Causes of headache in the back of the head. Headaches in the back of the head: causes and treatment in adolescents

Headache in the back of the head wears different character: strong, sharp, constant, pressing, drawing, tingling, prolonged and squeezing. The back of the head also hurts for various reasons, among which pressure, pinched nerve and other pathologies. That's why it is important to immediately determine the reason why it hurts in the occipital region, the symptoms of what kind of disease it is, and then start treatment.

Therefore, together we will try to figure out what every day or periodically squeezes the occipital region, why it does not go away, what it says and what to do.

Causes of discomfort

There may be several explanations for why severe pain in the back of the head is felt, most often this is due to the following reasons:

Neuralgia of the nerves of the occiput.
Pathologies and ailments of the cervical region ( for example, osteochondrosis, spondylitis, migraine)
Constant spasms.
High ICP.
Hypertension.
Sleeping or staying in one position long time.
Constant stress.
Overexertion of the muscles of the back of the head.
Biting problems.

State photos:

Neuralgia

Vasospasm

High ICP

Diseases of the cervical region

Hypertension

muscle strain

malocclusion

The cause of the headache and the treatment can be determined only after visiting a specialist, because it can hurt for several days, and it will not work to determine the nature of the pain, the symptoms of which disease.

Types of occipital pain in various diseases

If the head constantly hurts in the back of the head, especially when pressing on the back, it is urgent to start treatment, but this is done after determining the cause of the discomfort.

Feeling type can suggest what kind of disease are we talking about.

Disease	Peculiarities
Osteochondrosis of the cervical region	With this pathology, there is a change and deformation of the cartilaginous tissue, intervertebral discs of the occipital part, from which pain appears. In addition, there may be nausea, dizziness, a blurry picture before the eyes. If you turn your head sharply or throw it back, the possibility of movement is difficult. Also, against the background of the disease, a migraine of the cervical region may occur, which is characterized by a sharp pain in the occipital part of the head, which can cover the temples and the superciliary region.
cervical spondylosis	In this case, growths appear on the bones and the spinal column, and physical activity decreases. The pain syndrome in the back of the head continues constantly, the headache can last for four days in a row, and when the head is turned, it intensifies.
Hypertension	If it is a matter of high pressure, then the pain has a pulsating character and occurs quite often. Additional symptoms include palpitations, weakness, and may feel dizzy.
Myositis of the cervical region	Pathology develops due to hypothermia, injuries or prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position. Pain in the back of the head when turning the head intensifies, can be felt in the shoulders, between the shoulder blades. The main feature of myositis is that in one part of the back of the head, the pain can be felt more strongly than in the other.
cervical myogelosis	With pathology, seals appear in the tissues of the cervical spine, which cause sharp pain, dizziness.
Nerve neuralgia of the occiput	Pain in neuralgia of the nerves is located in the back of the head, but can spread to the ears, back, neck and increase over time. More often the pain is shooting in nature.
Spasm of the arteries	Then the pain will appear during activity, and disappear in the supine state. You may also experience goosebumps on the scalp.
Occupational pain syndrome	Pain and discomfort develops, as do office workers due to a long stay in an unchanged position, drivers.
High intracranial pressure	The pain can be located throughout the head, but it is especially strong in the back of the head. Symptoms also include dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. It is important to note that sharp pain with localization in the eyes in bright light is often observed.
malocclusion	The pain in this case can last up to three days, intensify in the evening, affect the entire jaw apparatus. It is important to note the dull nature of pain sensations.

Pain in the back of the neck, behind the ears and aches, tingling in the back of the head also speaks about the existence of problems with pressure or pathologies of the spinal column.

There are also other causes of such manifestations in the back of the neck, which differ in clinical presentation and type.

If it hurts and feels sick, and the pills do not help, it’s more likely not about hypothermia, but about a serious pathology. Most often the muscles below the back of the head hurt with osteochondrosis, and aching and frequent pain in the back of the neck occurs in the presence of infections, inflammations, tumors.

Useful video:

We offer in details Familiarize yourself with the type of pain and diseases that may accompany them.

Severe pain in the occipital region

Often, severe discomfort in the back of the head develops due to inflammation, the presence of infections, such as:

Inflammation of the nerve in the occiput. Feels burning headache, paroxysmal.
Meningitis ( may also be observed manifestations such as convulsions, fever, vomiting, loss of consciousness).

Neck pain and nausea

More often, constant, cutting and pressing pain in the back of the head appears due to:

Concussion.

