Author(s): Hillary Ramroop, DO, Rosanna Sabini, DO
Originally published: November 11, 2011 Last updated: October 5, 2023
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Disease/Disorder

Definition

Cervicogenic headache is pain referred to the head from a source in the cervical spine. It is a common condition frequently misdiagnosed as the symptoms may mimic other types of headaches.

Primary headaches are those that exist independently from any other medical condition. The most common examples are tension-type headaches, migraine headaches and cluster headaches. Multiple headache disorders can present with similar signs and symptoms, making the diagnosis and treatment of cervicogenic headaches a challenging entity.1

Etiology

Cervicogenic headache is a secondary headache that occurs because of an underlying medical condition. Usually there is a sequela of head or neck injury, but it may also occur in the absence of trauma. It typically involves the paravertebral muscles, intervertebral disks, nerve roots, or facet joints of the cervical spine. However, tumors, fractures, infections, and rheumatoid arthritis of the upper cervical spine may also cause such headaches.2,3

Epidemiology including risk factors and primary prevention

About 47% of the global population suffer from headache, with 15-20% of those headaches being cervicogenic. The one-year prevalence of cervicogenic headache ranges from 0.17 to 2.2%.4 The prevalence is as high as 53% in patients with headache after whiplash. In a study of patients with other cervical spine disorders requiring surgery, a 21.4% prevalence was noted.5 The mean age of patients has been documented as 42.9 years; it is four times more prevalent in women.1,2

Patho-anatomy/physiology

The first three cervical spinal nerves and their rami are the primary peripheral nerve structures that can refer pain to the head.

  • The ventral ramus of the C1 spinal nerve innervates the short muscles of the suboccipital triangle and the atlanto-occipital joint.
  • The C1 recurrent meningeal branch joins C2 and C3 to innervate the medial atlantoaxial joint and the dura mater of the upper cervical spinal cord.
  • The C1, C2, and C3 sinuvertebral branches innervate the dura mater over the clivus in the posterior cranial fossa.
  • The ventral ramus of the C2 spinal nerve innervates the sternocleidomastoid and the trapezius as well as the lateral atlantoaxial joint.
  • The dorsal ramus of C2 innervates the splenius capitis and semispinalis capitis, and its medial branch innervates the occipital area (greater occipital nerve).
  • The C3 ventral ramus innervates the prevertebral musculature.
  • The C3 dorsal ramus (lesser occipital nerve) innervates the posterior cervical musculature, splenius capitis, cervicis, longissimus capitis, semispinalis cervicis, and multifidus and its superficial medial branch innervates the C2-3 zygapophyseal joint (third occipital nerve).
  • The C3 sinuvertebral branch innervates the C2-3 intervertebral disc.
  • Trigeminocervical nucleus is a region of the upper cervical spinal cord where sensory nerve fibers in the descending tract of the trigeminal nerve (trigeminal nucleus caudalis) are believed to interact with sensory fibers from the upper cervical roots. The functional convergence of sensorimotor fibers in the spinal accessory nerve (cranial nerve 11) and upper cervical nerve roots converge with the trigeminal sensory descending tracts, allowing the bidirectional referral of painful sensations between the neck and trigeminal sensory receptive fields of the face and head.
    • The C2-3 zygapophyseal joint is responsible for 70% of cervicogenic headaches; the atlantoaxial joint, C2-3 zygapophyseal joint and the C3-4 zygapophyseal joint are also common pain generators.4,6

Specific secondary or associated conditions and complications

  • Differential diagnosis includes Arnold-Chiari malformation, cervical spondylosis, herniated intervertebral disc, spinal nerve compression, (of the upper cervical nerve roots), neoplastic disease (lymphoma, osseous tumor, astrocytoma, ependymomas, malignant gliomas, arteriovenous malformation (AVM)) and vertebral or internal carotid artery dissection.7,8
  • Migraine headaches will be present in 16% of adults 18 and older in the United States, including patients with cervicogenic headache; conversely, migraine headaches will often have cervical component of pain.9,10
  • Associated conditions may include rheumatoid arthritis, cervical DJD, myofascial pain or other primary headaches.11

