Cervical disc problems, pinched nerves, occipital neuralgia, chronic headaches that start in your neck — we treat the source under live imaging.
A large share of chronic headaches are cervicogenic — generated by irritated joints and nerves in the neck. That's why headache medications keep failing: they treat the head while the signal comes from the neck. We diagnose which structure is firing, then quiet it directly.
Not sure which is yours? That's normal — and exactly what the first visit is for.
Same-week appointments in most cases. Bring your imaging if you have it — we'll handle the rest.
Your physician reviews your history, imaging, and goals. You leave understanding what's actually causing your pain.
A stepwise plan starting with the least invasive option that works — most procedures happen on-site.
The complete clinical explanation, in plain language — the same material we use to educate patients and referring physicians.
Headaches are one of the most common medical complaints; most people experience them at some point in their life. They can affect anyone regardless of age, race, and gender. A headache can occur in any part of the head, on both sides of the head, or in just one location.
Headaches can radiate across the head from a central point or have a vise-like quality. They can be sharp, throbbing or dull, appear gradually or suddenly. They can last from less than an hour up to several days.
There are different ways to define headaches. The International Headache Society (IHS) categorizes headaches as primary, when they are not caused by another condition, or secondary, when there is a further underlying cause.
Primary headaches are stand-alone illnesses caused directly by the overactivity of, or problems with, structures in the head that are pain-sensitive.
This includes the blood vessels, muscles, and nerves of the head and neck. They may also result from changes in chemical activity in the brain.
Common primary headaches include migraines, cluster headaches, and tension headaches.
Secondary headaches are symptoms that happen when another condition stimulates the pain-sensitive nerves of the head. In other words, the headache symptoms can be attributed to another cause.
A wide range of different factors can cause secondary headaches. Common secondary headaches include
As headaches can be a symptom of a serious condition, it is important to seek medical advice if they become more severe, regular, or persistent. For example, if a headache is more painful and disruptive than previous headaches, worsens, or fails to improve with medication or is accompanied by other symptoms such as confusion, fever, sensory changes, and stiffness in the neck, a doctor should be contacted immediately.
Treatment commonly includes:
Interventional injections such as epidural steroid injections, facet injections
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact us.
From the Southwest Ohio Pain Institute medical library. Reviewed by our physicians.
If they're cervicogenic — generated in the neck — headache medicine only mutes them. Treating the neck structure that's firing is what breaks the cycle.
Less than you're imagining. The area is numbed first, the procedure is image-guided and quick, and most patients tell us the anticipation was worse than the needle.
Most interventional pain procedures are covered by Medicare and major insurance plans. Call us and we'll verify your specific coverage before your visit.
Call and mention this page — same-week appointments in most cases, and we'll verify your insurance before you come in.