Intracranial bleeding.
Hematoma.
A tumor located in the back of the head feels a dull pain.

Throbbing sensations

Pulsation in the lower part of the occipital region of the head develops due to high pressure or vasospasm. In the case of the latter, pain is aggravated by physical activity, it can cover the temples, forehead.

Also, at first, it may slightly ache behind, whine, feel heaviness, but with an increase in motor activity, the throbbing pain will intensify.

Hypertension can cause dizziness and double vision.

Sharp headache in the back of the head

It starts to hurt sharply, hits the temples and the frontal area, there is a feeling of something hot and squeezing - this is due to several reasons:

Myositis.
Migraine.
Subarachnoid hemorrhage (a rare and dangerous type of stroke).

Myositis

Type of stroke

Persistent head pain

Permanent severe pain below the back of the head, which does not go away on the third or fourth day, may indicate about the presence of pathologies of the spinal column, which include osteochondrosis, spondylosis, pinched intervertebral discs.

Pain and dizziness

Almost always with acute discomfort, which is in the back of the head, others are developing signs like dizziness, nausea.

It might speak about these pathologies. like osteochondrosis, hypertension, myogelosis. Along with this, the pain can be felt throbbing and bursting.

It will be useful to look at:

If it shoots from behind

Shooting headache character occurs after hypothermia, with inflammation, it intensifies after an increase in activity. It may also be a sign exacerbations osteochondrosis in a chronic form.

Also this type pain is inherent in the neuralgia of the nerves located in the back of the head.

Presses in the back of the neck

Pressing and dull pain develops for the following reasons:

Overexertion or being in the wrong position. Also it could become cause of the increase in blood pressure.
Hypertension intracranial. Also can nausea, dizziness, vomiting.
Stress and emotional tension.

What to do if the back of the head hurts?

Constant, frequent and severe pain in the back of the head and neck can indicate a serious illness. Therefore, you should not be treated and buy drugs without a doctor's prescription, better immediately go for examination.

Initially, you can contact to the therapist, who will examine and prescribe further examination.

For bite problems you need to apply to the orthodontist. Probably, the installation of a bracket system will be considered.

Photos before and after treatment with a bracket system

Most often assigned such analyzes:

External examination and history taking.
Blood and urine tests (to detect inflammation in the body).
X-ray, CT or MRI (to detect changes in nerve endings and blood vessels).
Observation of blood pressure indicators, determination of the state of the fundus.
Encephalograph test (to analyze the state of blood vessels).

Treatment

Subsequent therapy depends on the type of pathology that a person has, but main directions in therapy are:

View	Peculiarities
Taking medication	It is prescribed in the presence of inflammation, chronic diseases. Drugs are prescribed to improve blood circulation in hypertension. Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed for acute infections and inflammatory processes of nerve endings, antibiotics - for severe conditions.
Physiotherapy	It should only be taken after taking medication for such ailments as myogelosis, osteochondrosis, spondylosis, inflammation of the nerves in the occipital region.
Gymnastics	It is prescribed in the presence of deformation in the spinal column.
Acupressure, needle prick treatment, manual treatment, traditional medicine	They are used after consultation with the attending physician and when the diagnosis is definitely established.

Headache is familiar to many. It can be only occasionally, under the influence of certain factors, or disturb constantly. Aching, stabbing, pressing, pulsating - far from a complete list of its varieties. Often, poor health is associated with changes in atmospheric pressure, overwork, lack of sleep. And that's right. But the pain that occurs in the region of the back of the head has a number of other reasons. Lasting for a long time, it can bring the patient to extreme emotional stress. And even arising periodically, a headache greatly “poisons” life.

When the place of localization of pain is the back of the head, it is especially difficult to determine the factor that influenced this. I don’t want to move my head as a whole, any movement is given by a pulsation in the occipital region. There is only one desire: to clasp your head with your hands and squeeze it hard, feeling a momentary relief. But sometimes just touching the head is unbearable, not to mention the turns and tilts.

Pain does not occur on its own. And it may happen that when the back of the head hurts, this signals a serious illness.

