Pain in the head, spreading in the back of the head, brings discomfort to many people, and for some this symptom lasts a long time. Many believe that this is just a pain that will soon pass, and to get rid of it, just drink a simple pill. But, according to doctors, pain in the back of the head can talk about the onset of the inflammation process, which is very dangerous for a person’s condition. It is important to determine why the back of the head is very sore.
Common causes
Severe pain in the head always occurs for a specific reason. Problems with the functioning of the nervous and vascular systems, as well as some diseases of the spine, can lead to this condition. Depending on the reason for the appearance of pain in the back of the head, the methods of treatment will vary greatly.
If the discomfort does not last long, then most likely it arose because of a long stay in an uncomfortable position, because of hunger, stress, emotional feelings, smoking or drinking excessive amounts of coffee. For the reasons described above, pain in the back of the head should not bring any particular concern, but in other cases with such a lesion it is important to consult a doctor who will help diagnose and determine the exact cause of the lesion.
Cervical osteochondrosis
Why does the left nape of the head hurt? The most common cause of the syndrome in the back of the head is cervical osteochondrosis. With such a disease, a person has damage to the intervertebral discs of the cervical vertebrae. Pain with this pathology does not go away, but is constantly present, it can spread in the neck or temporal region. The most severe pain syndrome manifests itself when tilting the head, turning, or abrupt movement.
If vertebrobasilar syndrome is present in a person along with cervical osteochondrosis, then the back of the head will be felt along with symptoms of nausea and vomiting, problems with coordination in space, as well as with stuffy ears. A person may complain of problems with visual acuity - hallucinations, dual images, veil before the eyes, blurred images. Pain in the occipital region with cervical osteochondrosis is almost always accompanied by dizziness. If the patient throws his head back, then he may fall and even lose consciousness.
Also for this disease is characteristic cervical migraine, which occurs unexpectedly and differs in a one-sided arrangement. Together with severe pain, a person may begin dizziness, tinnitus, darkening in the eyes.
Hypertension
Why does the nape of the head hurt closer to the neck? High blood pressure leads to pain in the head and back of the head. Bursting pain can occur in the morning after a person’s awakening and continue throughout the day if the patient does not take special antihypertensive drugs. Together with high blood pressure in the back of the head, the patient develops dizziness, a feeling of weakness, malaise, severe fatigue, and also a rapid heartbeat. The pain syndrome in the head only becomes stronger if you begin to actively move your head.
It should be noted that with an increase in blood pressure in a patient, sudden vomiting may begin. It is after her that the headache in most cases goes away.
Cervical spondylosis
Such a lesion provokes the degeneration of the connective tissue of the vertebral ligaments into bone. In this case, growths are formed on the vertebrae that prevent the head from turning normally and depriving the neck of normal mobility.
Pain in the back of the head with cervical spondylosis is constantly present, often the pain also passes to the eyes and ears of the patient. When bending and turning the head, the pain syndrome only intensifies. It should be noted that the headache does not go away even at complete rest.
Cervical spondylosis is a disease common in older people, as well as in those who have to be in an uncomfortable position for a long time (because of their profession).
Cervical myositis
What causes the back of the head to hurt? This condition can occur due to cervical myositis, which manifests itself as an inflammatory process in the muscle tissues of the neck. The defeat occurs as a result of hypothermia, getting a bruise, or with an uncomfortable position of the neck.
Pain in the neck appears only with movement of the head, first it occurs in the neck, and then spreads to other parts of the shoulder girdle.
Increased intracranial pressure
The head of the head often hurts with increased intracranial pressure. In this case, the pain syndrome will differ by bursting, pressing character, and the place of its spread, as a rule, is the back of the head. With increased intracranial pressure, the following symptoms are also observed in a person: nausea, a urge to vomit, a temperature and a nape of the head. In this condition, the rate of intracranial pressure significantly jumps, which irritates the lining of the brain and provokes a throbbing pain. So what is needed among the first measures, what needs to be checked if the back of the head hurts, what pressure?
Also often tension in the eyes and a feeling of heaviness in the head join the sensations in the back of the head.
Myogelosis of the cervical spine
What causes the nape of the head to hurt? Cervical myogelosis is a condition in which a person has problems with blood circulation in the muscles. It is this condition that leads to severe pain in the neck. Pain in this case occurs on the first day of the disease against the background of severe dizziness and a feeling of tightness of the muscles.
Vascular disease
Why does the nape of the head hurt closer to the neck? If a person has a spasm of arteries located in the skull, then he begins to experience acute, bursting and throbbing pain in the back of the head. Such a syndrome develops rapidly and gradually moves to the forehead. Any movement of the head in this condition only worsens the condition, making the pain many times stronger. If a person is at rest, then he almost does not feel pain.
With problems with the outflow of venous blood from the head, the occipital pain can become dull, in which a person will feel heaviness in the head. Most often, this condition appears in the morning and continues throughout the day.
Occipital Neuralgia
What causes a nape of the head every day? Occipital neuralgia appears with cervical osteochondrosis and other diseases of the cervical spine. The main reason for this condition is the person’s prolonged exposure to cold air.
The pain in the back of the head in this case is particularly acute, comes in bouts, and also brings a burning sensation.
