Ever get pain in the back on your head and neck, specifically at the base of the neck? This muscles here are called the suboccipital muscles collectively, and when there is pain here, the term is occipital neuralgia.
What is the Occipital Neuralgia?
Occipital neuralgia refers to having pain and muscle spasms that come specifically from the base of the skull, the subocciptal area. The pain can radiate to the back, front, and side of the head, as well as behind the eyes. The location of pain is related to the areas supplied by the greater and lesser occipital nerves, which run from the area where the spinal column meets the neck, up to the scalp at the back of the head. These occipital nerves come from the the area of the second and third vertebrae of the neck
What Causes Occipital Neuralgia?
Commonly this condition occurs more in women. Causes include:
- A trauma to the head and the neck, such as whiplash, or a direct hit
- pinching of the nerves by overly tight neck muscles
- faulty neck posture: frequent lengthy periods of keeping the head in a forward and downward position
- spinal column compression
- nerve lesions(due to compression of the nerves)
- localized infections
- blood vessel inflammation
- gout
- diabetes
- blood vessel inflammation
- osteoarthritis (due to compression of the nerves)
- local tumors (due to compression of the nerves)
Commonly, the nerves are inflamed and sensitive because they are trapped within the muscles through which they pass. Muscle spasm and pain are often associated with nerve entrapment, which causes localized pain, spasm and muscle cramping.
Symptoms of Occipital Neuralgia
- Headaches that are localized or following a “ram’s horn” pattern on the side of the head, often starting in the upper neck or base of the skull (can be one-sided or on both sides)
- Pain in the scalp
- Pain in the forehead
- Scalp that is tender to the touch, often hypersensitive. Even brushing ones hair can painful
- Pain or pressure behind the eyes (Eyes are very sensitive to light especially when the headache is present)
What is the treatment options for Occipital Neuralgia?
- oral medications that are designed to reduce inflammation
- muscle relaxers
- local nerve blocks and injections of steroids directly into the affected area.
- physical therapy
- head and neck massage
- moist heat
- trigger point therapy of the suboccipital muscles
- using a supportive pillow at night
- traction for the neck
Recently, I came across a patients forum that discussed treatment options for occipital neuralgia. Choosing the right neck pillow for this condition can be tricky because it is very easy to set of the occipital nerves because they are so sensitive.
I too was looking for a pillow for the last 4 months. I randomly ordered the cervical traction neck pillow thinking it would be another pillow that truely wouldn’t be comfortable. I could not believe how well it worked. I did not have to worry about the pressure building on the base of my head with this pillow. Albeit it does take time to get used to this pillow as it is correcting your posture.
Give it a try and I hope it works for you too!
– PostureDude 04/11/2010 www.mdjunction.com/forums
Source: NINDS Occipital Neuralgia Information Page
Additional Reading Resources
- Did you know? … The Vast Majority of Headaches Stem from your Neck!
- The Right Pillow for Headaches
- Use my Neck Contour Pillow or Use My Regular Pillow?
- Neck Posture
- Anatomy of the Neck
- How to End Neck Pain by Doing a Cervical Traction Program at Home
HI, Thanks for a wonderful post. I have had pain on the back of my head and it comes and goes, so i never bothered to see a Dr. about it. But just about three days ago the pain are mort constant and they dont seem to go away. I going to call a Neurologist clinic tomorrow for an appointment.
Now that I’m feeling the pain more often i tend to put my thumb where the pain is and press it down cause the pressure and goes away but as soon as I release it comes back fast. Should I be more worried about this?
if the pain goes away when you press, it might be muscular. As an ON sufferer, I can tell you that while I tend to push on the nerve, it never makes the pain go away – it just gives me some control over the location.