Question
I wondered 2 things about Cervicogenic headaches.  If facial movement or barely touching a small spot on the face (in my case the right upper lip) intensifies the headache (right side only), does that indicate it's not cervicogenic? And if it is a cervicogenic headache, can pain be absent in the back or neck while still being present in the head?   Thanks

Answer
James,
Very good question and very perplexing. I have to admit movement of your upper lip and touching a small spot on your face intensifying your headaches is unusual and perplexing at the same time.

I am of the opinion that any one can have more than one thing wrong with them  at any given time. With that being said you may be experiencing cervicogenic headaches but you may have in addition a separate and distinct problem with the other areas of your body (ie your head or skull or the soft tissues of your face and lips)

If you were my patient I would do an extensive physical exam of your head and neck. I would get xrays of your neck and would want an mri of your head and quite possibly a CAT Scan also. I would do this to rule out any possibilities of pathology with the entire head and it's structures.

I hope this information helps you but w/o the further diagnostics this question can not really be answered with medical accuracy. Furthermore the movement and touching senarios obviously have thrown up some red flags and I vehemently advise that you get to a chiropractor, MD or neurologist to get this situation checked out and the radiology ordered.

Sincerely,
John Quackenbush