Essentials of Assessment

History

  • Two definitions persist. The Cervicogenic Headache International Study Group (CHISG) and International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3)12
  • The former allows for:
    • Unilateral, non-throbbing, non-lancinating head pain with variable severity or duration, aggravated by head movements or sustained awkward head position without side shifting is typical. Pain radiates from occipital to frontal regions and may include ipsilateral neck, shoulder or arm pain.3,13
  • Red flag warnings include sudden onset of severe headache, which raises question of a subarachnoid hemorrhage, a mass or an AVM. Pain worsening with Valsalva maneuver raises question of mass or subarachnoid lesion. Worsening headache is worrisome for mass, subdural lesion or medication overuse and rebound. Headache with systemic illness is worrisome for infection, arteritis or collagen vascular disease.
  • Other characteristic symptoms by history:
    • No change in symptoms with exercise, food/diet.
    • Absent prodrome of headache or aura.
    • Worsens with ipsilateral neck flexion/lateral rotation.
    • Symptoms radiate to the posterior upper shoulder/lateral shoulder/neck/occiput.

Physical examination

  • Patients may have restricted and or painful cervical range of motion along with tenderness to palpation.12 A systematic review with meta-analysis concluded that cervical range of motion, specifically those patients with a positive cervical flexion-rotation test were more likely to have cervicogenic headaches.14
  • Focal neurologic findings may suggest mass lesions, AVM, and collagen vascular disease.
  • Vesicular rash may be seen with herpes zoster.
  • Papilledema should raise concern over pseudotumor, encephalitis, meningitis, or mass.

Functional assessment

Historical review of activities of daily living (ADLs), mobility, vocation, recreation, and psychosocial function is recommended to assess for potential causes or triggers.

Imaging

Cervical x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography (CT) may be utilized to evaluate for other causes of headache. X-ray and CT are the best imaging tools for facet DJD analysis; MRI is a better modality to evaluate soft tissue pathology.

Supplemental assessment tools

Whether the diagnosis of cervicogenic headache can be made on a clinical basis or requires the use of fluoroscopically guided diagnostic blocks is a matter of contention.15

The most recent diagnostic criteria developed by the International Headache Society (ICHD-3)12 are

  • Any headache fulfilling criterion C
  • Clinical and/or imaging evidence of a disorder or lesion within the cervical spine or soft tissues of the neck, known to be able to cause headache
  • Evidence of causation demonstrated by at least two of the following:
    • headache has developed in temporal relation to the onset of the cervical disorder or appearance of the lesion
    • headache has significantly improved or resolved in parallel with improvement in or resolution of the cervical disorder or lesion
    • cervical range of motion is reduced and headache is made significantly worse by provocative maneuvers
    • headache is abolished following diagnostic blockade of a cervical structure or its nerve supply
  • Not better accounted for by another ICHD-3 diagnosis

The ICHD-3 diagnostic criteria does include a set of notes discussing the possibility of headache caused by an upper cervical radiculopathy. In addition, the notes include a list of “features” that “tend” to distinguish a cervicogenic headache from a migraine or tension-type headache. These features include side-locked pain, provocation of typical headache by digital pressure on neck muscles and by head movement, and posterior-to-anterior radiation of pain. Though noteworthy, these additional notes are not part of the formal criteria and thus their relevance in diagnostic decision making is not clear.

