A Pain in the Neck: Cervicogenic Headaches After a Car Accident

The morning after your car accident, you wake up with an intense headache. You don’t recall bumping your head in the crash, so you initially think it’s unrelated. You take some Tylenol and forget about your headache, until it returns hours later. Unfortunately, the headaches may be becoming more frequent and more intense, leading you to miss work or miss out on important events.

You wonder—what’s going on? Where did these headaches come from and how can you get rid of them? In this post, you’ll learn about the most common headache that results from car accidents and what you can do about them.

What Is Whiplash?

The first step in addressing a problem is properly diagnosing it. Not all headaches originate in your head; in fact, it doesn’t have to be directly injured at all. In your car accident, was your head suddenly jerked to one direction and then to the other? This is a common occurrence called whiplash, and although it injures the neck and upper back, the pain can manifest as a headache.

What Is a Cervicogenic Headache?

At first glance, the name for this type of headache can seem intimidating; however, it is pretty simple to understand. The word cervicogenic means “originates in the neck.” Basically, the vertebrae in the neck and upper back are forced out of alignment with the whiplash motion, and the bone applies pressure on the nerves. The pain transfers to your head because the neck’s primary function is to hold it up and stabilize it.

How Is a Cervicogenic Headache Treated?

When physicians hear that their patients are suffering from headaches, they often resort to chemicals for a solution. Although over-the-counter and even prescription-strength pain medications can provide temporary relief, they don’t actually help resolve the reason behind the discomfort.

Instead of merely treating the symptoms, your chiropractor can address the root cause. Adjustments to the alignment in vertebrae in the neck and upper back can take pressure off the sensitive nerves in this area and thus alleviate your neck pain and headaches.

If you experience a car accident, you should visit with a chiropractor soon afterward. You may not feel the pain initially, but it could surface later on, and the sooner you start treatment, the less pain you’re likely to suffer through. If you’re already having headaches and you’ve been in an accident, you need to address the real problems with an expert in these kinds of injuries. Contact a chiropractor today and get rid of your cervicogenic headaches!

About the Author

During his 20-year career so far, Dr. Zinovy Chukhman, or Dr. Z, has earned certification with the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners and is highly trained in multiple techniques. These include Diversified, Thompson, flexion-distraction, Gonstead, and Graston. Would you like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Z? You can contact AlignRight Injury & Rehab through his website or by calling 972-907-2800.