Occipital neuralgia in adults: symptoms, causes and treatment

Neurologist (algologist)

Vasilenko

Marina Gennadievna

25 years of experience

Head of the Pain Treatment Center, neurologist-algologist, member of the Society of Neurologists and Neurosurgeons, Russian Society for the Study of Pain, Association of Interdisciplinary Medicine, International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)

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Occipital neuralgia is a disease of neurological origin, which is associated with irritation of the nerve roots in the occipital region. The pathology affects pairs of spinal nerves: the lesser and greater occipital nerves. The inflammatory process compresses and irritates these nerves, creating constant pain and reducing the quality of life of patients. Inflammation, according to the degree of origin, can be primary and secondary (against the background of lesions of the cervical vertebrae), and is also divided into neuralgia of the greater occipital nerve and neuralgia of the lesser occipital nerve.

Symptoms

Signs of inflammation of the occipital nerve are the following:

• throbbing pain in the head, ears, temples, lower jaw;
• dizziness and nausea;
• causeless lacrimation;
• discomfort from touching the affected area;
• a haunting feeling of cold;
• change in skin color.

Symptoms of occipital neuralgia:

• paroxysmal shooting pains;
• the duration of the attack is several hours;
• imitation of migraine symptoms;
• localization of pain in the occipital region;
• limitation of head mobility;
• increased sensitivity of the skin at the site of inflammation;
• change in skin color at the site of inflammation.

The pain can be constant, dull or burning.

A distinctive feature of inflammation of the occipital nerve is the presence of trigger points. The slightest pressure on them results in acute pain, so they must be protected from exposure until the disease is completely cured.

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What does the localization of lumbago in the head indicate?

Pain can occur due to inflammation in the muscles of the neck and back of the head.
If it shoots on one side, this indicates problems in the organs on the left or right side. Discomfort occurs when the ear, eye socket, or limbs become inflamed. Unpleasant sensations are disturbing if there is a tumor or an aneurysm, if the neck is blown.

Jerking pain in the occipital region indicates diseases of the cervical spine. With osteochondrosis and hernia, dizziness, tinnitus, weakness, and fatigue are additional concerns.

Shooting pain that radiates to the ear area occurs due to problems with the cervical spine, inflammation of the oropharynx, and hearing organs. Pain in the frontal area is a consequence of inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, runny nose, and sinusitis.

If it shoots in the crown area, this indicates problems with the spine. Jerking pain in the temples occurs when the temporal artery is damaged, inflammation of the temporomandibular joint, or trigeminal neuralgia.

Diagnostic methods

If inflammation of the occipital nerve is suspected, the following is carried out:

• initial examination;
• collection of clinical picture information;
• collection of patient complaints;
• clarification of the conditions for the appearance of symptoms of inflammation of the occipital nerve;
• identification of concomitant diseases.

Instrumental diagnostics are based on the use of MRI, CT and radiography.

Seeking help from a doctor

It is always easier to get rid of the root cause of a disease than to fight the consequences for a long time. Therefore, at the first signs of inflammation of the occipital nerve, treatment will be prescribed by a neurologist. At the Academician Roitberg Clinic, experienced specialists will provide you with the necessary assistance in eliminating the symptoms of occipital neuralgia and treating any type and etiology.

Diseases accompanied by pain in the occipital region

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

The modern rhythm of life has led to the fact that osteochondrosis is no longer a disease of only older people; even people who have not crossed the age of thirty can suffer from this disease. A sedentary lifestyle and prolonged work at a computer or desk contribute to the development of destructive changes in the cervical spine.

Osteochondrosis appears due to a sedentary lifestyle and leads to headaches

As a result of changes in the cervical vertebrae, the nerve trunks emerging from the spinal cord at the level of the neck are pinched, and the flow of blood to the brain structures through the vertebrobasilar arteries is disrupted

In severe cases, such a disease can even lead to the development of a stroke in the basin of these vessels, so it is very important to treat osteochondrosis in time and carry out its prevention

Medicines have limited capabilities in the treatment of osteochondrosis; the most important treatment is physical exercise. Currently, you can find many different sets of exercises to help cope with the disease. For successful treatment, it is necessary to do exercises regularly, preferably daily. For healthy people, such exercises will prevent osteochondrosis.

