Neck pain with headache
definition
Neck pain and headache often go hand in hand and can influence one another. The initial trigger is usually a painful tension in the neck muscles. This results in a restriction of movement of the head, which is ultimately perceived as a neck pain with a headache. In most cases, a cervical spine syndrome (cervical spine syndrome) is diagnosed. Only in extremely rare cases is the complaint caused by a dangerous illness or illness that requires acute treatment. This can usually be recognized by additional warning signs.
root cause
Neck pain and headache often have a common cause. In some cases, however, the two symptoms have different causes, and they can influence and aggravate each other. Most often the symptoms are caused by irritation in the cervical spine area. This most flexible part of the back, which due to its structure allows turning, tilting, bending and stretching of the head, is prone to various types of damage and wear and tear.
Most often, tension in the neck muscles occurs, which can be traced back to poor posture as well as under- and overstressing. Neck complaints such as neck pain and headache can also arise as a result of an injury such as after a traffic accident with whiplash.
Only in very rare cases is the complaint based on a threatening illness that requires acute treatment, such as meningitis. However, neck and headaches are usually not the only complaints, but often a high fever and, if necessary, a reduction in consciousness of the person concerned.
Read more on this topic at:
- Neck pain
- Causes of headache
Concomitant symptoms
Neck pain with headache is often caused by a cervical spine syndrome. This complex of complaints can be accompanied by a large number of other symptoms. Often, pain also occurs in the shoulders. A radiation in the arms to the hands is also possible. Tingling and numbness can also be triggered here. However, since these accompanying symptoms can also indicate a herniated disc of the cervical spine, these should be clarified by a doctor if they occur again. In addition, neck pain with headaches can lead to symptoms such as dizziness, nausea and unsteady gait.
If there is a fever as an accompanying symptom, it can be an incipient harmless cold infection on the one hand, and on the other hand, with this constellation there is also the risk that meningitis is the cause, so that a medical examination and assessment should be carried out here as soon as possible.
Read more on this topic at:
- Cervical spine syndrome
- Symptoms of cervical spine syndrome
With fever / high temperature
Fever is usually a sign of an inflammatory response in the body and can have many causes. As a symptom, it is usually not dangerous, but in a few cases it can indicate a threatening illness. If neck pain and headache also cause an increase in body temperature, this may be signs of meningitis (meningitis), which should be dealt with as soon as possible. Other symptoms that can indicate meningitis are impaired consciousness and a stiff neck. If there is a corresponding constellation, a doctor should therefore be informed promptly.
Read more on this topic at:
- Meningitis
- Signs of meningitis
With dizziness
In the case of neck pain with headache, dizziness can occur as a further symptom, which is usually perceived as vertigo or a feeling of staggering. Due to the various complaints, many sufferers also complain of an unsteady gait. All symptoms usually have a common cause. In most cases, the beginning is a tension of parts of the neck muscles, which presses the neck pain and causes the headache by radiation. The dizziness can arise on the one hand due to the restricted mobility of the head and the cervical spine and on the other hand by irritation of nerve fibers.
In general, dizziness is a very common symptom with a variety of possible causes. If headache and neck pain exist at the same time, a connection is likely but not mandatory. A medical examination should be carried out in the event of persistent, recurring or very severe vertigo. In some cases, for example, there is a disorder of the sense of balance in the inner ear, which typically results in vertigo like on a carousel. If no treatable cause can be determined, the exclusion diagnosis of cervical spine syndrome is often left as the most likely cause of neck pain with headache and dizziness.
Read more on this topic at:
- Vertigo from tension
- Causes of dizziness
- Cervical spine syndrome and dizziness
With an earache
Ear pain can occur in a variety of circumstances, and occasionally it is accompanied by neck pain and headache. The ears are very sensitive and this is where many nerve fibers end, so ear pain is common without any damage to the ear itself such as inflammation or injury. A rather rare cause is muscle tension in the neck area, which then often also causes pain in the neck and head. Additional possible symptoms may include ringing in the ears (tinnitus) or dizziness. If you have very severe ear pain and a general feeling of illness, a doctor should be consulted. By looking into the ear with a special instrument, for example, the family doctor can usually tell whether there is an ear disease or not.
With tinnitus
Neck pain and headache are mostly due to a cervical spine syndrome, in which those affected can also suffer from a variety of other symptoms. Among other things, noises in the ears can occur, which are referred to as tinnitus and can appear on one or both sides. If the noise is only heard for a few seconds and then disappears completely, this is harmless and does not require further clarification. However, if the tinnitus occurs again and persists for a longer period of time or does not go away at all, it is recommended that you see your family doctor or ear, nose and throat doctor as soon as possible. Often, however, no other cause than the possible connection to the neck pain and headache can be determined. However, in a few cases the noises in the ears are caused by another treatable disease.
Read more on this topic at:
- Cervical spine syndrome and tinnitus
- Causes of tinnitus
diagnosis
In the case of neck pain with headache, the diagnosis is usually made on the basis of the findings from a targeted physical examination and a medical consultation. The doctor asks the patient questions about the onset and trigger of the symptoms, the exact localization, the nature of the pain and, if necessary, about improving or deteriorating circumstances.
During the examination, among other things, the neck is scanned for possible palpable tension. Body temperature is also often measured. During the examination, the doctor pays particular attention to possible warning symptoms for a dangerous illness, such as high fever, which can indicate meningitis in the case of neck pain and headache. In most cases, however, the symptoms are not threatening and in most cases the diagnosis of cervical spine syndrome is made. Sometimes the doctor will initiate further diagnostics, such as a laboratory blood test.
