord to prevent bacterial meningitis.
Prevention of neck pain and headache on right side
- Get an eye exam; If you are struggling to read, or continue to bend your head up and down to use these outer shelves, you may need a new pair of sunglasses.
- Redesign your workstation; Just lifting your computer monitor or finding a document stand can help reduce frequent bowing of the head which can stretch the occipital muscles.
- Avoid slouching and practice good posture; Consider trying yoga, Pilates or Tai Chi. All of these disciplines are good forms of exercise and all can help to improve posture. Also, you may want to consult a physical therapist, therapist, or movement specialist for exercises that are tailored to your needs.
- Get a massage; that focuses on the neck and upper back. This can help relax your muscles and reduce headaches.
- Try using a hot pack; on the base of the head. Do this for 15-20 minutes.
Put two tennis balls in socks and tie them tightly. Lie on your back on the floor. Place the tennis balls under the base of your skull and allow your head to press against them. Shake your head gently and back and side to side for a few minutes.
Treatment of neck pain and headache on right side
Fortunately, there are treatments for all types of headaches that you may have. Therefore, when you start experiencing strange pain in your head or neck area, it would be wise for you to visit your doctor.
1. Physical therapy
First of all, a good physiotherapist will assess your headache and make sure it is safe for you to proceed to treatment. If any of the red spots mentioned above appear then we will work with your doctor to make sure that the headache is not the worst.
If it is safe then your physical therapist will check your posture, neck and shoulder range of motion, neck and shoulder strength and any type of movement that produces your headaches. We use this information to treat any obstructions we experience that may contribute to your pain.
Normally, your physical therapist will experience a combination of poor posture, poor neck stability, bad head movement in the neck and excess shoulder muscles. All of these effects can put increased pressure on the structures surrounding the suboccipital and larger ovarian arteries.
2. Improve posture and reduce pain
Do you hang your shoulders for hours when you are using equipment, using a seat that does not have adequate support, or are you using a computer that is too low? If so and you are experiencing frequent headaches and neck pain try these simple changes to correct the wrong posture.
- Lying on your back, bend your knees so as not to put pressure on your lower back.
- Look up with your nose perpendicular to the ceiling.
- With slow and deliberate muscle spasm, shake your head forward without lifting your neck.
- Slowly return to the vertical position.
- Repeat 10 times. You can also do this while standing, against the wall.
Fortunately, most of the neck pain and headaches caused by poor posture can be eliminated using simple steps. For long-term discomfort, physical therapy can be helpful in treating symptoms of muscle and strength balance as well as education and instructions designed to correct posture.
One of the most popular ways to treat neck pain at home is the use of anti-inflammatory or analgesic drugs. While a few doses can help keep us moving after an injury, taking these medications regularly for several days or weeks can cause stomach problems.
Many people use strong anti-inflammatory drugs to help with neck pain, but often these come with serious side effects. Others rely on opioid drugs to control their pain levels. In each case, the drug only serves to mask the symptoms. It does not help to address the underlying cause of a person’s neck pain or stiffness.
We often think of massage as a form of relaxation that helps us feel better when we are depressed. However, certain massage therapy techniques can also reduce neck pain, extend the life of a chiropractic correction, and help improve mobility in the neck.
Although it can be difficult to make time for a professional massage, it is possible to erase a few “kinks” on your own. Use your fingers to put light pressure on areas of your neck that feel sore or hard.
As you do, turn your head from side to side to help relax the muscles where you are applying pressure. This massage technique is very effective if it is done regularly throughout the day when you notice tension, pain or difficulty coming in.
5. Ice or heat
The exchange of ice and heat is a great way to reduce neck pain without having to worry about further harming your body or endangering your health. Spending just 15 minutes with an ice pack can reduce inflammation and reduce pain.
Spending the same time as a warm pad can relax the muscles in the spasm, increase flexibility and improve various types of motion. However, applying ice packs directly to the body can damage the skin. Always pack an ice pack on a towel or cloth before use.
See a doctor
In some cases, the factors that cause headaches and neck pain need treatment. You should visit your doctor if your neck pain:
- It is accompanied by fever, nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity, or seizures
- It seems to be worse than good
- It does not start to improve in six weeks
- It is accompanied by unreasonable weight loss
- It comes with numbness, irritability or loss of energy in other parts of the body
- Occurs with dizziness
That doesn’t mean you have to wait for the neck pain to go away before you can see the healthcare provider. Therapeutic care has been shown clinically to improve neck pain without the use of opioid medications or invasive surgical interventions. You should see a doctor immediately if you show signs of meningitis.