Strong nervous tension caused by stress. The accelerated pace of life leaves little time for a good rest, which sooner or later “hits the head”!
Physical or mental stress, for a long time without sufficient rest, causes overwork and as a result.
Osteochondrosis is a fairly common disease today. Moreover, as well as the neck and whiskey. Increasing with slopes, it can disturb for a long time.
Head injuries or diseases of the cervical spine are a source, especially when moving the head.
Chronic disease, expressed by bone degeneration of ligaments. It's called spondylosis. In this disease, the cervical spine is excessively overloaded with osteophytes, they are the main cause of pain. Stiffness when turning the head, sleep disturbance are the main symptoms of the disease.
Frequent stressful situations, coupled with monotonous work in one position, and as a result of this - a violation of posture, lead to compaction of the cervical muscles. A disease is formed - myogelosis, characterized by the back of the head, dizziness, stiffness in the upper back. With this disease, pain can be localized on one side of the back of the head, more often on the right.
The diseases listed above can contribute to the development of occipital neuralgia. In this case, the pain is not only in the back of the head, but also in the back, neck, ears, and even gives to the jaw.
High blood pressure is a source of pain immediately after waking up from sleep. At the same time, the head pulsates, the back of the head, as it were, is bursting from the inside. To alleviate the condition can, spontaneous vomiting.
Intracranial pressure is characterized by a pressing headache with a feeling of heaviness in the back of the head. Loud sound and bright light act like a red rag on a bull! In this case, vomiting does nothing to relieve the pain.
Cervical migraine is primarily due to inflammation of the neck muscles. Darkening in the eyes, hearing loss, dizziness are the companions of this disease. Possible cause is hypothermia.

Forewarned is forearmed

Without betraying the importance of pain in the back of the head, you can miss such a serious disease as a stroke. A cerebral hemorrhage is accompanied by a sharp sudden pain in the neck, and here it is necessary to act with lightning speed: any delay is fraught with irreversible consequences.

A brain tumor or meningitis is manifested not only by pain in the back of the head, but also by dizziness, decreased visual acuity, and vomiting. These symptoms are more common in the morning.

No less dangerous is the pain on only one side of the back of the head: on the right or left. Such pain warns of a serious disease of the spine or brain. Do not delay the visit to the doctor! By starting treatment on time, serious consequences can be avoided. First of all, it is necessary to check the vessels and the spine. Pay attention to the neck, it is there that the pain often begins, and then it goes to the back of the head.

Problems with blood vessels cause their spasms, in which blood does not flow in the proper amount to the brain, when the spasm weakens, the opposite occurs - more blood is released. And then there is a pulsation in the back of the head.

Infectious disease, excessive coffee consumption, smoking, uncomfortable posture during sleep, inappropriate pillow, incorrect body position at the computer, all this negatively affects well-being. By changing your lifestyle, these types of pain will go away on their own.

If the pulsation is felt constantly, especially on one side of the head, this is vegetovascular dystonia. Maybe vomiting and nausea.

Stages of treatment

Before starting treatment, it is necessary to determine exactly what the cause of the pain is. And this requires the help of a specialist who, after an X-ray examination, will make an accurate diagnosis.

As an "ambulance" for pain in the back of the head, you can use good rest and sleep. Overwork is not as harmless as it might seem at first glance. If possible, lie down, massage the back of the head with light movements, relax and try to sleep.

When the headache is so severe that it is impossible to fall asleep, medication is usually used. It is quite acceptable to take the medicine at the same time, but you should not abuse self-medication, in order to avoid serious consequences!

In certain cases, for example, with pain in the cervical spine as a result of osteochondrosis, manual therapy, massage, and physiotherapy give a good effect.

And with hypertension (high blood pressure), medications will be appropriate, but only prescribed by a doctor.

If the pain occurs in the right side of the back of the head or on the left, the occipital neuralgia is the culprit. It is necessary to wrap the neck warmer, not to make sudden movements.

The use of traditional medicine recipes in some cases is very reasonable. Herbal medicine has always been popular. Aromatherapy has a beneficial effect not only on the head, but also on overall well-being in general. Oils suitable for this purpose: mint, lavender, lemon. Making a hot compress on the back of the head can relieve pain from severe overwork. Or, conversely, massage the back of the head with an ice cube.

First of all, you need to visit a therapist. After reviewing the history of the disease and listening to the patient's complaints, the doctor will advise you to undergo an examination. Namely: a visit to a neurologist, surgeon, traumatologist, physical therapy doctor, chiropractor. And those, in turn, based on the results of general tests, pressure measurements, neck radiographs, rheoencephalography (to identify problems with blood vessels), computed tomography, will draw appropriate conclusions and prescribe treatment.

And in order to avoid such a disease in the future, prevention is required:

Follow the routine. Healthy sleep is 7-8 hours.
Replace feather pillows with orthopedic pillows.
Watch the pressure. Sometimes it is enough to follow a diet and hypertension will recede.
Give up alcohol and try to quit smoking.
Properly organize the workplace with a comfortable chair and sufficient lighting.
Take vitamins, especially in the off-season.
Avoid stress and overwork.

