Turning my head from side to side

Ok, I've researched this one enough to know that it's my main migraine trigger.
I already knew that spending a long time with my head turned to the right would cause a migraine. It caused one on a plane journey because I spent ages looking out of the window.
My most severe migraines occur if I have been in a meeting and have had to keep turning my head from one side to the other to look at people as they are talking. So, yesterday, I went to a meeting with two people. I sat down at one side of the table, one sat at the end of the table on my left and the other sat opposite me but to my right. After about an hour, I felt the right side of my neck tightening. By the time I got home, another hour later, I was in full migraine. Took Imigran nasal spray and diazepam and went to bed. Today, still in a lot of pain but it's shifted to the left side of my neck. I have physio later this morning so can't take anything that will make me drowsy as I have to drive.
Now I know this is a major trigger, I can try to avoid it. Certainly won't be going to any tennis matches!

Thinking about the vascular/muscular causes, I have to assume this is a muscular cause, unless the neck movement is aggravating a nerve or something.

Definitely muscular. There are numerous nerves very close also, and remember muscles are moved by nerves and have nervous input going back to the brain so your brain knows where your body is! You can't separate these two.

Sounds like the sternocleidomastoid, splenus capitus and suboccipital muscle groups as they are all involved with neck and head posture

That would make sense. I know it aggravates the occipital nerve area because the base of my head is very tender.

Lol, you all know my thoughts on this, and you're very close!! The same drive which causes jaw clenching actually causes the neck muscles to contract FIRST. There are some amazing studies done on this.

The main ones which kick in are those right under your skull, right at the top of your neck. It's very common to have pain in this region. The associated muscles are those which are involved with neck flexure, more down the back and side of your neck

And if you ever get a pain which feels like it's behind your eye, that's the origin of a muscle called lateral pterygoid. This muscle is involved in, wait for it..... jaw clenching and tooth grinding!

I know I'm a bit of a geek, but I love learning about this stuff. It get more interesting with each new thing I learn!

I used to grind my teeth but that's something I've stopped. The jaw clenching is interesting. Again, it's something I used to do but not so often now. Sometimes, I would wake up and my jaw was clenched so tightly that I had to very consciously relax it before I could open my mouth. It's been a while since I had that though. I guess that also explains why eating (chewing) is so painful just after a migraine.
Yes, I get the pain behind the eye. I get that with some of my migraines and actually find pressing on my closed eye quite comforting.
So most of my migraines are probably muscular in origin.

I'd doubt you don't do it anymore, you're probably just not aware of it. You go through cycles at night when you do it then when you don't.

Yes that would make sense at to why chewing can be uncomfortable. A cold compress to the eye may give a bit better pain relief

Although the exact origins of migraines and their mechanics are unknown, I explain things very simply in a way which fits in with my treatment model. Remember, this isn't an official classification, rather a simple way of looking at it which actually works very well for me. Chronic daily headaches, tension headaches, morning headaches are all pretty much the same thing. They are muscular fatigue (I should really get photos of models which show muscle positions and trigger points. Nothing would even have to be explained, almost everyone would have an a-ha moment!). Migraines are this plus an additional neruological component. The nature of the neurological component differs for everyone.

I've read about an article by a neurologist recently who stipulated that the pulsating feeling we get is not actually blood vessel dialation in our heads, rather the nerves in our heads becoming super sensitive and registering the pulse (our heart beat) which is always there anyway

Theories and philosophies can be argued all day. For me, controlling the muscles and sensory overload is key. Many here also know I work along side a chiropractor, and the results we are getting are fantastic. We're looking at doing a study but we're both so busy!

Trying to get an NHS contract for Botox too now. I've also spoken to Allergan (makers of Botox) because I believe their protocol can be improved upon so we may be doing a study on that too

Busy times!!

I'll try the cold compress next time. It might be better than poking my eyes out with my fingers

The sensory overload aspect of your work interests me. I have Asperger Syndrome so am already hypersensitive to noise, light and smell. I avoid noisy environments as much as possible and wear ear defenders if necessary. I think my early migraines were due to sensory overload but now I seem to be in a cycle of migraine/muscle tension etc.

Sarlyka - have you ever had a GONB?