Does Scoliosis Cause Headaches?

We all experience headaches from time to time, and most of them don’t seem to occur for any particular reason. But can scoliosis – a sideways spinal curve – contribute to the onset of headaches? As we’ve seen time and again on the Scoliosis SOS blog, a curved spine can lead to all sorts of diverse symptoms and ailments, from back pains to indigestion to restricted breathing. Today, we’re going to look at whether headaches can be traced to scoliosis as well.

How could scoliosis cause headaches?

Your neck is made out of vertebrae just like the rest of your spine – these are called the cervical vertebrae. There are many structures within your neck, including arteries and veins; the lymph, thyroid and parathyroid glands; your spinal cord; and your trachea, oesophagus and larynx. When a curve in the upper part of your spine includes some of your cervical vertebrae, the distortion of your neck may have a knock-on effect on some of the body parts listed above. Oddly enough, scoliosis doesn’t often cause neck pain, but it may well cause pain in the back of the head. In particular, if the top three cervical vertebrae are affected by your condition, this may well be the source of your head pain.

Cervicogenic headaches

Cervicogenic headaches can originate from damage to the joints, ligaments, muscles, dura mater, intervertebral discs and nerves in the upper neck. In addition to the headache itself, a cervicogenic headache patient may experience dull upper neck pain that can become more of a stabbing pain with certain movements.

Tension headaches

Scoliosis can also cause tension headaches. Tension headaches can occur when the neck or scalp muscles are tensing and contracting due to stress, depression, anxiety or injury. These are the most common type of headache, and result in a band-like constructive pain around the head. Scoliosis causes postural strain, and will often cause this type of muscle tension. Here at the Scoliosis SOS Clinic, we can help straighten your spinal posture to ease the tension on your neck (among other symptoms). Contact us today to book an initial consultation.

Does Scoliosis Cause Headaches?

How could scoliosis cause headaches?

Cervicogenic headaches

Tension headaches

News Menu

10 Most Recent Posts

Posts by Month

How could scoliosis cause headaches?

Cervicogenic headaches

Tension headaches

News Menu

Posts by Category

10 Most Recent Posts

Posts by Keyword

Posts by Month