Observing prevention, and if necessary, starting treatment on time, you can forget about headaches forever. Only no self-activity! Only a doctor can prescribe medicine. Do not look for the cause yourself and, succumbing to advertising, do not buy newfangled drugs.

Does your head hurt very often and you don't know what to do?

Most people in this case just take a pill and forget about the pain, but the problem will not go away.

Pain in this part may indicate that a disease is developing. That is why you need not just to drink an anesthetic pill, as is customary to do, but to run to the doctor.

The back of the head hurts causes

The pain in the head can have a different character, it can be aching, pressing, dull, and so on. In some cases, it is concentrated in one part of the head, and sometimes it spreads to all places of the head. Moreover, in each case, the cause of its occurrence may be different.

So, if the back of the head hurts, the causes of this condition may be as follows:

Diseases of the thoracic spine or cervical spine

In the case of the development of such a disease, it is quite difficult to determine exactly where the pain is localized - in the back of the head or neck.

When moving, pain may increase, while the pain will be very acute. The main reason for the occurrence of such sensations is the growth of bone processes, they are localized along the edges of the vertebrae or are pinched by the vessels that go to the brain.

Body position was wrong

In the event of a long stay in an uncomfortable or incorrect position, the muscles of the cervical region or spine can become very numb, resulting in severe or moderate pain in the head.

Unpleasant sensations usually make themselves felt in the evening, but immediately after rest, the condition will improve. Basically, this problem occurs among office workers or drivers, because it is they who have to stay in an uncomfortable position for a long time.

Myogelosis

The disease is characterized by the fact that there is a seal in the muscles of the cervical region, the posture is disturbed. Anything can lead to this - being in an uncomfortable position, hypothermia.

Gradually, this will lead to the fact that the muscles will be compacted. Movement will become difficult, a dull, aching pain will appear in the back of the head.

Neuralgia

The occipital nerve can become inflamed due to hypothermia or the development of diseases of the spinal column. Pain in this case will occur when it is not expected at all, and the attacks can be severe. Pain is given to the shoulders, back and even to the ear. At the moment of making any movement, the discomfort will intensify.

Arterial hypertension

Increased pressure is frequent and regular pain in the back of the head, they may be accompanied by nausea or the so-called flies before the eyes. Hypertension increases in the morning, as well as after prolonged physical exertion.

Mental or muscular tension

Frequent stress, inability to relax, constant problems - all this can lead to pain in the back of the head. It is not difficult to explain them - the muscles in the neck are constantly tense, vascular spasms are observed, stress hormones increase. In the evening and at night, the pain becomes unbearably strong, with the passage of time it will become stronger. In most cases, such problems are faced by women who are over thirty years old.

cervical migraine

Migraine is a rather unpleasant disease, it occurs due to vascular pathologies. In the temples, the back of the head, on the face, there is a burning pain. Moreover, bouts of pain will be accompanied by tinnitus, frequent dizziness, blurred vision. The patient is literally in a state of fainting.

Hypodynamia or lack of oxygen

In the back of the head there are pains of a dull or aching nature, they make themselves felt especially strongly in the evening. The patient is unable to fully engage in their own affairs. The disease is inherent in office workers working in a poorly ventilated room.

The optic nerve is tense

Pain in the back of the head can occur due to incorrectly selected glasses or lenses. The optic nerve is in a strong overvoltage. Also, pain can occur in those people who constantly work at a computer, their vision is also in constant tension.

Other diseases

Severe pain in the back of the head can be a sign of any disease associated with the brain. If they are repeated periodically, and constantly with renewed vigor, it is necessary to visit a doctor and undergo an examination. During the examination, many serious diseases can be detected, for example, a brain cyst, cancer, and so on.

As you can see, if the back of the head hurts, the reasons can be numerous and it is simply impossible to diagnose yourself.

What to do when the back of the head hurts

In the event of severe pain in the back of the head, you must first visit a medical facility and undergo an examination. However, if it is possible to go to the doctor right now, no, You can try to alleviate your condition yourself at home:

1. Pay enough attention to your rest and work. Most often, in order to completely get rid of pain, it is enough to rest well. The daily regimen must be clearly developed - at least eight hours of sleep are given, you need to go to bed at the same time. It is better to get up early in the morning. Before going to bed, be sure to take a contrast shower, this will help relieve tension and strengthen blood vessels.

