Go out facing the rising sun and take firm steps to enter the office building. However, the new day has just started, and before I have done much work, I start to feel tired, and it is difficult to turn my head. Subsequently, it was difficult to concentrate, the muscles in the neck and shoulders became more and more tense, and what was worse, the headache, the unbearable headache, came back. Headache at work, why? Is it overuse of the brain, or is there a problem with the cervical spine? We will now analyze the condition for you.
Headache at work, pain in the head, disease in the cervical spine, cervicogenic headache is the most common cause. At present, the incidence of cervicogenic headache in the population aged 18 to 65 has exceeded 4%, and the trend of younger and increasing prevalence has been shown. Cervicogenic headaches accounted for 89% of all patients who visited a doctor because of headaches. Nine out of 10 headache patients are caused by cervical spine problems.
The idea that headaches originate from the cervical spine first started in 1860, but the concept of cervicogenic headaches was first proposed in 1983 at the World Headache Congress. At present, the mainstream academic view holds that the nerve roots of the 1st to 3rd cervical vertebrae, as well as the innervating tissue structure, are the anatomical basis for cervicogenic headache. The pathogenic factors include inflammatory stimulation in the spinal canal, compression of the nerve root by the intervertebral disc, disturbance of the facet joints outside the spinal canal, muscle spasm, and compression of the nerve root branches by ligaments and fascia. Studies have shown that 70% of cervicogenic headaches are caused by facet joint lesions of the 2nd to 3rd cervical vertebrae.
The symptoms of cervicogenic headache have distinct characteristics, and these manifestations are also the key points to distinguish from migraine, cervical spondylosis, etc. Cervicogenic headaches are mostly moderate to severe pain, mainly on one side, and can cause referred pain. The pain can spread to the temporal, occipital, forehead, and, in rare cases, the bridge of the ear and nose. Pain attacks were longer in duration, with 61% of the pain lasting more than 72 hours, 2 to 3 times a week, or once every 2 to 4 weeks. Pain is mainly distending pain or throbbing pain, but also acupuncture, dull pain, tight hoop, burning, tearing and other pain sensations. External stimulation, abnormal position of the cervical spine, exercise, and mental stress are the main factors that induce or aggravate pain. Nerve block can effectively relieve pain.
The diagnosis of cervicogenic headache has five characteristics. The first is that neck movement will induce headache. Second, compressing the occipital area on the affected side or the high cervical spine area will induce headaches. Third, neck movement is limited. Fourth, the neck, shoulder, and upper arm on the side of the headache also have pain symptoms. Fifth, nerve block injection therapy can relieve pain. In addition, cervicogenic headache, most of the onset in the back of the occipital, headache at a younger age, does not meet the characteristics of degenerative diseases. Also, ergotamine or triptan pain relievers are not effective for cervicogenic headaches.
Cervicogenic headache needs to be differentiated from migraine and cervical spondylosis. Cervicogenic headache, severe headache, may be accompanied by neck pain, mild photophobia and phonophobia, and may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting, as well as numbness of the limbs. Daily life has a partial impact on the symptoms of headache. Migraine is characterized by unilateral or total headache, obvious photophobia and phonophobia, and rare neck pain, accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Cervical spondylosis can also cause headache and neck pain. However, there is no photophobia, phonophobia, nausea, and vomiting. It can be accompanied by numbness of the limbs. However, the symptoms are usually not aggravated by daily life.
Cervicogenic headache requires a scientific approach. At present, there is no evidence to support the efficacy of drug therapy for cervicogenic drugs, therefore, it is not advisable to blindly take drugs. Manual therapy, such as massage, massage, etc., may be effective, but it needs to be carried out in a regular medical institution to avoid manual errors.produce complications. Nerve block injection therapy can relieve pain, but the effect is not sure enough. To prevent cervicogenic headache, you need to maintain a good sitting posture, choose a table and chair that matches your height, and sleep, the height of the pillow should not exceed 10 cm, so as to maintain the physiological curvature of the cervical spinous process forward. In daily life, pay attention to reducing the time of bowing your head. Workers at the desk should pay attention to the combination of work and rest, often do cervical spine exercises. At the same time, increase outdoor activities, actively exercise, increase sun exposure, and appropriately supplement calcium and vitamins. The most important thing is not to overwork the cervical spine.
To whomever you love, pass on your health.