Diagnostic injections to the atlantoaxial joint, C2-3 and C3-4 zygapophyseal joints, C2 and C3 spinal nerves and possibly the greater and lesser occipital nerves may identify the pain generator:

  • Anesthetic block of the third occipital nerve where it crosses the joint is performed to evaluate the C2-3 zygapophyseal joint.
  • C3-4 zygapophyseal joint is evaluated by blocking the medial branches of C3 and C4. Abolition of headache means complete relief of headache, indicated by a score of zero on a visual analogue scale (VAS).3 Acceptable relief after diagnostic injection can also be defined by greater than 90% reduction in pain to a level of <5 on a 100-point VAS.11

Rehabilitation Management and Treatments

At different disease stages

New onset/acute management should include

  • stretching with postural exercises short of pain
  • ergonomic positioning at home and in the workplace
  • modalities including electrical stimulation, heat, and ice
  • medications including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), analgesics and muscle relaxants
  • trigger point injections with lidocaine or dry needle

Subacute management should include

  • advancement of exercise program with stretching and strengthening
  • cervical traction
  • manipulation
  • myofascial release therapy
  • medications as above and, additionally, tricyclic antidepressants and neuron membrane stabilizers
  • trigger point injections with lidocaine
  • Injections with local anesthetic and/or steroid to the atlanto-occipital and lateral atlantoaxial joints, C2-3 and C3-4 zygapophyseal joints, and greater and lesser occipital nerves may provide short term relief. If patients do not respond to these injections, the diagnosis of cervicogenic headache is unlikely.
  • Radiofrequency neurolysis of the third occipital nerve, greater occipital nerve and the medial branches of the dorsal rami corresponding to the painful zygapophyseal joint may provide several months of headache reduction.2,3,6
  • Radiofrequency neurotomy can regulate the physical and psychological features of chronic whiplash.15

Chronic management may include

  • Complementary interventions such as acupuncture, biofeedback and relaxation techniques, and psychological cognitive strategies for pain management
  • Exercise, medication, therapeutic injections, and surgical strategies defined as above under subacute management
  • Surgical decompression of vascular and ligamentous structures compressing the second cervical root by may have some success
  • Osteoarthritis of atlantoaxial joint may be treated with a fusion, which may be performed after all other methods of treatment including radiofrequency ablation have been attempted in combination with ongoing debilitating neurologic symptoms and pain. Usually there is accompanying facet arthropathy as well.
  • One-third of surgically treated patients continue to suffer from cervicogenic headache after surgery.16-18 Outcomes are improved, however, if anterior cervical decompression and fusion is performed on patients that have headaches associated with cervical stenosis.21
  • peripheral nerve stimulation

Coordination of care

A multidisciplinary team consisting of a physiatrist or other primary physician in combination with neurologist, physiotherapist, cognitive behavioral therapist, social worker, interventionalist and, potentially, a surgeon.

Emerging/unique interventions

Impairment-Based Measurement

  • Headache Impact Test and Headache Impact Test-6 measure the impact of migraine headache on social function, pain, emotional distress and well-being, cognitive function and vitality. Please note that this is a metric directed at a primary headache, as opposed to a secondary headache disorder (cervicogenic headache).
  • Migraine questionnaires include the Headache Impact Questionnaire, Headache Disability Inventory, Migraine Disability Assessment Questionnaire and Migraine Specific Questionnaire.
  • The Migraine Work and Productivity Loss Questionnaire evaluates the impact of migraine and treatment on paid work.
  • Adaptation of Migraine-Treatment Optimization Questionnaires (MTOQ-5 and 15) for cervicogenic headache evaluate function and quality of life.
  • The Neck Disability Index (NDI), Short Form (SF)-12 and SF-36 are questionnaires that might be adapted to evaluate cervicogenic headache.22,23
    • The NDI is a self-reported 10 item questionnaire that is designed to reflect how debilitating a patient’s neck pain is. Scores are out of 100, where the higher the score, the higher a patient’s perceived disability due to their neck pain.

Translation into practice: practice “pearls”/performance improvement in practice (PIPs)/changes in clinical practice behaviors and skills

  • Perform thorough history and physical examination to conclude that headache arises from the cervical spine.
  • Confirmatory blocks are recommended.15
  • Physio-therapeutic and medication interventions are the first steps in treatment followed by injection options and then potentially surgical intervention.

