Pain in the nape of the head brings a lot of discomfort to a person, limiting his performance. They can arise for a variety of reasons. Their list begins with ailments of the spine in the cervical region and ends with neuralgia.
Anyone who does not know why he has pain in the back of his head is recommended to read this article. It describes the causes of this phenomenon, and the main treatment methods. But be that as it may, if a person periodically has pains in the neck of the head, he should not fix this problem on his own. If such a phenomenon is not an isolated one, then a doctor’s consultation in this case is simply necessary.
Why there are pains in the back of the head
Most likely, each person faced a similar uncomfortable state. The pains in the nape of the head can be either acute or dull, both pressing and throbbing, aching, constant or episodic. Such differences are associated with those factors that served as the basis for the development of this uncomfortable state.
But regardless of the reason, the pain in the back of the head is always painful for a person, and he does everything possible to get rid of it as soon as possible. How to achieve the desired effect? To do this, you need to know the pathology that caused this pain. The method of treatment will depend on this.
The causes of pain in the nape of the head are various ailments of the spine, as well as the cardiac and neurological systems. Let's consider them in more detail.
Cervical osteochondrosis
This pathology is associated with a change in the structure of the discs located between the vertebrae. With cervical osteochondrosis localized pain in the head, in the back of the head and temples. Unpleasant symptoms and neck area are affected. Very often they are accompanied by dizziness and nausea. Moreover, the pathological condition is aggravated by tilting and moving the head.
Osteochondrosis often provokes the development of vertebrobasilar syndrome. Such pains in the nape of the head are accompanied by tinnitus, impaired spatial coordination, and hearing loss. Patients often complain about the appearance of a veil and a double vision of the objects when looking at the world around them.
Accompanying such a pain in the back of the head and dizziness. Sometimes it seems to a person that everything that is in a room begins to revolve around him.
Pain in the nape of the head with vertebrobasilar syndrome is combined with vomiting, nausea and hiccups. If a person in this state sharply turns his neck, then he may suddenly fall and for some time lose his ability to move. Consciousness is then preserved.
This type of osteochondrosis leads to the development of cervical migraine. With this pathology, the patient complains that he has a headache in the back of the head on the right or left. Discomfort with cervical migraine spreads to the temple, as well as to the superciliary area. At the same time, a person develops tinnitus, dizziness, fogging, or darkening in his eyes.
Cervical spondylosis
A similar ailment of the spine appears with a pathological change in the tissue of those ligaments that attach to the vertebrae. The resulting bone growths worsen the mobility of the neck. Patients note stiffness during head movements. At the same time, there are pains in the back of the head, sometimes extending to the eyes and ears. With any movements, whether it be turns or inclinations, uncomfortable sensations intensify. They do not leave a person even in a stationary position. This leads to sleep disturbance.
Cervical spondylosis develops most often in the elderly, as well as in those who, when doing their job, have been in a sedentary state for a long time.
Hypertension
Bursting and throbbing pain in the back of the head on the right and left often accompanies an increase in blood pressure. Such uncomfortable conditions come to a person in the morning when waking up. Such sensations are accompanied by heaviness in the head, weakness and rapid heartbeat.
Tilting his head, a person experiences even greater pain. This condition is relieved after vomiting, which occurs suddenly without any nausea.
Cervical myositis
This pathology occurs due to inflammation of the muscles of the neck caused by trauma, draft or being in an uncomfortable position for a long time.
The main sign of myositis is pain in the neck and in the nape of the head, as well as in the shoulder and interscapular region, where they give off with various movements. The asymmetry is also characteristic of this pathology.
Myogelosis
This disease of the spine occurs with circulatory disorders in the cervical spine. In the muscles located in this area, seals appear in which pain is felt. A person complains that his shoulders and neck become chained. Common in this pathology is pain in the back of the head and weakness. Similar phenomena are accompanied by dizziness.
Inflammation of the occipital nerve
This type of neuralgia is a frequent companion of not only osteochondrosis, but also other ailments of the spine. There is a similar state after hypothermia.