2. Actively go in for sports - if due to your work you have to sit a lot, you should try to change your body position as often as possible, you can turn your head, bend over. Get up every hour and just walk. If possible, sign up for a pool or gym.

3. Normalize your blood pressure - if the pain in the back of the head hurts precisely for this reason, then the only way to get rid of it is to control your hypertension.

4. Pay attention to your diet - no matter how strange it may sound, but it is thanks to the removal of all toxins that you can normalize your condition. It is recommended to drink at least one liter of water per day, refuse fatty and salty foods. Abusing bad habits also causes irreparable harm, so bad habits will have to be abandoned.

5. Monitor your emotional state. If your life is connected with constant stress and depression, you need to learn first of all to calm down. Try to walk in the fresh air as often and as long as possible, do yoga. Before going to bed, take a bath, decoctions of motherwort or valerian are useful.

6. Visit a massage parlor - you can relieve muscle spasm with the help of massage, in the same way blood circulation will be improved.

7. The head should always be warm - no drafts or walks without hats in the cold season.

What to do if the back of the head hurts should be decided by the doctor, there is simply no question of any treatment with drugs.

What to do when the back of the head hurts - traditional methods

Knowing the causes of pain in the back of the head, it will be difficult to diagnose yourself. At the first symptoms, you need to go to the hospital and undergo an appropriate examination. In order for the diagnosis to be made correctly, you need to be examined by the following specialists:

1. Traumatologist or exercise therapy doctor.

2. Neurologist.

3. Cardiologist.

Often the pain is so strong that the patient cannot sleep. To date, there are several common methods for treatment and include the following:

1. Massage.

2. Medicines.

3. Use of manual therapy.

4. Physiotherapy.

The choice of treatment method will depend on what exactly caused the pain. For example, with osteochondrosis, it simply does not make sense to take any painkillers. In this case, only manual therapy, as well as massage, can help.

With a migraine or overwork, you can relieve pain with a glass of hot tea. In some cases, it is recommended to apply ice, it is applied directly to the back of the head and relieves pain. Folk methods say that you can relieve pain with a regular cabbage leaf. It is applied directly to the part where the pain is localized.

In order not to face such a problem as pain in the back of the head in the future, you should not neglect exercise in the morning, walk more often in the air. When working at computers, take a break for at least a few minutes and do gymnastics.

The occurrence of pain in the back of the head is a common occurrence that can overcome people of different ages. The most unpleasant thing lies in the fact that such a condition can be a symptom of not only a minor violation, but also a serious illness.

Almost 75% of people do not pay due attention to this symptom and once again take an analgesic that eliminates them. Is such an approach reasonable?

The body will not send false signals, and if the pain is constant, a pathological process is taking place in any system or organ. Leaving the manifestation without proper treatment can provoke the development of severe complications.

Causes of pain in the back of the head and neck, especially in various diseases

The main reasons include:

improper development of bite;
functional failures of the joints (temporomandibular);
staying in a certain position for a long time;
neuralgia of the occipital nerve;
increase in blood pressure;
spondylosis;
increased intracranial pressure;
spasm of arteries in the brain;
osteochondrosis;
migraine;
spondylitis.

Pain has characteristic features, depending on the pathology that caused them, and can vary dramatically.

1. With a broken bite

The pains are dull and lingering. Strengthening is observed in the second half of the day and at night. In tandem with occipital pain, such manifestations also take place - dizziness, blurred vision, tinnitus.

Incorrect bite can cause a headache in the back of the head and temples at the same time.

2. With myositis

The occurrence of painful symptoms with mosaitis is associated with:

with a long stay in one position;
with injuries of varying severity;
with frequent hypothermia.

Discomfort appears when turning, tilting and other head movements. The pain radiates to the area of the shoulder blades and collarbones. The main characteristic feature is its asymmetry, when the greatest intensity is expressed on the right or left.

3. With hypertension

An increase in blood pressure often causes acute pain.

At the same time, a throbbing headache in the back of the head can be chronic and last for several days, periodically weakening, but not completely disappearing.

4. With spondylosis

It is characterized by the formation on the spine, in the region of the cervical region, of small hard growths consisting of bone tissues. This phenomenon causes a deterioration in the mobility of the cervical vertebrae.

In this condition, there are very frequent and almost incessant pains in the occipital region. In the process of any movements of the head and neck, the sensations become unbearable, which can disrupt the sleep pattern.

5. With myogelosis

The cause is painful seals that form in the muscle tissue of the neck. In addition to pain symptoms, a person has dizziness, "flickering" before the eyes, "plugs" in the ears.