Cutting Edge/Emerging and Unique Concepts and Practice

In order to identify true cases of cervicogenic headache, diagnostic blocks should be performed. Nerve blocks are generally tolerated well and can provide relief for a substantial amount of time. The mechanism following relief from nerve blocks are thought to include central modulation of pain.23

The anatomical areas that are often blocked using local anesthetic include:

  • The atlanto-axial joint
  • 3rd occipital nerve at the zygapophyseal joint of C2-C3
  • Medial branch block of the C3 and C4 dorsal rami.15,24-25
  • The C2 dorsal root ganglion may be blocked in isolation26

If diagnostic blocks are effective, long term options such as a radiofrequency ablation can be attempted, including at the level of C2.27-29

Greater occipital nerve blocks or pulsed ablations may be a poor treatment for headaches that are truly cervicogenic in origin due to the distal innervation to occipital regions and the scalp makes that will not modulate the true etiology of pain. The ICHD-3 criteria separate cervicogenic headache from occipital neuralgia.12 Other new techniques involve using biological agents such as infliximab, a monoclonal anti-body against TNF-α. This has been shown to lower cervicogenic pain (in inflammatory cervicogenic headache) scores as well as decrease analgesic use.30 A longer observation period and more trials need to be done to extrapolate these data to non-inflammatory cervicogenic headache.

Gaps in the Evidence-Based Knowledge

Controversies persist about the specificity and sensitivity of diagnostic criteria for cervicogenic headache, including challenges in standardizing research studies.31

Research is needed to evaluate efficacy of specific interventions such as surgery, injections (lidocaine and steroid), radiofrequency procedures, therapeutics and medication management. A systematic review of radiofrequency ablation and pulsed radiofrequency ablation demonstrated “very limited benefit” in the management of cervicogenic headache.32 A 2016 review focusing solely on cervical zygapophyseal joint pain (as opposed to cervicogenic headache) found some degree of evidence for radiofrequency ablation and nerve blocks but again, the focus was not on cervicogenic headache.33 Gabapentin has been shown to reduce the number of headache occurrences per month, but further research is still required.34 Pregabalin has also been shown to decrease the number/quantity of headaches.35 A meta-analysis found that when comparing oral analgesic, botulinum toxin injections, local anesthetic, or a combination of local anesthetic and corticosteroid, botulinum toxin yielded the best results.36 A recently published case series investigated the use of Rimegepant, a calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor (CGRP) antagonist in treating cervicogenic headache. Study results demonstrated a decrease in the intensity of headaches, however the frequency of the headaches remained the same.37 Treatment of cervicogenic headaches can be challenging and requires a multidisciplinary approach to manage. Further research is needed to investigate treatment options.

