Headache is a symptom of many diseases, and its occurrence in combination with pain in the cervical region, nausea, dizziness, weakness in muscles in medicine is called cervicocranium.
And the main of all the symptoms are pain in the neck and head, the other signs accompanying.
The emergence of such symptoms is associated with a variety of factors, and the etiology of the disease may be different.
Contents of the article
- Anatomical digest
- Diseases and factors that provoke the
- syndrome Myofascial syndrome
- Symptoms of a hernia
- What about trauma?
- Sprain of the ligaments
- Tenderness processes in the cervical part
- Varieties of the
- syndrome Displays of the
- syndrome Diagnosis of the disease
- Therapeutic measures
- Preventive measures
Anatomical excursion
The upper part of the spine( in the cervical region) runs from the upper part of the torso to the base of the skull. It consists of vertebrae and ligaments, providing stability to the spine. The neck muscles support the spine and allow it to move.
The function of the neck is to support the head and ensure its movement. The neck is protected much less than the rest of the spine, and is prone to injury.
The syndrome of cervicocranialgia affects the upper parts of the neck muscles, reflecting on the patient's well-being aching, and sometimes shooting pains in the nape.
Often the pain is given to the whiskey, shoulders, hands, in this case, the feeling is more one-sided. Painful sensations are amplified during the turn of the head, with tilting, palpation of the neck. Often there is a restriction of mobility of the neck.
Diseases and factors that provoke the
syndrome. Cervicocranyalgia has many causes, the determination of which is possible depending on the type of pain that is often caused by myofascial or muscular-tonic syndromes.
The appearance of the neck of the cranial syndrome can trigger changes in the muscles connecting the lower jaw and the head( myofascial syndrome).
These muscles are connected to the base of the skull and can cause pain. Initial manifestations of the disease can be associated with physical stress, hypothermia, stress.
Nerve endings that extend from the cervical to the head can spasmodize as a result of inflammation or prolonged exertion. 
Often the syndrome causes a degenerative process in consequence of the development of osteochondrosis.
Painful head and neck symptoms can also cause systemic diseases, such as rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis, caused by inflammation in the joints.
Also the occurrence of the disease is associated with the following causes:
- with changes in bone tissues;
- with muscular dystrophy;
- with pathology of intervertebral joints;
- with innervation of the roots of the upper cerebrospinal nerves;
- with disturbances in sympathetic plexus of vertebral arteries.
Thus, a complete list of diseases, a symptom of which may be cervicocranyalgia:
- myofascial syndrome;
- intervertebral hernia;
- injury;
- sprains;
- spondylosis;
- osteochondrosis;
- reactive arthritis;
- psoriatic arthritis;
- neoplasm of the brain;
- meningitis;
- tumors of various etiologies;
- brain abscess;
- Paget's disease.
Consider the features of the syndrome depending on the cause that caused it.
Myofascial syndrome
In this case, headaches will occur, and change when you move with your shoulder.
The pain may be different: weak and aching or intense and prolonged for more than a day.
Symptoms of a hernia
Degenerative changes in the vertebrae may be accompanied by pain in the occiput. The most common change in the cervical spine is a hernia.
Pains are given in the neck, head, shoulder. Often the pain increases with palpation of the neck, head movements can be limited due to the appearance of muscle spasms.
The pain caused by the intervertebral hernia may increase with exercise and is accompanied by numbness of the limbs.
What is the situation in case of injury?
To chronic pain in the cervical region and in the head can cause injuries: 
- tendons;
- muscle;
- ligaments;
- of the joints;
- intervertebral disc.
The most common are whiplash injuries after an accident, falls, as well as sports injuries, subluxations. Trauma can lead to poor posture, stress, reflecting on the body with pain and spasms in the neck and head.
Sprains
Sprains of ligaments or facet joints most often occur due to frequent physical exertion or from the practice of martial arts.
