The occipital nerve, the inflammation of which is caused by being pinched by nearby tissues, causes a lot of suffering to a sick person. With the progression of the disease, roots in the neck are affected. The pain becomes excruciating, and movements during the attack are accompanied by nausea, and sometimes fainting. Symptoms are extremely individual. Often the patient complains of the spread of pain in the eye, temporal and frontal parts.
What types of neuralgia are divided into?
How does the pathological process manifest in such an area as the occipital nerve? Inflammation is divided into two forms, depending on the cause that caused it:
- Primary or idiopathic. Its development takes place without any prerequisites.
- The secondary form is caused by injuries, tumors and other pathological processes.
How is inflammation of the occipital nerve? Symptoms and treatment, photos are presented in this article.
Where is the occipital nerve located?
Sensory nerve branches in the plexus in the neck, between the thoracic region and the collarbone, extend further under the muscle in the neck. Behind the second cervical vertebra is the occipital nerve. It binds tissues and organs to the central nervous system, providing impulses.
What happens with neuralgia?
The occipital nerve, the inflammation of which is provoked by irritation of its root, has an increased sensitivity. The fibers in the roots, when structural disturbances occur, begin to give pulses of increased frequency, which cause pain.
What are the reasons?
Inflammation of the occipital nerve, the symptoms and treatment of which are described in this article, has its own triggers.
- The most common cause of the onset of the disease is the presence of osteochondrosis in the cervical spine. In this case, the core in the vertebral disc is damaged.
- An injury in the back or neck that causes compression of the nerve fibers.
- Cold of the occipital nerve.
- The presence of arthritis of the cervical vertebra.
- Overstrain of the muscles of the neck and shoulder.
- A sedentary lifestyle, constantly driving a car, staying at a computer monitor, a desk. Muscles constrain cramps, which contributes to the development of chronic neuralgia.
- Infectious lesions that affect the nerve fibers.
- The presence of diseases such as encephalitis and meningitis.
- Benign and malignant neoplasms of various etiologies and their location in the cervical vertebrae and brain.
- Autoimmune diseases that provoke the destruction of the nerve cells of the body by immunity.
- The presence of multiple sclerosis.
- Rheumatic joint damage.
- The presence of lupus erythematosus.
- Gouty salts.
- Diabetes.
- Vascular inflammation.
- Nervous strain.
- Negative emotions.
- Spondylitis with tuberculosis.
- Severe colds or flu.
Symptoms of the disease
Inflammation of the occipital nerve, the symptoms of which are diverse, manifests itself at the level of sensation.
The main sign of inflammation of the occipital nerve is acute pain, which appears paroxysmally. The pain is localized in the area of nerve innervation in the back of the head. It can spread to the neck or ear, affect both one side (found quite often), and both, depending on the vastness of the spread of the inflammatory process.
Pain sensations are peculiar. Patients compare their sensations with lumbago, the passage of an electric discharge, burning pulsation. Sensations spread along the location of the nerve fibers. The pains are acute, quite intense, and often cause pain to the patient. The provocateurs are turning the head, sneezing, coughing. In order for the discomfort to subside, patients hold their head in a position convenient for them, slightly tilting it back or sideways.
Each attack lasts from a few seconds to several minutes. The number of seizures per day varies from a single case to hundreds. A large number of seizures prevents the patient from leading a full-fledged lifestyle, becoming the cause of the drop in working capacity. In some cases, between aching in the back of the head there is aching dull pain.
A striking sign of the disease is the presence of trigger points. When pressed on, acute pain is caused.
From the large nerve passing in the back of the head, a conditional line is drawn that connects the mastoid process and the occipital protuberance. It is divided into three parts. The location of the point is between the middle and inner third.
For the small nerve in the back of the head in the area of attachment of the sternum to the mastoid process, along its edge behind (Kerer point).
Another significant symptom of the disease is a decrease in sensitivity in the irritated area. The injection is regarded by the patient as a touch, and a light touch with a hand is not felt at all.
How else can inflammation of the occipital nerve manifest itself? Symptoms may include tingling, crawling, burning and other sensations. The structure of the skin in this part may become modified. Its pallor or, conversely, redness is noted.
The disease is also characterized by increased sensitivity to light. Bright light provokes aching pain in the inside of the eyes.
Signs of inflammation of the occipital nerve are similar to symptoms of migraine. However, with their constant manifestation, you should seek help from a specialist.
How is the diagnosis carried out?
Diagnosing neuralgia is quite difficult. The causes of migraine may be different. Therefore, the doctor conducts a thorough examination, makes an anamnesis, reveals the presence or absence of neuralgia by the following methods:
- CT scan. It allows you to give a layered display of tissues through x-rays. This method is particularly accurate in the diagnosis of various diseases.
- X-ray. This method makes it possible to assess the condition of joints and bones.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can give a picture of the condition of soft tissues and bones by irradiating the alleged area of damage with electromagnetic waves.
