HEADACHES:
Headaches can be so debilitating! At PhysioMender, we specialize in differential diagnosis and treatment of headaches. Did you know that it is estimated that up to 80% of headaches are suggested as coming from the neck, known as cervicogenic headaches. With many headaches being the result of changes in soft tissue stiffness or weakness, postural loads, closure of the upper neck, and spinal muscles or joint referral patterns that oftentimes present as starting at the base of the skull, referring to behind ears, to temples, behind eyes, and to the forehead or top of the head.
Also less common at the upper neck but can occur are disc herniations that also have a similar referral pattern but could also involve nerve root compression. And even less common is involvement of cranial nerve 5 (trigeminal nerve), which actually has convergence from the brain stem down to C1, 2, and 3 (the upper neck): if this is involved usually headaches are quite extreme with facial or teeth pain, numbness, tingling, burning, or we can see jaw symptoms as it supplies strength and control to a number of jaw muscles.
The good news is that our team are experts in treating these types of cervicogenic headaches, getting to the root cause, and finding long lasting solutions to manage headaches.