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Cervical Headaches
March 4, 2007 |
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Cervical headaches can be caused by anything from a car accident to muscle imbalances in the neck.
Since injuring her neck in a high school gymnastics program, Zelda Nottingham has been suffering with cervical headaches on a weekly basis. "It interferes with almost everything you do because you have a constant pain, trying to drive, constant pain. It can interfere with sleep as well."
Physical Therapist Jacqueline Van Duijn says that cervical headaches can be caused by one of two sources. "From the joints and the discs and the ligaments in the neck causing the headaches or it can be a tension headaches from the muscle tension."
Jackie also says that after evaluation, a treatment program is designed to help every patient to individually deal with their discomfort. "If they have joint problems we'll work manipulation to improve function of the joint. If it's a muscle tightness we'll do massage to the muscles to relax them."
Zelda has found that her consistent therapy sessions are the key to less discomfort and she recommends the same for anyone with cervical pain problems. "Talk to your doctor to see if he can give you some physical therapy."
From stretching to massage, medication to heat therapy, help is available for everyone suffering from cervical headaches.
If untreated, cervical headaches can begin to mimic intense migraine headaches.
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