Chronic migraine and neck pain often happen together, creating a cycle that disrupts daily life, work, and overall well-being.
The connection between this head and neck pain isn’t always clear. Here at Expert Pain in Houston, Texas, Ioannis Skaribas, MD, DABA, FASA, knows that understanding the link is the first step toward finding effective relief.
Your body functions as a whole, not as separate parts. That’s why tension in one place often shows up somewhere else. With the head and neck so closely connected, pain in one can easily affect the other.
Tight muscles in the neck and shoulders can trigger or worsen migraine symptoms, while irritation of cervical nerves may add to head pain and sensitivity.
If you maintain poor posture from long hours at a desk or on digital devices, you’re at risk of further straining the neck and contributing to headaches.
In addition, shared triggers such as stress, lack of sleep, and hormonal changes can intensify both migraines and neck discomfort, creating a cycle that’s hard to break.
A personalized approach that combines several treatments often provides the best results for long-term relief. Proven methods that help relieve migraine and neck pain include:
Preventive prescriptions can reduce the frequency of migraine attacks, while abortive treatments help stop pain once a migraine begins. Certain medications may also target nerve-related neck pain, easing your overall discomfort.
Customized therapy programs focus on posture correction, stretching, and strengthening exercises. By improving alignment and reducing muscle tension, physical therapy not only relieves pain but also prevents future flare-ups. Manual therapy or myofascial release can further reduce tightness and improve mobility.
Options such as occipital nerve blocks deliver targeted medication to calm inflamed nerves at the base of the skull, reducing head and neck pain. Cervical steroid injections release tight muscle knots in the neck and ease pain that contributes to migraine.
Simple, consistent changes often make a big difference. Prioritizing regular sleep, managing stress through relaxation techniques, staying hydrated, and identifying dietary triggers can reduce both migraine frequency and neck tension. Proper workstation setup and other ergonomic adjustments also lessen daily strain.
When other treatments fail, advanced options may help. Neuromodulation devices deliver gentle electrical stimulation to interrupt pain pathways, reducing migraine severity. Radiofrequency ablation targets specific nerves, using heat to block pain signals for longer-lasting relief. These procedures can provide hope for patients with resistant symptoms.
At Expert Pain, we know that chronic migraine and neck pain can take a heavy toll. Dr. Skaribas offers more than just temporary relief; he develops a plan to help you get lasting improvement.
Contact Expert Pain today to schedule an appointment and learn more about your treatment options for chronic migraine and neck pain. We want to help you become more comfortable so you can live life to the fullest.
