Neck misalignment causing cervicogenic headache?

Hello. I have also been experiencing pain in the back of my neck and headache since July 2015. I am so miserable and am looking for any answer to try and help the pain. I have seen numerous specialists, had many tests (blood tests, MRIs, X-rays..) yet no one can help determine why I cannot get rid of this pain. No medication I take has helped. I am so tired of this.... I want my old life back

It is amazing to me how many people have your symptoms and no one can figure it out. Many musculoskeletal issues will not show up on imaging. This is further confounded with taking images of someone in positions that relieve their symptoms( on your back) Imaging rules out serious problems, and then it seems, no one knows what to do when they have done all the tests they can think of. The unfortunate part is I am sure your life has been affected in a big way. Medications do not help this type of pain. You have had this going on a while and will most likely need help to get rid of this. And...it is going to take ALOT of patience. Neck pain can be relentless once it goes on for a while. Your neck is likely in spasm. These spasms compress on structures up in the neck creating lots of pain, headaches, dizziness, and many other complications as a result. This creates the vicious inflammation-pain-spasm cycle. I would get the best professional I could find who has these qualifications: very knowledgeable in assessing and treating posture issues, spinal alignment, muscle imbalances aka upper/lower cross syndrome, applies mobilization techniques, knows fascia release techniques, understands central sensitization, and possibly offers acupuncture.  This may be a PMR Dr, a physiotherapist, a chiropractor, or a combination. Anything to help you should be gentle....so I would steer clear of neck cracking.  I would seriously consider going on an antiinflammatory diet to help with inflammation to calm this down. It is amazing what this diet can do for pain. It is not a fix all, but it is certainly could be a big piece of the problem. Your neck is hurting for a reason. Most likely it is being overworked by some other muscle or muscles not doing their job. Also, a book that can help you find and release some of these tight/overworked muscles yourself  is The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Claire Davies. 

Thank you so much for your help!

Hi Crystal

Some very good advice. Interestingly I have similar symptoms with stiff neck and pain radiating through out left side of my body. When I 1st had X rays and mri scans over 15 years ago everything was ok. Now mri shows a small disc protrusion at c5-c6 , the symptoms are as before just worse. Would you recommend deep neck flexor corrections for me? Thanks for u r input it really is comforting to have pro advice.

Yes...suboccipital muscles get tight with forward head posture...because a person keeps looking up to see out toward horizon and when the head goes too far forward these muscles get really tight trying to pull your head back...this pulls the c1-c2 vertebrae into hyperextension so now a person can no longer rotate down off c1-c2 to look down..they basically must look down by hanging off the lower part of the cervical spine which makes the lower cervical spine hyper flexed causing bulging disc as you mention...the head goes too far forward so will the shoulders because shoulder and neck musculature are connected via levator scapulae so now you basically have a spiraling down mess of muscle imbalance...so how to get the head back where it belongs is a start...deep neck flexor strengthening can do this..just be sure you are only using the front neck musculature to do this...if you cheat with the exercises by using the muscles at the back of your neck...the neck will get tighter...takes a lot of practice to do these correctly and you may have to get some help because this is truly just scratching the surface of this complex issue...if you want to learn more about this a place to start is looking into upper and lower cross syndrome and forward head posture...Janda coined this term years ago to describe his ideas on this subject...many have come along behind him to build on Jandas work....just know it takes a long time to fix this if this is what is going on with you so don't expect any quick fixes And...no one can help you better than you can! Get guidance when needed but learn as much as you can about this yourself...so you can get out of pain! Best wishes!