Pain in the back of the head is an unpleasant symptom that significantly limits performance. In addition, such a sign may indicate the development of a dangerous disease. Therefore, postponing a visit to the doctor is not recommended.
Cervical myositis
The pathological process is associated with inflammation of the muscles in the neck and shoulder girdle. Several muscles can be affected at once. The disease can develop in patients at any age. If the back of the head is crushed by the child, it is possible that it was necessary to encounter this disease. Muscle inflammation can develop due to overstrain or hypothermia. People with an unstable emotional state are at risk.
Draft is the most common cause of cervical myositis. Less commonly, a disease develops due to excessive physical activity or prolonged being in an uncomfortable position. Pain in the lower part of the nape of the left side may develop if the patient is used to sleeping on the left side. In rare cases, myositis develops as a secondary disease against the background of influenza, SARS.
The first signs of the disease appear within a few hours after a negative impact (cold or excessive load). The patient complains of pain in the neck. The reasons for this condition are not always possible to find out immediately. The patient may decide that unpleasant symptoms are associated with overwork. If the therapy is not started in a timely manner, myositis becomes chronic. Unpleasant sensations subside, then appear again at the slightest negative impact.
Diagnosis of the disease
The doctor will be able to quickly make a diagnosis based on the characteristic clinical manifestations. If there is pain in the lower part of the nape of the left or right, it is necessary to consult a traumatologist. If myositis is provoked by excessive physical activity or a prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position, there is no need to conduct additional studies.
If the exact cause of the pathological process cannot be determined, the patient is sent for additional consultation with a neurologist. In addition, experts such as a rheumatologist, an infectious disease specialist can examine the patient. If there is a suspicion of purulent myositis, it is necessary to consult a surgeon.
Treatment of cervical myositis
Therapy of a simple form of the disease is carried out at home. The patient needs to reduce physical activity. Well, if you can spend several days in bed. The affected area is rubbed with warming and anti-inflammatory ointments. Good results show means "Diclober", "Fastum gel." Dry heat can also be applied to the shoulder girdle. The “Analgin” remedy will help to remove strong pain. Additionally, the patient is prescribed a direction for UHF. The procedure allows you to relieve discomfort in the neck and shoulders, relieves inflammation. If the treatment is carried out correctly, unpleasant symptoms go away after a few days.
In the event that the disease takes on a chronic form, the specialist applies manual therapy techniques. If pus appears in the area of inflammation, the patient is referred to the surgeon. Therapy in this case is carried out using antibiotics. If conservative methods do not show good results, surgery is performed (the abscess is opened).
Cervical osteochondrosis
This is a chronic disease in which degenerative changes of the vertebrae as well as of the intervertebral discs occur. If there is a shooting pain in the left part of the head, the development of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine can be suspected. The localization of pain, of course, does not matter - discomfort may appear on the right. But only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis. Pathology sooner or later develops in all people. It is associated with the natural aging of the body. However, if a person monitors health, leads a correct lifestyle, unpleasant symptoms begin to manifest closer to old age.
Atrophic changes in the spine develop in any case sooner or later. Physical overload, injuries, various diseases can accelerate this process. Osteochondrosis of the cervical region is often found in office workers who have to spend a lot of time at the computer.
Symptomatology
The main sign of osteochondrosis is acute pain. Unpleasant sensations intensify when turning the head. Therefore, the patient tries to be in the most comfortable position for himself. After stopping the acute process, dull pain periodically appears. Unpleasant symptoms return after excessive exercise or hypothermia.
If you do not pay attention to unpleasant signs in a timely manner, the risk of developing dangerous complications increases. Stitching pain in the left part of the neck (or right) may indicate the development of an intervertebral hernia in the neck. Such a diagnosis can also be made with pain on the right. Pathology can lead to compression of the artery. And this condition is already threatening the life of the patient.
Osteochondrosis Treatment
In the acute period of the disease, the patient is shown complete rest, it is recommended to observe bed rest. With severe pain in the back of the head, on the left side, as well as on the right, apply the Shants collar. This device allows you to fix the patient’s neck in the most comfortable position. Be sure to use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve pain. Good results show drugs "Diclofenac", "Nimesulide." Intense pain syndrome can be removed with the help of analgesics. If it is necessary to relieve muscle tension, muscle relaxants (“Tizanidine”) can be prescribed.
If an intervertebral hernia has already appeared and there is a risk of compression of the arteries or spinal cord, the patient is prescribed surgery. In a hospital, a discectomy is performed. This is a partial or complete removal of the intervertebral disc. An operation can also be prescribed if conservative therapy for a long time does not show positive results. Intervention is carried out under general anesthesia. After the operation, a long rehabilitation period follows.
