When you think of a migraine, you probably imagine a one-sided, pounding headache accompanied by nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and perhaps even visual disturbances. For many, this description feels all too familiar. But what if the root cause of that migraine wasn’t actually neurological at all?
At Novera: Headache Center, we believe one of the most overlooked and underdiagnosed causes of migraine-like symptoms is actually a neck problem. More specifically, what many know as cervicogenic headaches.
What Is a Cervicogenic Headache?
A cervicogenic headache is pain that originates in the neck but is felt in the head. While it can mimic classic migraine symptoms, its source lies in the joints, muscles, or nerves of the cervical spine. Many people with cervicogenic headaches report one-sided head pain that starts at the base of the skull and wraps forward—sometimes reaching the eye or jaw.
This pattern of referred pain is consistent and recognizable, yet it is often misdiagnosed, particularly because it can present with nausea, light sensitivity, and even aura in some cases.
Why Traditional Healthcare Often Misses It
Unfortunately, our current healthcare system isn’t built to catch this kind of issue. When a patient presents with head pain, especially if it’s intense or recurring, the system tends to look for neurological causes first. This typically leads to a battery of tests—MRI, CT scans, neurology visits—and when those tests return normal, medication becomes the go-to solution.
Even if a patient mentions neck pain, it’s usually dismissed as a symptom of the migraine itself—not a cause. Yet, studies and clinical experience suggest otherwise. Over 60% of people with migraines report associated neck pain. In our experience, that number is even higher.
Instead of asking, “What’s causing the brain to be in distress?” the system often stops at symptom management, assuming the problem is simply “in the brain.” This line of reasoning ignores the fact that neck dysfunction can directly refer pain into the head through established neurological pathways.
How the Neck Triggers Migraine-Like Symptoms
The neck bears a heavy burden—it supports a head that weighs as much as a bowling ball. When posture, injuries, or tension throw off the alignment and function of the cervical spine, pain signals can be sent upward, mimicking the characteristics of a traditional migraine.
Here’s how that plays out:
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Tension builds silently over time through poor posture, lack of movement, or physical stress.
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The neck compensates until it reaches a point where it can’t tolerate the strain.
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The result is a threshold-breaking event—what many experience as a migraine.
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Symptoms reset after rest, only to repeat again in a cycle.
Patients often feel fine for days, even weeks, only to be hit by a seemingly random migraine. In reality, the body is in a constant push-pull between tension and tolerance. When the scale tips, symptoms strike.
Recognizing the One-Sided Pain Pattern
One of the telltale signs that a migraine is actually cervicogenic is its one-sided nature. The pain may always present on the left or right, or alternate sides with varying intensity. While traditional medicine might chalk this up to a neurological quirk, we know that pain referred from the neck often follows these specific patterns.
In fact, many patients who visit our clinic can point to a sensitive spot on the neck that directly reproduces their headache pain when pressed—no imaging required.
Why This Matters
The good news is that cervicogenic headaches are treatable—often without medication, injections, or surgery. Conservative treatment that focuses on restoring proper function and mobility to the neck can dramatically reduce or even eliminate symptoms. But it requires a shift in thinking. Instead of defaulting to chemical solutions, we need to ask deeper questions about physical structure and stress.
Ignoring the neck as a contributor not only delays effective treatment but also keeps patients stuck in cycles of pain and medication dependence. Recognizing the signs of cervicogenic headache is the first step toward true relief.
There Is Hope
If you’ve been battling migraines for years without relief, it may be time to look beyond the brain—and start with the neck. At Novera: Headache Center, we specialize in identifying and treating the real, physical sources of pain. Our approach is simple, conservative, and highly effective—even for those who’ve been told there’s nothing left to try.