Pathology is accompanied by paroxysmal burning pains in the back of the head, which spread to the neck, ears, and sometimes to the back and lower jaw. A sharp increase in uncomfortable conditions can occur with the slightest movement, coughing and sneezing. Sensations are described by patients as shooting.
Between such attacks, a pressing, dull pain in the back of the head continues to persist. The scalp with prolonged maintenance of such a state becomes very sensitive.
Vascular pain
Uncomfortable sensations in the back of the head sometimes occur due to spasm of the arteries, which are located either inside the skull or on its surface. Such nape pains are pulsating in nature and sometimes reach the forehead. The intensification of such uncomfortable sensations occurs during movement. At rest, they significantly decrease or cease altogether.
Vascular pains are those pains that occur in connection with a violation of the venous outflow. They are bursting and dull in nature, accompanied by a feeling of heaviness in the head. They begin in the back of the head and spread throughout the head. Their strengthening occurs in the supine position, as well as with coughing and bending.
Vascular pain often occurs at the time of morning awakening.
Due to vascular pathology, pain in the back of the head often occurs during physical exertion. A person begins to complain of tingling, “goosebumps” and a constant feeling of heaviness. Sometimes the impression arises that the head is compressed by an imaginary rope. The nature of pain in this case is classified as moderate. Nausea and vomiting does not occur.
Professional pain
Often, uncomfortable sensations in the back of the head arise in those people who, based on the specifics of their work, are forced to stay in a constant position for a long time with tension in the muscles of the neck. In particular, professional drivers in the back of the head often suffer from drivers of vehicles or those who work at a computer.
The nature of the uncomfortable sensations is long and dull. When rubbing the back of the head and neck, and also after moving the head, such pains are somewhat reduced.
Increased intracranial pressure
A similar phenomenon is accompanied by pain in the back of the head and nausea. At the same time, uncomfortable sensations are not necessarily localized in one zone. Sometimes they spread over the entire surface of the head.
Pain with such a pathology is bursting and pressing. In addition to nausea, they are accompanied by vomiting, which does not bring a person relief. Often, pain in the eyes also joins the pain in the back of the head. It intensifies in bright light, which is why the patient seeks privacy in a dark room.
Malocclusion
A similar pathology is accompanied by frequent pain in the back of the head, in the ears, as well as in the parietal and parotid region. Thus, malocclusion leads to a significant deterioration in human well-being.
Pain in the head - in the back of the head and temples - appears during the day and is significantly worse in the evening. At the same time, they can last several hours or torment a person for several days. The cause of such uncomfortable conditions is indicated by a click in the temporomandibular joint, which is clearly audible when opening the mouth.
Stress
Pain in the nape of the head sometimes occurs due to sudden critical situations, as well as with prolonged nervous tension. The nature of the discomfort in this case can be very different. It is worth noting that more often women suffer from stressful pains in the back of the head.
Ways to get rid
With a headache in the back of the head, which occurs more than twice a week, you will need to consult a doctor who will conduct professional diagnostics for his patient. Only on the basis of the results of the study, the doctor can draw up an effective course of therapy that will achieve the desired result. But in any case, the treatment should be comprehensive and aimed at combating the cause of the disease. This will alleviate the condition of the patient, preventing the occurrence of possible relapses and complications.
There is an extensive list of approaches and tools that are used to eliminate headaches in the back of the head. Among them:
- Drug therapy. During it, the doctor selects drugs whose action is aimed at suppressing the provocateurs of pathology. These include diuretics, sedatives, and antihypertensives. Sometimes NSAIDs, analgesics, triptans, antibiotics, nootropics, as well as many other pharmacological drugs are used.
- Physiotherapy. With its use, the patient is prescribed thermal procedures, mud baths, instrumental methods of exposure, acupuncture and massage.
- Surgical intervention. Sometimes, in order to save the patient from a headache in the back of the head, doctors offer him an operation. This allows you to remove neoplasms in the cranium, restore the functionality of blood vessels, as well as normalize ICP.
- Alternative medicine. When using these methods, pain in the neck is eliminated by ingestion or external use of natural products.
