Cervical Facet Joint Dysfunction: A Hidden Cause of Headaches After a Car Accident or Concussion in Kansas City

Cervical Facet Joint Dysfunction: A Hidden Cause of Headaches After a Car Accident or Concussion in Kansas City

Are you still suffering from persistent headaches after a car accident or concussion — especially at the base of your skull or behind your eyes? The problem might not be from your brain alone. It could be coming from irritated facet joints in your neck.

At our Kansas City concussion clinic, Dr. Lance Stevenson, DC helps patients recover from post-traumatic headaches by identifying and treating cervical facet joint dysfunction — a commonly missed source of chronic pain after neck injuries.

What Are Cervical Facet Joints?

Your cervical spine (neck) is made up of seven vertebrae. Each vertebra connects to the one above and below it through facet joints — small joints located at the back of the spine that guide and limit movement.

These joints:

• Help stabilize the neck

• Allow controlled rotation and extension

• Are richly innervated with pain-sensitive nerve endings

When these joints become irritated, inflamed, or compressed (especially at C2–C3 or C3–C4), they can send pain signals to the head — often mimicking migraine or tension-type headaches.

How Car Accidents and Concussions Affect Facet Joints

Whiplash from a rear-end collision or the sudden jolt of a fall can force the neck into rapid flexion and extension, which:

• Overstretches or compresses the facet joints

• Triggers local inflammation and joint dysfunction

• Irritates the third occipital nerve, which passes through the C2-C3 facet

This is often the real cause behind “post-concussion” headaches that don’t resolve with rest or medication.

Symptoms of Cervical Facet-Related Headaches

Patients from Overland Park, Liberty, Lee’s Summit, and Shawnee often describe:

• Headaches starting at the base of the skull and radiating forward

• Pain that worsens with neck movement or prolonged posture (like desk work)

• Tenderness in the upper neck, especially on one side

• Reduced neck range of motion (turning or tilting)

• Pressure or throbbing behind the eyes or temples

• Headaches aggravated by stress or fatigue

These headaches are often one-sided but can switch sides depending on neck tension and joint involvement.

How We Diagnose and Treat Facet Joint Headaches in Kansas City

At our clinic, Dr. Lance Stevenson, DC performs a full cervical spine exam, including:

• Joint motion palpation and range of motion testing

• Facet loading tests (such as Spurling’s or extension-rotation)

• Palpation of the C2-C3 and C3-C4 joints for pain referral

• Evaluation of surrounding muscle tension (upper traps, suboccipitals)

• Assessment of posture and compensatory movement patterns

Once identified, we address the problem with:

✅ Manual therapy to restore joint motion
✅ Cervical mobilization or gentle chiropractic adjustments (when appropriate)
✅ Trigger point release and soft tissue therapy
✅ Head-neck-eye coordination drills (if visual strain is contributing)
✅ Postural rehab and ergonomic support
✅ Targeted home exercises to prevent re-irritation

We focus on correcting the mechanical source of pain — not just masking it with medication.

Get Long-Term Relief From Headaches by Addressing Your Neck

If you’ve been told your headaches are just from a concussion — but you also have neck stiffness, one-sided pain, or posture-related flare-ups — you may be dealing with cervical facet joint dysfunction.

At our Kansas City clinic, Dr. Lance Stevenson, DC helps patients from North Kansas City, Blue Springs, Raytown, and The Plaza get real relief by addressing the neuromusculoskeletal causes of headaches.

Call 816-226-7476 today to schedule your detailed cervical spine evaluation and get to the root of your pain.

Special thanks to Complete Concussions for their training and educational resources. To learn more about comprehensive concussion treatment options, visit completeconcussions.com.

Disclaimer:

This blog is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or replace medical advice. If you have experienced a concussion or other injury, please consult a qualified healthcare provider. Always follow the advice and treatment plan given by your medical professional.

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