04/28/2026
"My Brain MRI was normal... so why does my head still hurt?"
A brain MRI looks for tumors and trauma; it doesn't show how the joints in your neck are moving. If your top 3 vertebrae are out of sync, they can send pain signals straight to your forehead and eyes.
Patients with cervicogenic headache are usually dealing with one or more of these:
Upper cervical joint irritation (often C1 to C3 region involvement is discussed in clinical models)
Muscle overwork from posture or stress
Whiplash history or old neck injury
Degenerative changes that reduce motion and load tolerance
Because the pain is referred, your head can hurt even if your neck pain feels “mild.” This is why headaches from neck pain can feel mysterious until you test how posture and motion influence symptoms.
Have you ever been told your tests are 'normal' even though you're in pain? Drop a 'Yes' below—you aren't alone.
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