6. With a jump in intracranial pressure upward

Discomfort appears not only in the back of the head, but also in the region of the temples, the top of the head. The pains are "spilled", they are fettering in nature. It seems to a person that his head is girded with tightly squeezing steel hoops.

A frequent companion of this condition is nausea and headache in the back of the head, which acquires a aching character. Vomiting or gagging may occur.

7. Staying in a certain position for a long time

Most often, such pains are present in people of such professions as drivers, machinists, programmers, office workers. In this case, discomfort appears after several hours of being in a certain position, intensifying in the afternoon.

For example, drivers have to constantly shift the gearbox, respectively, their right hand is involved in the work process much more often, and the blood flow is much better in it.

And the left hand practically does not move, which leads to a state when a headache occurs in the back of the head on the left side. Painful sensations may also be present on the right side, but they are most pronounced on the left.

8. With osteochondrosis

The pathology is based on a change in the structure, anatomical shape and size of the intervertebral discs in the cervical region. The pain appears first in the back of the head, and then in the temples and neck.

Frequent companions of this condition are:

dizziness;
lack of coordination;
double vision;
blurred vision;
nausea.

With a particularly severe course of cervical osteochondrosis, the patient, with a sharp turn or tilting of the head, may lose orientation and fall, losing the ability to move for a while. However, he will remain conscious.

Often, patients with such a pathology suffer from prolonged migraines, the pain in which can be given to the area of the superciliary arches.

9. With spasm of the vessels of the head

When there is a spasm of the arteries, there are severe pains in the back of the head. They are aggravated by movement, bending and physical activity, and weakened by sitting and lying down.

In the process of subsiding symptoms, a person may feel a tingling sensation in the skin of the head.

10. Neuralgia of the occipital nerve

Such pains most often have an inflammatory etiology and are paroxysmal, "shooting". Can spread to the area of the ears, temples, lower back, shoulder blades, lower jaw joint.

The process of coughing and sneezing, as well as moving the head, all increase the soreness. In the period between attacks, the pain does not disappear completely, there is a slight discomfort of a pressing nature.

If neuralgia proceeds for a long time, the patient may experience an increase in the sensitivity of the skin in the back of the head.

When should you see a doctor, and which one?

In case of persistent pain in the back of the head, you should contact a neurologist or your general practitioner, who will make a preliminary diagnosis and issue a referral to the appropriate specialist. You can also consult a neurosurgeon, traumatologist and vertebrologist.

For pain in the back of the head, which has developed as a result of frequent hypothermia, chronic fatigue, severe stress and excessive physical exertion, a cardinal change in diet, daily routine and lifestyle in general is recommended.

If the pains have a different nature of origin or the cause of their development is not obvious, consult a doctor immediately. It is also necessary to consult a competent physician in such cases when the pain is protracted and is accompanied by:

nausea;
vomiting;
confusion of consciousness;
epileptic seizures;
doubling of objects before the eyes;
hearing loss;
state of inhibition;
convulsions;
tremor of the limbs;
discomfort in the chest area
an unpleasant bursting sensation in the face area, in particular the paranasal sinuses.

Before prescribing adequate therapy, it is necessary to carry out a number of diagnostic measures - CT scan and radiography of the spine.

If it turns out that the occipital pain has arisen due to serious pathologies - for example, due to an increase in intracranial or arterial pressure, the patient will need an urgent appointment of itiotropic treatment.

If the pain in the back of the head does not threaten a person’s life, but at the same time the diseases that caused them are constantly progressing, a number of treatment procedures are required:

Cranial osteopathy. It is used mainly for the treatment of osteochondrosis that affected the cervical vertebrae.

Acupuncture. This procedure involves the impact on certain areas of the skin, which are biologically active.

It is used for neuralgia, emotional disorders, osteochondrosis.

Manual therapy. This procedure is carried out by a specialist doctor. It perfectly helps to relieve pain in osteochondrosis, myositis, neuralgia.

Electrophoresis, laser or ultrasound therapy, magnetotherapy. These procedures are prescribed for occipital pain caused by vascular pathologies, neuralgia, staying in one position for a long time, myogelosis.

Therapeutic physical education. Exercises are developed by a specialist in each individual case.

Their implementation will improve blood flow through the vascular channels, relieve tension in the cervical and other parts of the spine. They also help to relax the ligaments and muscles of the neck.

Massage. With an established diagnosis and in combination with other methods of treatment, these procedures will be able to relieve pain in a short time.