The pain is dull and prolonged in the neck, occiput, eyes, temples, jaws and ears. Sometimes the pain is accompanied by dizziness, nausea and numbness.
Degenerative processes in the cervical spine
Osteoarthritis( spondylosis) is a disease associated with degenerative processes in the cervical spine, often this disease is accompanied by spondylogic cervicocranium.
Changes in this disease are the joints of the three upper vertebrae. The disease is accompanied by swelling of the vertebral discs.
This results in dull headaches in the occipital part of the head and back of the neck.
Species of the
syndrome. Cervicocranialgia can be of various types, they can be identified by the symptomatology:
- Vertebrogenic ( vertebral artery syndrome).This syndrome is accompanied by dizziness, the appearance of black dots in front of the eyes, nausea. The reason for this is a violation of blood circulation in the cervical region, because of which the brain cells are provided with an insufficient amount of blood. Pain is always in the temporal region, giving to the vertex, a pulsating character.
- Chronic vertebrogenic cervical cranialgia( hypertensive syndrome) With this syndrome, severe, pressing pains occur.
- Scheino cranial syndrome with infringement of vertebral nerves in. Headaches with this syndrome are unilateral and not accompanied by other symptoms.
Symptoms of
Syndrome Symptoms:
- sharp pain in the occipital region and neck, sometimes frequent aching pain that does not go away even if the patient lies down;
- during movement, the pain becomes stronger, there are even twists of the head and sneezing;
- dizziness during headache;
- decreased vision;
- hearing loss and tinnitus;
- numbness of the limbs;
- decreased visual perception;
- burning in the nape;
- swelling in the eye area;
- lacrimation.
Diagnosis of the disease
Diagnosis of the cervical-cranial syndrome includes:
- consultation of a neurologist;
- dopplerography of the vessels of the neck;
- electromyelography( determination of nerve conduction velocity);
- X-ray or computed tomography of the neck and upper spine;
- magnetic resonance imaging.
Presumptive diagnosis can be made even with a primary examination of the doctor. At palpation the patient feels sharp pains in the neck.
The doctor can feel the tension of the occipital muscles and limited movements. It is often determined in the muscles of the neck rigging areas.
After setting a preliminary diagnosis, the specialist assigns instrumental methods of investigation. These methods include radiography. On an x-ray, you can see only bone tissue.
This method identifies broken bones, age and deformation changes, joint damage. But with the help of this study it is impossible to see the state of the intervertebral discs and the presence of a hernia.
MRI shows a complete clinical picture. With the help of this study you can find out about the condition of all soft tissues, nerve endings, the presence of tumors, hernia, infection.
Electromyelography is done in cases of suspected abnormalities associated with the operation of the spinal cord.
If necessary, laboratory diagnostics is performed.
Therapeutic measures
There are several methods of treating cervicocranialgia depending on the etiology of the disease:
- conservative methods;
- physiotherapy;
- surgical.
Medication is prescribed by a neurologist.
Surgical methods are used in cases when hernias, tumors, compression fractures are found. At present, along with classical methods of surgical intervention, modern ones are also used with the help of a laser. 
The physiotherapy methods have great efficiency in the treatment of the cervical-cranial syndrome:
- therapeutic physical training;
- gentle massage;
- acupuncture;
- spinal traction.
Preventative measures
It is difficult to prevent any disease, but you can reduce the risk of its occurrence or ease the flow.
To prevent pain in the neck, you should follow these guidelines:
- you need to practice special exercises to relieve neck muscle strains;
- to strengthen the muscles can be tried periodically to extend the neck;
- correct posture will relieve from problems with the spine;
- when working at a computer, the monitor should be at eye level;
- at night the head should lie on the pillow, and the shoulder on the mattress;
- try to escape from stressful situations, and if it was not possible to learn to switch attention to pleasant moments.
Cervicocranium is a serious disease with a different etiology. It requires accurate diagnosis and timely treatment.