In addition to the described causes, headache can occur when certain factors are affected:
- Pain with orgasm. Its source is blood vessels, since with orgasm, blood pressure always rises significantly. Often people with vegetovascular dystonia are prone to this condition. If the back of the head often hurts in such a situation, what pressure is there? The upper blood pressure values range from 160 to 220 mm.
- Professional pain. This type of pain occurs if a person is forced, due to his profession, to work in a certain position, in which his neck muscles are overstressed. As a result of this condition, a prolonged headache appears. Most often, such a syndrome occurs in drivers, craftsmen, jewelers, people working in the office. Pain is distinguished by its duration, but always disappears after a good rest.
- Pain syndrome on the background of emotional overstrain. Such pains most often occur in women. Their duration and severity directly depends on the general psychological state. After the psychological state of the woman is restored, the pain in the head will immediately pass.
Pain treatment
If a person has pain in the left part of the nape of the head, it is important for him to immediately contact a specialist who will diagnose and prescribe effective treatment. Before starting treatment, it is important to determine the exact cause of the lesion, to consult a physician who will prescribe appropriate diagnostics.
If the cause is arterial hypertension and increased intracranial pressure, then a person needs immediate treatment. If the syndrome does not arise as a result of the disease, then the following treatment can be carried out:
- The implementation of therapeutic exercises. If you ease the tension in the muscles of the neck and ligaments of the spine, then the movement of blood through the vessels will accelerate, which will help get rid of pain in the head. To improve the general condition, it is important to go to the doctor's office, which will help you choose a special set of exercises. Physical therapy has no particular contraindications, the main thing in this case is to eat right and regularly perform the prescribed physical education.
- Massage the diseased area. If you begin to gently rub the back of the head and neck, then the pain in the head can quickly pass. If you perform massage of certain muscles, then they will fully relax. Massage is carried out in a whole course and is repeated every two months. During the procedure, gently affect the muscles in the head and neck.
- Acupuncture. This method of treatment is best used if pain in the neck occurred as a result of inflammation of the occipital nerve, emotional distress, and osteochondrosis in the neck. The main goal of the procedure is to have a point effect on biologically active points.
- Physiotherapeutic procedures. Such treatment is best done with spondylosis, myogelosis, with strong intracranial pressure, vascular damage and osteochondrosis. Physiotherapeutic treatment includes ultrasound, laser therapy, magnetotherapy, electrophoresis.
In this condition, it is very important to pay attention to the rest and human diet. Often, such factors help eliminate pain in the head. Improving the diet and lifestyle will be needed for pain of any kind.
Treatment with folk remedies
If the problem arose due to fatigue and nervous experiences, then you can use folk remedies. The most effective include:
- Mint tea. To do this, brew green tea and add a tablespoon of dry mint to it. For pain in the back of the head, you should drink 200 ml of tea, and after 20 minutes the discomfort will pass quickly.
- Reception of various juices. Every day you should eat half a glass of blackcurrant juice and a quarter cup of potato juice. But it is important to remember that it is forbidden to drink such drinks at the same time, they can be drunk in courses - blackcurrant juice is used for one week, and after that it is advisable to take a break and start drinking potato juice.
- Propolis tincture. To prepare the product, 20 g of propolis is taken, it is grated and the resulting slurry is poured into 100 ml of alcohol. The finished product is infused throughout the day, after it should be consumed 40 drops every day for a week. It is important to remember that when treating with propolis, you will have to refuse to drive a car.
The most unusual method for eliminating pain in the head and neck is to attach a copper coin to the sore spot, and after 20 minutes unpleasant symptoms will disappear. If pain spreads in the back of the head, it is important to determine the type of pain and its duration, and then go to the doctor for a diagnosis. Only after that it will be possible to draw up an effective treatment and improve the condition of a person.
Diagnostic measures
To prevent the development of tumor formations, vascular diseases and inflammation, it is important to conduct the following diagnostics:
- roentgenography;
- CT of the head;
- Ultrasound of the vessels of the neck;
- MRI of the cervical spine.
Preventive actions
To prevent pain in the head, it is important to follow certain expert advice:
- Lead the right lifestyle, which will consist not only in proper nutrition and the implementation of a set of therapeutic exercises. It is important to regulate rest and work without fail. Particular attention should be paid to sleep time: it should be at least 7 hours and no more than 9 hours.
- It is also important to remember about the positive effect of air on the human body. It’s best to be outside as often as possible. If a person has to stay indoors for a long time, then he should be constantly aired. A stream of fresh air will help improve mental activity and prevent the onset of pain. It is also very useful to combine sport and fresh air.
- It is important to carefully monitor the state of blood pressure. If the doctor revealed arterial hypertension, then the patient should start taking special medications aimed at lowering blood pressure. It is also important to monitor what remedies are used in the treatment, many of them can lead to pain.
- It is best to sleep on orthopedic mattresses. This will help protect the human body from spinal diseases.
- The back of the head hurts - painkillers need to be taken according to the instructions.
Such simple preventive measures will help prevent the development of pain and the onset of the pathological process. But if the head still began to spin, and the pain continues for several days, it is important to seek the help of a doctor. Timely treatment will help improve the condition, and in some cases even save a person’s life.