After removal of the disc at the site of intervention, connective tissue is formed. This can adversely affect other segments of the spine. Therefore, patients who have undergone such an operation must be registered with an orthopedist for the rest of their lives.
Cervical spondylarthrosis
This disease is attributed to varieties of arthrosis, in which small joints of the cervical spine are affected. In most cases, pathology develops in elderly patients after 50 years. However, with some injuries or anatomical features of the body structure, unpleasant symptoms can develop much earlier. Quite often, pathology is combined with other diseases of the spine.
As the body ages, changes occur in the cervical joints - the amount of fluid decreases, the cartilage becomes thinner and more fragile. Joint surfaces are displaced relative to each other. As a result, tension arises, which can lead to pain in the back of the head on the left side or on the right. Against the background of such changes, the range of motion in the joints also decreases. If therapy is not started in a timely manner, the disease can lead to a violation of the venous outflow. As a result, the patient rises intracranial pressure, increases the risk of stroke.
Symptoms of cervical spondylarthrosis
Pain in the lower part of the nape of the left or right is one of the most common signs of the disease. However, at the initial stage of the pathological process, violations may not be manifested at all. The first thing that the patient should pay attention to is a change in the nature of movements in the neck. With spondylarthrosis, you can feel stiff, turning your head does not work out as effectively as before.
Over time, changes in the joints become clearly visible on x-rays. On the edges of the joints, a specialist can notice bone growths. At the last stage of the disease, pronounced impaired mobility of the affected area appears. Against the background of a violation of the blood supply to the brain, headaches appear. If the back of the head presses, this may indicate an increase in intracranial pressure. It is absolutely forbidden to postpone a visit to the doctor at this stage.
Disease treatment
Confirm the diagnosis using x-ray or MRI. Additionally, the patient may be referred for a consultation with a neurologist. In the initial stages, treatment of the disease will be most effective. If the pain in the back of the head (on the left side or on the right) began to bother more often, it will not be possible to do without the use of medicines. The patient is prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as B vitamins. Special exercises aimed at eliminating spasms of the cervical muscles show good results.
Treatment of pain in the back of the head on the left or on the right in the absence of acute inflammation can be carried out using massage. Manual therapy also shows good results. With the help of special soft movements, the doctor quickly relieves pain, helps strengthen the muscles of the cervical spine.
With the advanced stage of the pathological process, when the displaced joints compress the arteries or nerve structures, surgery is performed. The operation is performed under general anesthesia.
Cervical migraine
If there were burning pulling sensations in the neck, what could be the reason? The back of the head hurts, what should I do? Only a qualified doctor can answer all these questions. It is likely that discomfort is associated with cervical migraine. The pain resembles bouts of classic migraine, when the head hurts from pungent smells and sounds. However, the origin of the ailment in this case is different. If pulsating in the back of the head on the left or on the right, this may indicate a violation of blood flow inside one or both vertebral arteries. Unpleasant symptoms can develop against the background of osteochondrosis or spondylarthrosis. Cramps of the cervical muscles can also cause pain due to overwork or improper position during sleep.
Therapies
A qualified neurologist should be involved in the treatment. If the patient develops unpleasant symptoms, the doctor should identify the causes first. Headache in the back of the head, what should I do? Urgently go to the specialist!
In the acute phase of the disease, the patient is prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as analgesics. Additionally, blood vessels can be used to strengthen blood vessels. Vitamin therapy helps to improve the patient's condition.
Meningitis
The diseases described above do not pose a direct threat to the patient’s life when timely seeking medical help. However, unpleasant sensations in the lower part of the head can be associated with meningitis - inflammation of the membranes of the brain. If you feel pain in the back of the head at the left at one point, while the body temperature is increased and there are symptoms of general intoxication, you should urgently seek help. Discomfort in the right part of the back of the head can also indicate the development of the disease.
Most often, meningitis is a consequence of an improperly cured other infectious disease. Pathogenic microflora penetrates the meninges and begins to multiply rapidly. In most cases, bacterial meningitis develops. However, viral or fungal forms of the disease may also occur.
In case of suspected meningitis, hospitalization of the patient is required. The person should be under round-the-clock medical supervision. For the treatment of the bacterial form of the disease, potent penicillin preparations are used. Additionally, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, vitamins are used. The entire course of therapy can take from 10 days to a month. A patient who has had a severe form of meningitis is shown spa treatment.