headaches?

[pattig]

can neck or upper back problems cause headaches?  my daughter has always felt pain in her upper neck and back and now has started having chronic "tension headaches".  I mean the headaches are every single day for the last 3 months.  Because she also had some problems with vertigo she has had an MRI and a CT scan which are normal.  So could something in her neck or back be causing the headaches?
thank you

[DrTanase]

The head is like a bowling ball on a stick. When it's centered of the shoulders, it's positioned correctly... but if you lean that bowling ball out towards the front, or to either side, the neck muscles and upper back muscles have no choice but to get called in for reinforcements.

Think of it like when you hold a baby. You cradle the baby very close to your body, because that's the best way to do it... but if you hold the baby with outstretched arms, 2-3 feet from your chest, it's A LOT harder.

Consult an exclusive Upper Cervical Chiropractor. Have them shoot a lateral cervical x-ray to measure your daughter's cervical curve, and look for what's called "anterior head carriage" (AKA "forward head posture").

www.upCspine.com has a directory of this type of chiropractic specialist who is highly trained to help the condition I mentioned above.

[chadry]

They probably would have found the chiari with those scans. This syndrome is at the base of the skull. They probably would have seen it with those scans. How old is your daughter. The first neurologist I took her too said the symptoms of the headaches and dizziness could be the first part of future migraine headaches.
I wish you luck with your daughter and hope you find out what is causing the problems. Have you tried an ears nose and throat doctor also? Just a thought.
Chadry

[Zak_Han]

T spine =thoracic spine. L spine=lumber spine,I don't think she need spine looked at.as she has had an MRI and a CT scan which are normal.

About that diagnosis,You still need see DC.( neurosurgeon better),of course ,you can exam her neck yourself.but.....so,suggest see dc

[pattig]

Chadry, My daughter did have a brain MRI and a brain CT scan.  She has seen 2 neurologists, both exams normal.  Do you think they should have found "chiari 1" with those tests?

ZanHan, how would what you describe be diagnosed?

Do you think she needs her spine looked at?  What is t spine, l spine?

[chadry]

My daughter has complained of dizziness for a few years. She is now 12. her doc finally said enough is enough and sent her to a neurologist. They did an MRI of her brain and found she had chiari 1 malformation. I am not sure what kind of mri your daughter had but maybe they could check her this syndrome. It will cause headaches and dizziness, vertigo. My daughters heachaches start at the back of her neck and shoot to the top of her head. Sometimes they are shooting pains and other times it is more of a pressure feeling. She will get these if she does things that make her strain, especially when she laughs alot. So I am just telling you our experience after quite a few years of problems. You may want to take her to a specialist and see what they come up with. I am glad her doc finally sent her after we tried many other things to see if we could make her feel a little better on the days she is not feeling so good. We now know what the problem is and things she needs to avoid that could make it worse.
Good luck,
Chadry

[Zak_Han]

I do not think this is a very complicated case, because of  soft tissue damage in neck, resulting in aseptic inflammation occurred, if such a damage area in the occipital bone area, which is upper neck, it will stimulate special nerve in this area, and this special nerve can lead to headaches and dizziness.

Treatment aim is relive  inflammation, there are have many ways,including acupuncture,deep massage,etc.

Good luck!

[penwill65]

Did she have a MRI of her neck and brain? She really needs to have brain,t-spine ,l-spine. They do have the advanced MRIs now you should get her in for those. If you have a advanced mri center were you live. You should have her checked by a nuerologist, and have primary doc check her for fybromyalgia, she has alot of symtoms but you never know. So you should get her into those docs, not just a plain md, they tend to let you go for years with these kinda problems. Sometimes a chiropractor will do the trick alone. But dont go to him alone , i would advise getting everything checked out...Keep me posted. Love Penny