Physiotherapy helps get rid of cephalgia associated with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine: massage, amplipulse, magnetic therapy.

Arterial hypertension

Increased blood pressure often causes headaches in the occipital region, which is associated with vasospasm. To eliminate such symptoms, you need to contact a cardiologist or therapist, who will select antihypertensive treatment, which will eliminate the cause of the symptoms.

Very often, a sharp increase in pressure provokes a headache, which is caused by vasospasm

For arterial hypertension, the correct individual selection of drugs is very important. You cannot self-medicate without consulting a doctor, even if a friend or neighbor describes the miraculous effect of their remedy. Currently, there are many different groups of medications that can lower blood pressure, but all of them have side effects in addition to therapeutic effects, so only a doctor can choose the right medicine.

Arterial hypertension can have serious complications, such as strokes and heart attacks, so it is important to properly treat the disease, and not just relieve pain in the back of the head

Consequences of traumatic brain injury

Frequent pain in the back of the head can bother the patient for a long time after suffering a traumatic brain injury. The mechanism of development of symptoms can be different: increased intracranial pressure, impaired blood supply to the brain, damage to brain structures. In each case, it is necessary to relieve pain using different means, so to select treatment, you must consult a neurologist or neurosurgeon.

Atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels

As a result of atherosclerosis, the lumen in the cerebral arteries narrows, which impedes the flow of blood to the brain cells. This disease is often accompanied by the development of persistent cephalgia. Only a doctor can select an effective treatment for atherosclerotic disorders.

Migraine

Migraine is a special type of headache that requires special treatment and accurate diagnosis. Unlike other types of cephalalgia, in which vasospasm occurs in the brain, with migraine the vessels, on the contrary, dilate, therefore conventional analgesics and antispasmodics are not suitable for the treatment of this pathology and are often ineffective.

Migraines are caused by dilation of blood vessels in the head, so standard medications often cannot cope with headache attacks

A neurologist will help you choose an effective drug treatment for migraine. Folk remedies are also used to relieve symptoms:

• essential oils on the temples will have a distracting effect and help reduce pain;
• herbal infusions and teas: mint, viburnum bark, hawthorn, motherwort, linden flowers, raspberry leaves can be brewed in different ratios and taken during an attack;
• Carrot and cucumber juice help reduce migraine pain.

Treatment of the disease

Treatment of the occipital nerve involves relieving muscle tone, inflammatory processes and pain impulses. It has several directions:

• medications are used to relieve pain, muscle spasms and inflammation, such groups of medications as anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxants, anticonvulsants (if necessary), steroids, analgesics, B vitamins are used;
• physiotherapy is aimed at warming;
• therapeutic and physical training complex of exercises;
• massage;
• manual therapy;
• acupuncture;
• Surgery is a last resort method of treatment when all other methods have not had the desired effect.

An important step in treating inflammation is treating the root cause of the disease. Such an integrated approach to the symptoms and treatment of occipital neuralgia brings the maximum positive effect.

How can you fight the disease using traditional methods?

How to treat occipital neuralgia with folk recipes? This treatment takes place at home and is aimed at reducing severe pain. You can use the following folk remedies:

• ointment from lilac buds - a thick decoction of lilac mixed with pork fat, rubbed into areas of inflammation on the neck and head;
• dream herb infusion – brew 2 tablespoons of dry herb with a glass of boiling water and leave for 24 hours, you need to drink it in one day;
• Take 1 tbsp of willow bark decoction. l. from 3 to 5 times a day;
• alcohol compresses.

How effective are folk remedies?

A warming compress can be used if there is no purulent inflammation.
For cranialgia, non-traditional methods should be used only in combination with medications. Folk remedies relieve pain, inflammation, and speed up the healing process.

You can get rid of shooting pain in the head at home in the following ways:

• Massage the crown, occipital region, and cervical region. You can use Zvezdochka balm, pain-relieving ointments, essential oils of mint, lavender, eucalyptus or juniper.
• Dry heat - make compresses with heated salt. Warming procedures are contraindicated at elevated temperatures and purulent processes.
• Prepare a solution of 3 parts Novocaine and 1 part Dimexide. Use for compresses.