However, they should not be prescribed if the patient suffers from spondylosis or hypertension.

Remember that even with minor pain in the back of the head, you need to seek help from doctors, and not self-medicate, which is fraught with the possible development of serious complications.

So is it worth it to exacerbate the problem with your own hands?

Headache in the back of the head or, more simply, the back of the head often worries people. This unpleasant symptomatology can only sometimes overcome a person, and can be present for years. Is it a trifle that you should not pay attention to? Many believe that yes, and for the hundredth time they swallow the usual Citramon tablet, causing addiction to this drug and nothing more. But the body never sends us false signals, and pain in the back of the head can be a symptom of a particular pathological process. Pain is always an unfavorable sign, so you should not let go of the situation with pain discomfort in the back of your head and engage in useless self-treatment.

Causes of pain in the back of the head and features of its manifestation in various pathologies

Acute headache is not unreasonable. The causes of a headache in the back of the head often lie in vascular, neurological pathology and diseases of the spine. According to this or that pathology, occipital headache has its own characteristics, which, as a rule, the patient can clearly state to the doctor.

Isolated cases of headache are not necessarily associated with the disease. Such a painful manifestation can be triggered by a long stay in a forced or uncomfortable position, stress, hunger, sleeping on a hard surface, as well as due to smoking, high consumption of caffeine, products with chemical additives, etc.

Therefore, one-time cases of such a pain syndrome should not cause unrest, but long-term and often recurring symptoms, of course, are a reason to visit a doctor.

Cervical osteochondrosis

Cervical osteochondrosis is one of the common causes of headaches in the back of the head. The disease is characterized by destruction of the intervertebral discs of the cervical vertebrae. The pain syndrome in cervical osteochondrosis is purely permanent and, in addition to the back of the head, is localized in the neck and temporal region. With movements and tilts of the head, pain manifestations become stronger.

With the development of vertebrobasilar syndrome, occipital pains are combined with tinnitus and hearing loss, nausea and vomiting, involuntary contractions of the diaphragm, and coordination disorders are observed (see,). A person is disturbed by visual disturbances - a veil, fog and double vision. Severe dizziness often occurs, and when tilting or suddenly turning the head, a person may fall, losing the ability to move for a while, but remains conscious.

For osteochondrosis, cervical migraine is also characteristic, the pain attack of which comes on suddenly and is projected on the right or left side of the back of the head, spreading to the temporal and superciliary region. At the same time, there is dizziness with noise discomfort in the ears, as well as an episode of darkening in the eyes.

cervical spondylosis

With cervical spondylosis, the connective tissue of the vertebral ligaments degenerates into bone. Bone growths appear on the vertebrae, significantly impairing the mobility of the neck, causing stiffness with any turn of the head.

Pain in the occipital region is characterized by constancy and spread to the ears and eyes. Turns, as well as tilts of the head, cause increased pain, but even when the head is stationary, the pain syndrome persists.

As a rule, sleep is disturbed. The disease is most typical for people with peculiarities of the labor process, expressed in a forced position of the body and inactivity during the shift, as well as for elderly patients.

Hypertonic disease

A hypertensive attack is accompanied by the occurrence of arching pains in the occipital segment of the head with pulsation, which often begin already at the moment of awakening. Occipital pain is accompanied by dizziness and a feeling of a "heavy" head, general weakness and palpitations may be observed. The pain becomes more noticeable when the head is tilted. Such occipital pain becomes less intense after sudden vomiting.

Increased intracranial pressure

A constant pressing headache corresponding to this pathology can be felt on the entire head or localized only in the back of the head. The nature of the pain is pressing and arching, exposure to bright light and loud sounds sharply increases the intensity of the pain syndrome. Characterized by vomiting, which does not relieve pain. A feeling of heaviness in the head, as well as pain in the eyeballs, joins the occipital pain.

cervical myositis

When there is inflammation of the muscles of the neck. The cause may be hypothermia, an uncomfortable position of the neck and trauma. The pain occurs when the head moves and starts from the neck, then spreads to the back of the head, shoulder and interscapular region. Pain is asymmetric.

Myogelosis of the cervical spine

Myogelosis of the cervical spine is characterized by a violation of muscle circulation, which leads to the appearance of painful seals in the neck. There is an occipital headache, which is accompanied by obvious dizziness, as well as stiffness of the muscle tissue of the shoulders and neck.

Neuralgia of the occipital nerve

Neuralgia or inflammation of the occipital often accompanies osteochondrosis and other diseases of the cervical spine. Hypothermia can be the cause of this type of neuralgia. The pains in the back of the head are very severe, even burning and shooting, and are characterized by a paroxysmal course.

