Migraine

How are these diagnosed? Does it just depend on your symptoms or is there a specific test, such as an MRI?

Thanks,

Sandi

Just wanted to let you know one of our forum hosts is looking into this, it may take a day or so to get an answer.

Here is a link we have explaining about how a neck injury can cause headaches, and that pressure on lower areas of the c-spine can cause this type of headache.

I believe you can find out by just a C-spine xray - since I think all it is, is seeing if the spine is compacted (I know I'm not doing the description justice). They descripe in the article about a "slipped disc" - read it and if you have any other questions come on back!

Hi,

Cervical spine injuries, bulging discs, "slipped discs" and so on can create a whole host of issues with ones neck, shoulders, limbs and head. X-Ray, I beleive, is just one test used to detemine if there is are problems in this area, as well as an MRI.

Thanks for your input, everyone.

I had some slight disc bulging at the C5/C6 area, which caused me a lot of shoulder/arm pain several years back. But when my current neuro ordered an MRI of my neck last year, they say they didn't see any sign of that. Strange... I didn't know those things could correct themselves. I don't have the problem as bad as I originally did, but my shoulder will still bother me on occassion and my hand falls asleep. When I asked what they DID see on my MRI, they said that there was a little bit of arthritis in the neck. No matter what the MRI shows, though... I still have pain. No one has ever brought up the possibility of this diagnose before (cervicogenic headache), so I guess it doesn't fit.

Do you know if this condition is one of those that less doctors diagnose, and instead, perhaps, more "alternative practitioners" would diagnose it?

Blessings,

Sandi

I don't have an answer to you diagnosis question but I have a book I found at the library that I decided to buy b/c it talked about "neck headaches". It's been several months since I read it and I just bought it this week, but the title is The Headache Cure by Joseph Kandel and David Sudderth. There is a whole part on cervicogenic headaches. I can't remember the details and it's at the bottom of a huge stack of books to read. On the back, it talks about exercises, botox, preventive meds, and alternative meds. It was published in 2006 so pretty new.

There is lots of good discussion on this board about this topic and it was a sort of epiphany for me b/c for years (long before headaches were a problem) I've had neck/upper back pain (even though I can't really relate to any specific neck injury, though maybe I fell off the monkey bars as a kid) and just recently I've noticed that the worse my neck pain, the more likely I am to have a full blown big time headache. Now granted, my neck hurts most days and I wear a thermacare back there about 3 days a week. And I get headaches many days that are just there, but yesterday I woke up and could barely move my neck AND I was nauseated and my head was pounding. 3 advil didn't help so I added the Imitrex and went back to sleep. When a neighbor rang the doorbell and woke me up, I decided to stay up. I tried to walk the dog and was so darn woozy I thought I was going to pass out. What finally helped was about 20 minutes in the hottest shower I could stand with the jet spraying on my neck.

Amazingly, I felt 100% better afterwards. I was tired but I went and gave blood (platelets which takes an hour or so, so I dozed) and got a massage afterwards so she worked on all those tight muscles). My boss thinks I'm spoiled but I swear by my massage therapist! I do computer work at work and even though I get up and move around alot, it still takes it's toll on ME.

Good luck. I've never been formally diagnosed for my neck pain. Right now my "diagnosis" is cluster headaches but we won't go there. The meds I have work ok, though I need a muscle relaxer. Won't go there either about why I haven't made an appointment. Too many other things to do with my precious week days off - like get massages! hehe

Diane

I have been told that some bulging disc problems, I don't know the specifics, can be reaborbed into your body.

Below is the The International Classification of Headache Disorders 2nd Edition (1st revision) regarding Cervicogenic headache:


Cervicogenic headache

A. Pain, referred from a source in the neck and perceived in one or more regions of the head and/or face, fulfilling criteria C–D

B. Clinical, laboratory and/or imaging evidence of a disorder or lesion within the cervical spine or soft tissues of the neck known to be, or generally accepted as, a valid cause of headache

C. Evidence that the pain can be attributed to the neck disorder or lesion based on at least 1 of the following:

1. demonstration of clinical signs that implicate a source of pain in the neck
2. abolition of headache following diagnostic blockade of a cervical structure or its nerve supply using placebo- or other adequate controls
D. Pain resolves within 3 months after successful treatment of the causative disorder or lesion

Lidoderm prescription patches can help with muscle tightness migraines. My mig specialist has me cut one in half and put half on each shoulder. He said you could also do thirds and put the third one across the nape of your neck. Just a thought, maybe ask your doctor about it.

There are also lower strength patches available OTC. Aspercreme is one brand.

I have cervical stenosis in my spine at C-5/C/6 and my neurologist is insistent that this is the cause of my migraines and if only I would have surgery, everything will be ok. My neurosurgeon says no. So I am stuck between a rock and a hard place.

I know that my migraines are triggered by a host of other things like a change in the weather. This dr. is great, but he just won't let go because of a success story many years ago.

quote:

Originally posted by Sandi:
Thanks for your input, everyone.

I had some slight disc bulging at the C5/C6 area, which caused me a lot of shoulder/arm pain several years back. But when my current neuro ordered an MRI of my neck last year, they say they didn't see any sign of that. Strange... I didn't know those things could correct themselves. I don't have the problem as bad as I originally did, but my shoulder will still bother me on occassion and my hand falls asleep. When I asked what they DID see on my MRI, they said that there was a little bit of arthritis in the neck. No matter what the MRI shows, though... I still have pain. No one has ever brought up the possibility of this diagnose before (cervicogenic headache), so I guess it doesn't fit.

Do you know if this condition is one of those that less doctors diagnose, and instead, perhaps, more "alternative practitioners" would diagnose it?

Blessings,

Sandi

This is my humble opinion. Radiculopathy: pins and needles, hand falling asleep, numbness,and weakness are reasons to see a neurosurgeon. I had such symptoms, but headache wasn't one of them. I had a cervical laminectomy in 2001 and all has been great in the hand/arm department. It did nothing for my migraines.

An MRI will diagnose this problem. I would suggest that someone review the MRI from last year. Something is there or your hand wouldn't be going asleep.

Debbie

Well, cervical stenosis may trigger a Migraine attack, but it certainly doesn't cause Migraines. Migraine is a genetic neurologic disease and if a neurologist says surgery will get rid of Migraines he is wrong! If your neurosurgeon is telling you no, surgery will not get rid of Migraines, listen to him!

quote:

Originally posted by amigraineur52:
I have cervical stenosis in my spine at C-5/C/6 and my neurologist is insistent that this is the cause of my migraines and if only I would have surgery, everything will be ok. My neurosurgeon says no. So I am stuck between a rock and a hard place.

I know that my migraines are triggered by a host of other things like a change in the weather. This dr. is great, but he just won't let go because of a success story many years ago.

Thanks for your input, everyone. I have a better understanding of this condition, now, which is exactly what I needed.

Blessings,

Sandi