Before using folk remedies, you should consult your doctor.

Disease prevention

Preventive measures should be permanent:

• rational organization of the work process;
• systematic physical exercise;
• avoid injuries and hypothermia;
• improving the diet with the addition of the maximum amount of vitamins and minerals;
• maintaining the correct neck position while working;
• timely treatment of respiratory and infectious diseases;
• rational distribution of physical activity;
• preventive treatment of concomitant diseases if present.

In our clinic, consultations are conducted by highly qualified neurologists. You can make an appointment with them on the website or by phone. JSC "Medicine" (clinic of academician Roitberag) is located at the address: 2nd Tverskoy-Yamskaya lane, 10, Mayakovskaya metro station.

Diagnosis of cranialgia

To prevent a part of the head from shooting through acute pain, it is necessary to accurately determine the reasons for its occurrence. To do this, you often have to undergo an extensive examination.

After being examined by a therapist and passing the necessary tests, the patient is referred to specialists:

• The ENT doctor will check the hearing organs and examine the nasal cavity to rule out infectious diseases;
• a vertebrologist will check the condition of the spine to exclude cervical osteochondrosis;
• A neurologist performs brain diagnostics to exclude dangerous pathologies and inflammatory processes.

If one of these diseases is detected, a thorough examination of the head and cervical spine is prescribed: MRI, X-ray, ultrasound.

Therapy consists of a complex of medications and physical therapy procedures.

If cranialgia occurs due to a bacterial infection, the patient is prescribed the following medications:

• anti-inflammatory drugs (Ibuprofen, Diclofenac) and painkillers in tablets (Spazmalgon);
• antibiotics (Zitrox);
• vitamin injections.

If lumbago is due to muscle tension or neuritis, then it is recommended:

• tranquilizers (Phenazepam);
• neuroprotectors (Actovegin).

For cervical osteochondrosis, ointments with non-steroidal components (Finalgon, Diklak) are used.

Drug therapy is complemented by physiotherapeutic procedures:

• ultra-high frequency therapy;
• magnetic therapy;
• electrotherapy.

When the attacks of pain are relieved, massage, special gymnastics and manual therapy are recommended.

Pathology can be eliminated as quickly as possible only in the early stages of development. If cranialgia becomes chronic, the treatment will be very long. Therefore, at the first manifestations of shooting pain, you should urgently consult a neurologist. Ignoring this problem risks progression of the disease and disability over time.

What to do and how to treat

You should not try to cure this symptom on your own. After all, you don’t know the true cause of pain. The best way out is to consult a specialist doctor. After carrying out all the necessary diagnostic procedures, you will be prescribed adequate treatment, which will lead to the disappearance of the discomforting symptom.

Thus, ear pain can occur for completely different reasons. It is almost impossible to independently determine the source. The fate of further therapeutic intervention depends on the correct diagnosis: whether it is possible to manage with conservative therapy or whether it is necessary to resort to the use of invasive intervention.

Treatment options and complications

Correct diagnosis means effective treatment and favorable prognosis!

It is impossible to unambiguously determine the method of treatment without establishing an accurate diagnosis. That is, the therapeutic method is prescribed based on the cause of the headache:

• if the cause is a viral or bacterial infection, it is necessary to take antiviral drugs and antibiotics (Amiksin, Laferobion, Amoxiclav, Albucid)
• if your head hurts because of a tooth, then you need to visit the dentist and fix the problem
• for osteochondrosis, massages and the use of local drugs are necessary, the action of which is aimed at the regeneration of osteochondrosis tissues
• if your head hurts due to inflammation of the lymph node, then you need to take a drug that increases the immunity and protective functions of the body

During the treatment of any pathology, dietary nutrition, smoking cessation and alcohol consumption are required. The doctor prescribes the exact medications, but self-medication is highly discouraged, as this can aggravate the situation.

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As for prognosis and complications, it is difficult to speak in general terms without an accurate diagnosis. The only thing that can be said unequivocally is that the sooner the cause is determined and treatment begins, the greater the chances of avoiding the development of complications.

