Anytime you’re feeling tension and stiffness in your neck, a headache might not be far behind. The nerves in your head and neck are all connected, so it happens often. A headache that starts with problems in the neck, such as arthritis or a herniated disc, is called a cervicogenic headache. Migraines, tension headaches and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction can also cause a combination of headache and neck stiffness. If you also have a fever, there’s a chance you could have meningitis, so you should see a doctor right away.

As painful and distracting as it may be, neck stiffness with a headache usually isn’t serious. In this blog post, we’ll share five strategies you can try to relieve your stiff neck and headache.

5 strategies for relieving a stiff neck and headache

Often headaches will go away on their own, but there are some things you can do to start feeling better sooner. Getting some healthy movement in the soft tissue of your neck by stretching and massaging it can help your body fight stiffness and inflammation. Heat promotes circulation, which can help with pain, and applying ice to your neck can help numb it. 

Try the following five strategies to relieve a stiff neck and headache:

• Hot and cold therapy — People have different results with heat and ice, so you should experiment with both to see what works best for you. Alternating them can be helpful. Apply an ice pack to your neck or head for 20 minutes. If it’s too cold, cover it with a washcloth. Then try applying a heating pad for 20 minutes. 
• Massage — Use your hands or a personal massager to knead the back of your neck and shoulders. If you have a friend who can help you, that’s even better. Try using a gentle lotion or oil with a soothing scent like lavender or chamomile.
• Stretching and gentle movement — Try gently moving your head through your full range of motion by looking up, down, and side to side. Then do some circles and gently pull on the top of your head to stretch your neck.
• OTC pain relievers — You can take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, for occasional headaches with neck stiffness. 
• Physical therapy — A physical therapist can provide treatments that work fast to relieve neck stiffness that causes headaches. Your PT will ask questions to determine what’s most likely causing your pain and stiffness so they can provide the most effective treatments.

If you have neck stiffness that frequently turns into headaches, you should consider seeing a physical therapist. At Continuum Wellness, we take the time to listen to our patients so we can learn everything we can about your pain. Then we provide natural treatments to relieve it, and we can advise you on strategies to keep your pain from coming back. 

Are you ready to try something different for your neck stiffness and headaches? Find out if physical therapy is right for you. Call us or request an appointment today.