Migraines & The Neck

Migraine is a neurovascular brain disorder that affects about 15% of the population and is the number one cause of disability in adults under the age of 50. Neck pain is twelve times more likely to occur in migraine patients than in healthy subjects¹. Migraineurs with neck pain report more frequent and disabling headaches, as well as increased sensitization in the trigeminocervical complex where sensory input from the face and neck converge¹. However, there is debate on the nature of the relationship between neck pain and migraines.

On one hand, some experts feel migraines cause increased brain or central sensitization, which causes neck pain. On the other hand, there are experts who suspect sensitization mechanisms resulting from neck pain contribute to migraine. To address this “chicken or the egg” debate, a study compared migraine patients with and without neck pain to observe the differences in clinical characteristics¹.

In the study, 44 migraine patients without neck pain, 64 migraine patients with neck pain, and 54 pain-free control subjects underwent physical examinations and completed multiple questionnaires to identify characteristics about their headache symptoms, neck pain/disability, and the effect of these conditions on their mental health and quality of life¹. As expected, both treatment groups had more positive findings than the control group. However, those in the migraine-with-neck-pain group had worse headache characteristics, more pronounced cervical musculoskeletal impairments, enhanced signs and symptoms related to sensitization, and worse psychological burden than the migraineurs without neck pain¹. In another study, researchers found that migraine patients with impaired balance—which may be due to altered proprioception caused by dysfunction in the cervical spine—had a higher prevalence of neck pain¹.

If you are experiencing migraines or neck pain, Morgan Chiropractic can help. Our experienced chiropractors can provide you with a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan to help alleviate your symptoms and improve your quality of life. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.