Cervicogenic headaches are headaches which result from spinal problems in the neck, such as disc degeneration or prolapse, or facet joint arthritis. 'Cervico-' means neck, and '-genic' means origin. Cervicogenic headaches are quite common and under-recognised.

What part of the spine can cause headaches?

“The most common problem in the cervical spine that causes headaches is degeneration of the facet joints,” he explains. “Facet joints are the small paired joints on the back part of the bony spinal column. When upper facet joints cause pain, it is felt in the upper part of the neck and into the head.

Can spinal problems cause head pressure?

Tension anywhere in the body can contribute to headaches, but tension in the back is particularly problematic. In many cases, back tension can correlate to tightness in the jaw, at the base of the skull, and in the trapezius shoulder muscles, leading to more frequent and more intense headaches.