In medical practice, there have been many cases where patients self-medicated and treated a cold while they developed an oncological tumor.

There are no preventive methods against headaches. You can only protect yourself from possible pathologies. To do this, it is necessary to undergo a medical examination by specialists annually (1-2 times) in order to identify the disease at an early stage.

In addition, it is important to pay special attention to the immune system. It is important to adjust your diet, avoid fatty, salty, sweet and spicy foods. Introduce more grains, fresh berries, herbs, fruits and vegetables into the menu

Introduce more grains, fresh berries, herbs, fruits and vegetables into the menu.

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According to statistics, cephalalgia is rarely caused by diseases of the brain. In most cases, it occurs as a result of decreased vascular functionality, nerve damage, and pathological processes in the ENT organs. But this does not mean that there is no cause for concern. If you have a severe headache on the right side of the ear, or the symptom appears with enviable regularity, it is necessary to carry out a diagnosis under the supervision of a specialist. An alarming sign is an increase in symptoms when changing body position or external conditions, for example, temperature changes.

How to get rid of pain

Any treatment must be prescribed by a doctor. It is strictly forbidden to take any medications on your own or use traditional medicine recipes. The options below are for reference only. Before use, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

Drug treatment

In each individual case, treatment will be different, since it is aimed at a specific pathological process. The most effective groups of drugs are:

• antibiotics - the action is directed to the source of inflammation. The drug in the form of Sofradex drops effectively fights bacteria.
• Interferon - the drug and its analogues effectively fight viruses;
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - act on the source of inflammation (“Otinum”);
• painkillers - any drugs to which there is no allergy, ranging from analgin to well-known advertised brands;
• vitamin complex - allows the body to more intensively resist the disease and promotes a speedy recovery.

Most often, specialized drug treatment involves ear drops. They must be used in the exact dosage prescribed by the doctor.

Traditional medicine

Traditional medicine for pain behind the ears involves the use of various oil-based drops:

• olive oil – it is recommended to use freshly squeezed (3-4 drops into the ear canal on the side of the pain). The solution helps reduce pain and also has a bactericidal effect;
• garlic oil - in this case, the solution is prepared carefully (pure garlic juice is prohibited). One clove of garlic is squeezed or crushed, then mixed with 15 ml of olive oil. Infuse for half an hour and drop 3-4 drops into the ear. The solution has a pronounced bactericidal effect, gives a calming effect and relieves inflammation;
• onion juice - only the juice of baked onions is used. To do this, you need to bake it in the oven at 200 degrees for half an hour. Then squeeze out the juice and drop 2-3 drops into your ear. The solution has an anti-inflammatory, soothing and regenerating effect.

The procedures should be carried out only after consultation with a doctor, and also under the obligatory condition that the eardrum is not damaged.

Why does it hurt behind the ear on the right?

"I have a headache!" is one of the most common complaints among people of different ages, gender and lifestyle. Like the causes, the localization of pain can also be different - the whole head can hurt, as well as individual areas - the forehead, the back of the head, the top of the head, the area behind the ears.

“I have a headache on the right side of my ear!” - this is a signal of more serious reasons than simple fatigue, lack of sleep or a cold. In this case, opposite areas (right and left side) may indicate different sources of pain.

Despite the apparent simplicity of the definition, identifying what exactly is the cause of pain behind the right ear is quite difficult. To get qualified help in this matter, you need to contact a specialist. You should not expect an immediate solution, since this symptom can be a sign of several diseases.

Causes of pain

Common causes of pain behind the ear when pressed are:

• inflammatory processes in the ears - otitis media, disease of the external ear, labyrinth;
• formation of cerumen plug - there is deterioration in hearing and pain behind the ear on the right or left, depending on the location;
• inflammation of the lymph nodes;
• herpes;
• dental pathologies;
• unsuccessful earlobe piercing;
• neurological diseases;
• sinusitis;
• osteochondrosis.

Pain behind the ear when pressed can have simple everyday causes - a bruise or wearing an uncomfortable headdress. The use of specialized medications in this case will be irrelevant, so an examination by a doctor is necessary in any case to make the correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment.