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Have you ever wondered how neck problems can lead to headaches?
Sometimes, the neck can be injured because of a concussion, whiplash (when you jerk your neck suddenly), or posture related problems. Any of these can cause headaches. These headaches are called “cervicogenic headaches.” They happen when something is wrong with our neck, and it causes pain in our head. Let’s dive into the details!
Cervical-Trigeminal Convergence – What’s That?
Okay, don’t be scared by the big words! “Cervical” means neck, and “trigeminal” means head and face. These two areas send messages to our brain through nerves. Imagine them as messengers, bringing news from your neck and head to your brain!
The Tricky Brainstem:
Our brain is smart, but sometimes it gets a bit confused. In our brainstem, the neck and head messengers meet at something called the “trigeminocervical nucleus.” It’s like a central station where all the messages gather.
Brain Confusion:
Because the messengers from both the neck and head come to the same place, the brain can get puzzled. It’s like getting two letters, but you don’t know which one came from where! So, sometimes, the brain thinks the headache is from the head when it’s actually from the neck or vice versa!
The Good News:
Even though it might take a while, we can treat these types of headaches easily with physiotherapy, vestibular (dizziness/ vertigo), and vision rehabilitation, depending on the exact nature of your injury. If you ever have any more questions or need help with headaches, don’t hesitate to reach out!
