Occipital Neuralgia Symptoms
Occipital Neuralgia is a term that describes a cycle of pain/spasm/pain that originates from the suboccipital area which is known as the base of the skull that often extends to the front, back, and side of the head, as well as behind the eyes.
Most of the feeling in the back and top of the head is transmitted to the brain by the two greater occipital nerves. There is 1 nerve on each side of your head. The two occipital nerves emerge from between small bones in the spine in the upper neck and make their way through muscles at the back of the head, into the scalp. They can potentially reach nearly as far forward as the forehead, but do not cover the face or the area near the ears mainly because other nerves supply these tender regions.
Occipital Neuralgia Pain
The pain of occipital neuralgia begins in the neck and then spreads up the spine to the back of the head. The scalp may also be very tender to the touch and the eyes become especially sensitive to light. The pain location 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.
Occipital Neuralgia Causes
The pain is caused by injury or irritatiion to the nerves, which can be the result of trauma to the back of the head, pinching of the nerves by overly tight neck muscles, compression of the nerve as it leaves the spine due to osteoarthritis, or tumors or other types of lesions in the neck. Localized inflammation or infection, gout, diabetes, blood vessel inflammation (vasculitis), and frequent lengthy periods of keeping the head in a downward and forward position are also associated with occipital neuralgia.
Occipital Neuralgia Diagnosis
Occipital neuralgia can be diagnosed and temporarily treated by an occipital nerve block. Other ways to treat occipital neuralgai are: peripheral nerve stimulation, steroids, rhizotomy, phenol injections, antidepressants, and Occipital Cryoneurolysis.
For patients who do well with this temporary “deadening” of the nerve, a more permanent procedure may be a good option to help manage pain. These treatments include:
- cutting the nerve surgically
- “burning” the nerve with a radio-wave probe
- eliminating the nerve with a small dose of an injected toxin.
Occipital neuralgia is not a life-threatening condition. Many individuals will improve with therapy involving heat, rest, anti-inflammatory medications, and muscle relaxants. Recovery is usually complete after the bout of pain has ended and the nerve damage repaired or lessened.