What’s Behind Back-of-the-Head Pain
“Pain in back of head” may describe a condition called occipital neuralgia. This condition involves the occipital nerves, which start at the second and third vertebrae in the neck.
Occipital neuralgia is a common cause of back of head pain and it is often due to neck tension and chronically contracted neck muscles. But medical conditions that can cause occipital neuralgia include osteoarthritis of the neck, trauma or compression of the occipital nerves, diabetes, gout, infection, or tumors that affect the nerve roots of the cervical vertebrae.
Symptoms of occipital neuralgia pain include:
- Pain at the base of the skull
- Aching, burning, or throbbing pain
- Intermittent shooting pain
- Pain usually on one side of the head, and pain can occur behind the eye on the affected side
Treatment usually starts with muscle relaxants and oral anti-inflammatories, but a specialist may recommend anti-convulsants or nerve blocks to help relieve pain.
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