A case of post-traumatic cervicogenic headache treated by cervical cord stimulation

A 26-year-old woman experienced neck and arm pain after a car accident, leading to a diagnosis of whiplash-associated disorder and a cervical disc herniation. Initial treatments were ineffective, and the patient underwent surgery. However, the neck pain returned post-surgery, prompting the implantation of a cervical cord neurostimulator, which provided improvement for cervicogenic headache. The case highlights the presence of two distinct pain sources (C2-C3 and C5-C6) and emphasizes the relationship between the C2 nerve and trigeminal pathways in headache management.

• 1
  Cervical cord stimulation was effective in improving cervicogenic headache in a patient who had undergone cervical discectomy and fusion.
• 2
  The patient had two distinct sources of pain, involving both C2–C3 and C5–C6 nerve roots, suggesting that whiplash injuries can involve multiple levels of the cervical spine.
• 3
  Diagnostic anesthetic blocks are a valuable tool for identifying pain sources at different levels.