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Cervical Facet Arthropathy and Occipital Neuralgia: Headache Culprits

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Abstract

Cervicogenic headache (CH) is pain referred from the neck. Two common causes are cervical facet arthropathy and occipital neuralgia. Clinical diagnosis is difficult because of the overlying features between primary headaches such as migraine, tension-type headache, and CH. Interventional pain physicians have focused on supporting the clinical diagnosis of CH with confirmatory blocks. The treatment of cervical facet arthropathy as the source of CH is best approached with a multidimensional plan focusing on physical therapy and/or manual therapy. The effective management of occipital neuralgia remains challenging, but both injections and neuromodulation are promising options.

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  1. Southeast Pain Care at Morehead Medical Plaza, 1025 Morehead Medical Drive, Suite 225, Charlotte, NC, 28204, USA

    J. D. Hoppenfeld

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  1. J. D. Hoppenfeld
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Hoppenfeld, J.D. Cervical Facet Arthropathy and Occipital Neuralgia: Headache Culprits. Curr Pain Headache Rep 14, 418–423 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-010-0151-5

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