What Causes Headaches Starting From The Neck And Occipital Area?

Hi. I am 41...and always have alot of headaches..sinus..etc etc..very headache prone in general...for actually few years now I have been having daily headaches..seems to come from back of neck..base of skull area...i have always had a knot there...i assume muscle related and tension etc. can go to bed fine and wake up early morning with headache..(sleeping wrong?)...it starts from knot and runs up behind ear up to behind right eye..makes me feel kinda sick too...never get sick though...I actually get relief from pushing on knot area. i am assuming this is all muscle and nerve related because i have started getting tingling feeling once in awhile in that same side of head or sharp pain (like icecream headache) but only lasts couple seconds. I am 41..135 pds. and in good shape..uneventful medical history...mother died young of brain tumor (so husband worries constantly..:)...