Treatment / therapy
How neck pain with headache is treated depends on the cause of the discomfort. In the rare cases in which an acute and possibly threatening disease is detected, targeted therapy is given.
Meningitis caused by bacteria, for example, needs to be treated as soon as possible with an antibiotic administered via the vein as part of an inpatient hospital stay. In most cases, however, the cause of neck pain with headache is harmless and the symptoms are, for example, muscle tension and nerve irritation. In these situations, treatment is provided through general measures that help alleviate the symptoms. Regular healthy exercise has the highest priority.
In addition, short-term therapy with painkillers may be appropriate. Furthermore, heat applications such as going to the sauna or exposure to red light often provide relief. Passive measures such as massage can also help relieve neck pain and headaches. Exercise and sport as active measures should, however, always be part of the therapy. Backstroke or yoga are suitable for acute complaints.
Read more on this topic at:
- Treatment of cervical spine syndrome
- Exercises for a cervical spine syndrome
Cooling or warming?
In the case of neck pain with headaches, the decision as to whether cooling or warming is indicated should depend on the cause of the symptoms. Since tension in the neck muscles triggers the symptoms in the majority of cases, warming is usually better suited to alleviate the symptoms. It makes no difference whether irradiation with red light takes place or, for example, a heated cherry or spelled stone pillow is placed on the neck. In any case, care should be taken not to use the heat for too long and not to let the neck get too hot, otherwise burns of the skin can occur, which are also painful. Applying heat to an appropriate level, such as ten minutes of red light three times a day, stimulates blood circulation and loosens the muscle fibers.
However, if inflammation or injury is the cause of the neck pain with headache, then the application of heat is not appropriate. If necessary, relief can be provided by temporary cooling. However, the visit to the doctor should not be delayed, which is usually recommended for such causes of pain.
Exercises
There are a variety of possible exercises that will improve neck pain and headache relief, provided that they are performed correctly and regularly. Two exercises are described here as an example.
The first involves standing up straight, looking straight ahead, and slowly tilting your head to one side. This position is held for ten seconds. Then slowly bring your head back into the normal position and repeat the exercise on the other side. There should be two rounds at a time. If the head is tilted, the other shoulder can also be lowered slightly if necessary. However, no movement should be made beyond a slight pull.
In the second exercise, you also stand upright and slowly lower the child towards your chest as far as possible or until you feel a slight tug in the neck. This position is held for ten seconds. Then you lift your head again, slowly tilt it back and look up. This position is also held for ten seconds and then the exercise is repeated.
In the case of new severe pain, a previous accident, fever or drowsiness, however, no exercises should be performed but a doctor should be consulted.
Read more on this topic at:
- Exercises for a cervical spine syndrome
- Physiotherapy for cervical spine syndrome
Taping
Taping with special elastic bands can be an effective way to get relief from headache neck pain. It is important that the taping is carried out professionally by a trained person. Effective use of the tapes can only be achieved through precise knowledge of the anatomical course of the muscles and the function of the tapes. These are available in different degrees of flexibility and are glued to the right and left of the spine in the case of neck pain with headache, for example in the course of the hood muscle from the back of the head. Together with active movement, taping supports the release of muscular tension. As a rule, the tapes can be left on until they come off again, which is usually the case after a few days. They do not have to be specially covered when showering.
Read more on this topic at: Kinesio tape
homeopathy
Anyone who suffers from frequent or protracted neck pain with headaches can try to alleviate the symptoms by taking homeopathically effective medication. The choice of the suitable preparation should be based on the quality of the complaints as well as the triggering and alleviating factors. As an example, if you have a pounding, hammering headache that occurs especially in the morning, it improves when you lie on your right side and exposure to the sun deteriorates the remedy with the ingredient Sodium muriaticum C30 with the potency D12. Five pellets should be taken three times a day. In the case of very pronounced symptoms or if there is also a fever, treatment with homeopathy alone is not indicated; a doctor should first clarify the cause of the neck pain with headache.
Read more on this topic at: Homeopathy for cervical spine syndrome
Duration
The duration of neck pain with headache can vary greatly depending on the cause. If symptoms appear for the first time, for example after a long drive or sleeping in an awkward position, the pain usually subsides after a few days. However, many people often suffer from recurring neck pain with headaches, so that a chronic course over months and years is not uncommon.
A special case is when the symptoms appear suddenly without any signs and with the greatest intensity. In the case of a so-called annihilation headache, an immediate medical evaluation is important, as the symptoms of bleeding in the area of the meninges can be the symptoms of such a short duration. Long-standing neck pain with headaches, on the other hand, usually has a harmless cause, but is difficult to treat.
Read more on this topic at: Duration of a cervical spine syndrome
localization
One-sided complaints
Neck pain with a headache is often felt more strongly on the right or left side. In some cases, an exclusively unilateral infestation is possible. A common cause is that there is tension on the left or right side of the neck muscles. This can even be felt as an asymmetrical hardening in the course of the muscle. Radiating from the neck, the headache is usually only localized on one side. In the case of very severe, new unilateral headaches and neck pain as well as accompanying symptoms such as fever or visual disturbances, a prompt medical examination is indicated in order to rule out rare causes that require treatment or to identify them in good time.
Mutual complaints
When neck pain and headache occur, bilateral involvement is common. The whole neck can feel tense and can severely restrict the mobility of the head. The headache can then also occur on both sides, often affecting the back of the head in particular. However, some sufferers report a mostly dull pain in the entire head. Neck pain on both sides with a headache is usually not an indication of a dangerous illness. Warning signs for a possible threatening cause are, however, high fever or impaired consciousness.