Then the pain spreads to the neck, ears, and also the lower jaw and back. Any changes in the position of the head, as well as coughing, lead to a sharp increase in headache. In the interictal period, there is a pressing pain in the occipital region of the head. With a long course of the disease, excessive sensitivity of the scalp on the back of the head occurs.

Vascular pain

With spasm of the arteries located on the surface or inside the skull, there are throbbing pains that begin in the back of the head and then quickly spread to the forehead. When moving, the pain syndrome becomes more intense, and at rest it decreases.

Pain associated with difficulty in the outflow of venous blood from the head is dull and bursting in nature and is accompanied by a feeling of heaviness in the head. The pain begins in the back of the head, and then "spreads" throughout the head. When lowering the head, coughing, lying down, it intensifies. Often such pains begin already in the morning and are accompanied by swelling of the lower eyelids.

Pain in the back of the head during exercise

Another name for the syndrome is tension pain. Pain is based on vascular pathology, such as narrowing of the lumen or increased fragility of the walls of blood vessels. There are pains during heavy physical labor, when performing certain physical exercises with a high load.

In the occipital and frontal parts of the head there is a constant feeling of heaviness, "" and tingling. Sometimes a person feels a kind of squeezing of the head with a non-existent rope or hat. Pain of moderate intensity, not accompanied by symptoms of nausea and vomiting.

Neck pain during orgasm

This pain is of vascular origin, since orgasm is accompanied by a high increase in pressure. This pain is experienced by people suffering from vegetative-vascular dystonia.

Occupational pain

Being in a forced position of the body during a work shift, accompanied by tension in the neck muscles, leads to the development of sharp headaches in the back of the head. This syndrome affects drivers, programmers, jewelers, watchmakers, seamstresses, etc. The pains are prolonged, have a dull character and decrease with head movements kneading the neck. Rubbing the cervical region and the back of the head also helps to reduce the severity of pain.

malocclusion

Malocclusion can provoke pain of a dull nature in the back of the head, which spread to the ear and parietal region, it can be localized from below or in one of the sides. The pain begins in the daytime and gradually increases in the evening.

Pain during stress

Stress pains are most typical for women. Their nature and duration are different, the normalization of the psychological state leads to the disappearance of pain manifestations in the back of the head.

Treatment of pain in the back of the head

Treatment should be preceded by a full diagnosis and clarification of its causes. In the presence of a severe headache in the back of the head, treatment is possible after contacting a therapist who will conduct an initial diagnosis and refer you to narrow specialists. As a rule, taking the underlying disease under control leads to the leveling of unpleasant symptoms, including a headache in the back of the head.

Such serious pathologies as arterial hypertension and increased intracranial pressure require the use of emergency etiotropic therapy. When diagnosing diseases that do not directly threaten the patient's life, but are constantly progressing, a set of therapeutic measures is prescribed, among which the following methods are most common:

Massage. Many have noticed that even simple rubbing of the back of the head and neck helps to significantly reduce the severity of pain. A targeted massage of certain muscle groups with a pre-known diagnosis really works wonders. But only professionals should be entrusted with this responsible business. Massage is prescribed in courses that can be repeated in a month or two. You can lightly rub the tense parts of the head and neck on your own, while assuming a comfortable body position. With hypertension and spondylosis, massage is prohibited.
Physiotherapy. Specially selected exercises allow you to relieve tense muscles and ligaments of the neck and spine as a whole, thereby improving the movement of blood through the vessels. This technique has no contraindications, the main thing is the correct execution of the exercises.
Physiotherapy treatment (, ultrasound or laser treatment,) helps well with spondylosis, myogelosis, osteochondrosis, increased intracranial pressure, occipital neuralgia, vascular pain.
Manual therapy. This is a special therapeutic technique that is not related to massage, although it is performed with the help of a doctor's hands. It helps with pain in the back of the head, provoked by cervical osteochondrosis, myogelosis, neuralgia of the occipital nerve, with occupational and stress pain.
Acupuncture. The technique is justified in case of occipital nerve neuralgia, cervical osteochondrosis, stress and consists in a point effect on biologically active zones on the skin surface.
Cranial osteopathy has proven itself for the correction of cervical osteochondrosis.
Normalization of the mode of wakefulness and rest, a healthy lifestyle often solve the problem of occipital headache without treatment. This recommendation is common to all pathologies and is of fundamental importance in the success of the treatment.