Measures for the subacute period
Many are interested in how to treat inflammation of the occipital nerve in the subacute period. In this case, warming procedures can be carried out. At home, you can make compresses with alcohol, tincture of lavender or salicylic alcohol. Acupuncture and physiotherapy are well established. It should be noted laser irradiation and ultrasound therapy.
How is the treatment carried out?
It is possible to treat inflammation of the occipital nerve using a conservative or surgical method. First of all, doctors are trying in every possible way to avoid surgery.
How to stop inflammation of the occipital nerve? What to drink?
Conservative treatments suggest:
- The use of non-steroidal drugs with anti-inflammatory effects. For example, such as "Diclofenac", "Ibuprofen", "Meloxicam", "Naproxen" and others. The drugs relieve pain and have an anti-inflammatory effect.
- Muscle relaxants are also used. These are drugs that help reduce muscle tone. Their use gives excellent results, provided that the development of inflammation of the nerve in the back of the head is caused by spasm of the muscles along its path. The highest efficacy are drugs such as Tizanidine (Sirdalud) and Midokalm.
- The use of drugs against convulsions and antidepressants.
- Nerve block in the occipital part. This procedure involves the introduction of a mixture of drugs at the exit points of the nerve to the skin. It can be such hormonal drugs as Hydrocortisone, Diprospan, Dexamethasone, or anesthetics - Lidocaine, Novocaine. With the correct implementation of the blockade, the pain syndrome subsides. Sometimes after a while a second procedure is required.
- Physiotherapeutic methods. The use of ultrasound, laser therapy, electrophoresis, magnetotherapy.
- The use of massage in combination with physical therapy.
- Reflexology.
- Manual therapy. For example, traction of the spinal column. Such a measure is justified in degenerative processes in the cervical spine.
In which cases is surgery indicated?
In cases where pain disturbs chronically or there is a lack of positive dynamics with conservative treatment, doctors recommend surgery.
Surgical intervention is of two types:
- Stimulation of nerves in the neck. To their ends are wiring through which current pulses pass, stopping pain. In a painful place, the patient feels vibration or a feeling of heat spreading. Such an intervention is a big plus. It does not cause side effects and causes minor damage to the mechanical nature of the body. This procedure blocks the transmission of pain impulses from nerve cells to the brain. After achieving remission, it is necessary to treat the cause of the disease, since this technique belongs to the category of symptomatic.
- Microvascular decompression is performed through microsurgical devices. It helps to deactivate the compression of the nerves. The essence of the operation is to adjust the blood vessels that press on the nerve endings. This causes pain relief.
If the surgical intervention did not have the proper result, the patient is re-examined. However, such cases are extremely rare.
How to treat the disease at home?
How to treat inflammation of the occipital nerve? Treatment with folk remedies will be insufficient. They should be used in combination with basic drug therapy, the scheme of which is compiled by a doctor.
How is inflammation of the occipital nerve treated at home? There are a number of proven methods that help to stop or completely eliminate pain caused by inflammation of the occipital nerves:
- Use of a bath on herbs. Its basis is oregano, thyme, peppermint. Herbs should be taken in equal shares. About one tablespoon is taken with the top in a glass of boiling water. The mixture should be filtered through cheesecloth and added to the bath. The duration of the water treatment should be 10 minutes. The intensity of treatment depends on the degree of nerve damage. As a rule, procedures are carried out a month.
- The use of compresses. Shredded pickles, potatoes, onion are taken. Vegetables should be poured with vinegar and let it brew for two hours. The mixture is stirred occasionally. The compress is placed on the forehead and nape twice a day, morning and evening. Holds on for one hour.
- Ear drops. A few drops of raw beets are buried in each ear. Beetroot can be grated, put it in gauze. The resulting swab is placed inside the ear.
- Reception of the broth inside. Two teaspoons of lumbago (only dry grass should be used, since fresh is saturated with poisonous oils) is poured with a glass of boiling water. 50 ml should be taken during the day.
Is it possible to eliminate inflammation of the occipital nerve by these methods? Home treatment has a high degree of effectiveness, but as already noted, it is carried out in conjunction with drug therapy prescribed by a doctor.
Possible consequences
In the absence of appropriate treatment, the pain begins to progress. The occipital nerves are destroyed. In addition to the occurrence of permanent pain, you can get such a serious complication as blindness.
Intense pain occurs when the inflammation of the occipital nerve is transformed into neuropathy. Moreover, nearby soft tissues become sensitive and susceptible even without head movement. The neck may be deformed.
Eliminating the consequences is more difficult than treating the underlying disease. Correcting the curvature of the neck is not always possible. Often a person turns into a disabled person.
Conclusion
The article examined the pathological process in such an area as the occipital nerve. Its inflammation is a serious disease requiring urgent treatment. It is characterized by sharp pains in the back of the head, which can spread to the eyes and ears.
How does inflammation of the occipital nerve stop? Treatment should be carried out in a timely manner, since the ailment is capable of causing irreversible malting.
In no case should you resort to an independent diagnosis, since neuralgia can be confused with neuritis, which resembles it in its symptoms, but requires completely different approaches to treatment.