References

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  2. Blumenfeld A, Siavoshi S. The Challenges of Cervicogenic Headache. Current Pain and Headache Reports 2018;22:47.
  3. Bogduk N, Govind J. Cervicogenic headache: an assessment of the evidence on clinical diagnosis, invasive tests and treatment. Lancet Neurol. 2009;8:959-968.
  4. Demont A, Lafrance S, Gaska C, Kechichian A, Bourmaud A, Desmeules F. Efficacy of physiotherapy interventions for the management of adults with cervicogenic headache: A systematic review and meta-analyses. PM R. 2022 May 20. doi: 10.1002/pmrj.12856. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35596553.
  5. Shimohata K et al. The Clinical Features, Risk Factors, and Surgical Treatment of Cervicogenic Headache in Patients with Cervical Spine Disorders Requiring Surgery. Headache 2017;57:1109-1117.
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  7. Biondi, D. Cervicogenic headache: A review of diagnostic and treatment strategies. JAm Osteopath Assoc. 2005;105(4):16-22
  8. 5.Delfini, R., et al. “Symptomatic cervicogenic headache.” Clinical and experimental rheumatology 18.2; SUPP/19 (2000): S-29.
  9. Schwerzmann, M., et al. “Prevalence and size of directly detected patent foramen ovale in migraine with aura.” Neurology 65.9 (2005): 1415-1418.
  10. Smitherman, Todd A., et al. “The prevalence, impact, and treatment of migraine and severe headaches in the United States: a review of statistics from national surveillance studies.” Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain 53.3 (2013): 427-436.
  11. International Headache Society (IHS). The International Classification of Headache Disorders. 2nd ed. (IHS Classification ICHD-2). November 2, 2001. Retrieved March 27, 2011. his Classification website: http://ihs-classification.org/en/. Accessed June 1, 2011.
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  15. Mehnert, MJ., Freedman MK. “Update on the role of z-joint injection and radiofrequency neurotomy for cervicogenic headache.” PM&R. 2013 Mar;5(3):221-7.
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  17. Smith, Ashley Dean, et al. “Modulation of cervical facet joint nociception and pain attenuates physical and psychological features of chronic whiplash: a prospective study.” PM&R (2015).
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  19. Pikus H, Phillips J. Characteristics of patients successfully treated for cervicogenic headache by surgical decompression of the second cervical root. Headache. 1995;35:621.
  20. Schaeren S, Jeanneret B. Atlantoaxial osteoarthritis: case series and review of the literature. European Spine J. 2005;14:5.
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  29. Li S-j, Feng D. Pulsed Radiofrequency of the C2 Dorsal Root Ganglion and Epidural Steroid Injections for Cervicogenic Headache. Neurological Sciences 2019;40:1173-1181.
  30. Asopa, Amit. “Systematic review of radiofrequency ablation and pulsed radiofrequency for management of cervicogenic headache.” Pain physician18 (2015): 109-130.
  31. Martelletti, Paolo. “Inflammatory mechanisms in cervicogenic headache: An integrative view.” Current pain and headache reports 6.4 (2002): 315-319.
  32. Avijgan M, et al. A Systematic Review of the Diagnostic Criteria Used to Select Participants in Randomised Controlled Trials of Interventions Used to Treat Cervicogenic Headache. Headache 2020;60:15-27.
  33. Grandhi RK, Kaye AD, Abd-Elsayad A. Systematic Review of Radiofrequency Ablation and Pulsed Radiofrequency for Management of Cervicogenic Headaches. Current Pain and Headache Reports 2018;22:18.
  34. Manchikanti L, Hirsch JA, Kaye AD, Boswell MV. Cervical Zygapophysial (Facet) Joint Pain: Effectiveness of Interventional Management Strategies. Postgrad Med 2016;128(1):54-68.
  35. Boudreau GP, Marchand L. Pregabalin for the management of cervicogenic headache: a double blind study. Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences. 2014 Sep;41(5):603-10.
  36. Hazewinkel MHJ, Bink T, Hundepool CA, Duraku LS, Zuidam JM. Nonsurgical Treatment of Neuralgia and Cervicogenic Headache: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2022 Jul 22;10(7):e4412. doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000004412. PMID: 35923980; PMCID: PMC9307300.
  37. Zaw ST, Zaw T, Torres B. Use of Rimegepant in the Management of Cervicogenic Headache Secondary to Trauma: A Case Series. Cureus. 2023 Feb 5;15(2):e34662. doi: 10.7759/cureus.34662. PMID: 36909076; PMCID: PMC9993035.

Original Version of the Topic

Ake Evans, MD, Mitchell Freedman, MD, Linqiu Zhou, MD. Cervicogenic Headache. 11/11/2011

Previous Revision(s) of the Topic

Michael J Mehnert, MD, Mitchell K Freedman, MD, David E Surrey, MD. Cervicogenic Headache. 5/05/2016

Previous Revision(s) of the Topic

Michael J Mehnert, MD. Cervicogenic Headache. 7/24/2020

Author Disclosure

Hillary Ramroop, DO
Nothing to Disclose

Rosanna Sabini, DO
Nothing to Disclose