- Psychotherapy. A similar method is used in case of obsessive states, mental disorders, and stress.
Strong and frequent headaches in the back of the head cannot be ignored. And even if they are not amplified and supplemented with other negative symptoms over a long period, seeking medical help should be mandatory.
Consider some of the above methods of treating pain in the back of the head in more detail.
Massage and manual therapy
Similar procedures are prescribed to the patient if the back of the head is caused by myogelosis, cervical osteochondrosis, inflammation of the nerve, and also arises from stress or professional activity. In case of spondylosis, manual therapy will produce a good effect. Hard massage is contraindicated.
If a person has pain in the back of his head due to increased intracranial pressure, then he is prescribed soft manual therapy. At the same time, a gentle massage will be quite effective. But with hypertension, it is categorically contraindicated.
The patient can help himself with any discomfort. To do this, he will need to use self-massage, after warming up his hands. What is the algorithm for its implementation? First you need to massage your ears easily. After that, you can go to the surface of the head. She is massaged with rotational movements with the help of her fingertips. Begin such a massage from the back of the head. In the same zone, the procedure ends.
During such a massage, it should be borne in mind: hands should be positioned so that the palms constantly touch the ears. In most cases, such manipulations will lead, if not to disappearance, then to a significant relief of pain.
Shiatsu also has a wonderful effect. This is a Japanese acupressure, the conduct of which should be trusted only by a specialist.
Physiotherapy
Magnetic therapy and electrophoresis, ultrasound, laser, etc. have an excellent therapeutic effect for pain in the back of the head. Physiotherapy is prescribed for cervical osteochondrosis and spondylosis, myogelosis and neuralgia of the nerve, increased intracranial pressure, as well as for vascular and professional discomforting tormenting people.
Physiotherapy
Exercises included in the complex prescribed by doctors can help with almost all pathologies that cause pain in the back of the head. The exception is only malocclusion. In this case, the patient should seek help from the orthodontist.
A set of exercises that must be performed with a specific disease is taught by a physical therapy doctor. Independent elimination of a headache in the back of the head is possible with the following movements:
- Tilt your head forward slightly, sitting on a chair. In this position, you must stay 20 seconds. Having straightened your head, rest for 20-30 seconds. After that, the movement is repeated 15-16 times.
- Sitting or standing raise your hands up. Place your thumbs on the upper borders of the cheekbones, and put the rest on the back of the head. During inspiration, the head should be thrown back, resisting such movement with the help of fingers. Look must be directed upwards. It takes 10 seconds to be in this position. After that, exhale and lower your head as low as possible. There, too, to gaze. Repetitions should be from 3 to 6.
- Place two thumbs on a painful point located in the lower region of the back of the head between the cervical vertebra and the edge of the skull. Perform fifteen rotational movements in the clockwise direction. The fingertips should be involved. Then, one and a half minutes to a painful point should simply be suppressed. After a 2-minute rest, the exercise is repeated. 3 to 6 reps recommended.
Folk methods
For minor pain in the back of the head, alternative medicine recommends:
- Ventilate, and then darken the room where the person is located, suffering from uncomfortable sensations. It is important that the air in this room is humid, which allows you to achieve a special device or hanging wet cloth on the heating system batteries.
- Exclude any loud sounds.
- Apply a hot compress to the back of the head while drinking a glass of tea or hot water.
- In some tormenting conditions, a cold compress or massage of an area of ​​concern to a person with an ice cube is effective.
- Exclude smoking, as well as drinking alcohol, which also provokes pain in the neck.
- Rub your palms well against each other. When they become warm, put the right one on the back of the head and the left one on the forehead. Sit in this position for several minutes.
Judging by the reviews of many people, from a headache in the back of the head, a compress from the cabbage leaf previously crushed in the hands effectively helps. Put it on your head in an area of ​​discomfort. You can also drink a cup of tea brewed from medicinal herbs, called primrose high, or from linden blossom. For a drink, you can also take a mixture of plants such as sage, peppermint and turmeric meadowsweet.