Each person at least once in his life has been faced with a headache. It can be localized in different places, have a different intensity or be a symptom of a disease. Pain in the occipital part of the head is most common. What are its causes, symptoms? What to do when pain occurs?
Causes of severe pain
Discomfort, which appeared suddenly and is very intense, may indicate the presence of acute inflammatory processes in this part of the head. Severe pain in the back of the head can occur as a result of such diseases:
- Neuralgia of the nerve, which is located in this part of the head. In this case, the pain is burning, paroxysmal in nature, and can also spread to the cervical spine, lower jaw, muscles of the upper dorsal. In most cases, the pain is localized in the direction of the inflamed nerve.
- Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes of the spinal cord or brain. This condition requires immediate hospitalization, as it threatens human life and health. In this case, pain in the occipital part of the head can be accompanied by fever, cramps, nausea and vomiting.
With the appearance of acute and intolerable discomfort in the back of the head, you need to seek qualified medical help, because such conditions are quite dangerous.
Pain and nausea
A frequent concomitant symptom of pain can be dizziness and vomiting. Headache in the occipital part of the head and nausea can occur with the following diseases:
- Concussion or traumatic brain injury, both closed and open. Pain and nausea occur due to the formation of internal hematomas, bruises of brain tissue, internal hemorrhages. These conditions put pressure on the parts of the brain, resulting in severe pain in the occipital part of the head and nausea. With severe closed or open injuries, loss of consciousness may occur.
- Malignant or benign neoplasms are characterized by dull pain that does not go away for a long time. In this case, the tumor exerts pressure on the brain structure, resulting in discomfort. If the neoplasm is malignant, then cancer cells infect nearby tissues, which also provokes pain.
Such causes of a headache in the occipital part of the head require careful diagnosis and timely treatment.
Throbbing sensations
Why does the pain in the back of the head rhythmically intensify and subside? There are several main reasons for this:
- Arterial hypertension is a persistent increase in blood pressure. Against the background of this disease, a throbbing pain in the back of the head, dizziness, double vision in the eyes.
- Vasospasms. Such a pathology is characterized by difficulty in normal blood flow, as a result of which pulsating pain may appear in the occipital part, which can spread to the temporal and frontal lobes.
At the same time, it is noted that in a calm state, unpleasant sensations may cease, and when moving, may intensify.
Sharp pain
The sudden occurrence of a headache in the occipital part of the head may indicate the presence of such pathologies:
- Cervical myositis is an inflammatory process that occurs in the muscles of the cervical spine. A person feels pain, which intensifies with bending, neck and arm movements.
- Cervical migraine is an attack of pain that occurs when squeezing the nerve endings of the cervical artery. The pain is accompanied by dizziness, nausea and the inability to concentrate on anything.
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a condition in which physiological fluid enters between the arachnoid and soft membranes of the brain. In this case, the pain is sudden in nature and quickly spreads from the back of the head to other parts of the head.
The last cause of severe pain poses a direct threat to life and health, and therefore requires immediate medical attention.
Constant pain
The cause of discomfort, which has a protracted form, may be such problems:
- Cervical osteochondrosis - pathological changes in the structure of the intervertebral discs of the cervical spine. As a consequence of this, a person may experience chronic pain in the occipital part of the head.
- Cervical spondylosis - growths of bone tissue that are localized on the vertebrae as a result of age-related changes or occupational factors.
In this case, the discomfort experienced by the patient may be aggravated by physical exertion or movements of the neck and arms.
Pain and dizziness
If the pathological process is burdened by vertigo, then we are talking about such a diagnosis as cervical myogelosis. It is characterized by circulatory disorders in the cervical region, due to which there are seals in the muscle structure. The symptoms of this disease include not only pain in the occipital part of the head, but also significant stiffness in the movements of the neck and back, soreness of the shoulders, as well as prolonged dizziness.
Diagnostics
Upon admission to a medical institution a person with complaints of a headache in the occipital part of the head, it is necessary to conduct a series of studies and consultations of various specialists who, based on the data received, will make the correct diagnosis. This is necessary to eliminate the causes of discomfort with medical or other methods.
The patient needs consultation of such doctors:
- neurologist;
- oncologist;
- vertebrologist;
- traumatologist if the pain is associated with the injuries received.
The following clinical studies are also required:
- Radiography, computed and magnetic resonance imaging are necessary for the study of bone structures and soft tissues.
- Assessment of the general condition of blood vessels using dopplerography.
- General blood test, which gives information about the presence or absence of an inflammatory process in the body.
In addition, the appropriate specialist should examine the occipital part of the head and cervicothoracic spine.
Drug treatment
In many cases, it is possible to eliminate the causes of pain in the occipital part of the head with the help of conservative methods of therapy. With a single occurrence of painful sensations, they can be stopped with the help of such painkillers as "Baralgin", "Citramon", "Analgin". Such pain can occur due to stressful situations, emotional stress, prolonged watching TV, working at a computer or improperly selected glasses for vision. If, after the cessation of the action of the drugs, the pain resumed, then this is a reason for seeking qualified medical help.
When making a diagnosis, which is the cause of discomfort, the treatment of pain in the occipital part of the head is carried out according to the methods of therapy for any disease. At the same time, painkillers, vasodilators, drugs to normalize blood pressure can also be prescribed.
Physiotherapy
When making diagnoses such as neuralgia of the occipital nerve, spondylosis, myogelosis, osteochondrosis, vasoconstriction, procedures such as:
- ultrasound therapy;
- electrophoresis;
- laser therapy;
- magnetotherapy.
It takes 10 to 20 sessions of physiotherapy, depending on the course of the disease and its complexity.
Manual therapy
This treatment method is applicable for neuralgia, myogelosis, osteochondrosis. The course of therapy is from 5 to 20 procedures. If necessary, massage can be repeated 2-3 months.
In some cases, self-massage is possible to knead pain points of the cervical spine. However, in such situations, it is necessary to adhere to the advice of the attending physician, since it is necessary to find the "right" points. If self-massage of the neck is painful, then the procedure must be stopped.
During the procedures, warming, emollients and painkillers in the form of gels and ointments, which are applied directly to the place of massage, can be used.
Manual therapy is contraindicated in case of high blood pressure, the presence of inflammatory processes or spondylosis.
Physiotherapy
To relieve stress that occurs in the cervical spine, it is necessary to perform special physical exercises. It is important to remember that their relevance, as well as the methods of implementation, are strictly controlled by the doctor. In case of negative state of health during the execution of the complex, its urgent termination is necessary.
Alternative treatment
Doctors explain to patients that the use of non-traditional methods of therapy does not exclude conservative treatment, but is only an addition. Therefore, you can not refuse to take medications and other methods of treatment. As additional tools, the following are often used:
- Compresses are designed to reduce pain in the back of the head, as well as relieve fatigue. To do this, you can use chopped onion to the state of gruel, grated horseradish, grape and cabbage leaves, lemon zest. The mixture must be wrapped in thin gauze and applied to the sore spot for a while.
- Soothing teas are essential for normalizing blood pressure, and they also have antioxidant properties. For the preparation of medicinal infusions, such plants as primrose, linden, peppermint, lemon balm, meadowsweet are used. You can prepare mono drinks from one component or a mixture of several herbs.
- Aromatherapy also has beneficial effects on blood pressure and the central nervous system. For this, aromatic essential oils of fir, green tea, mint are used, which are applied to fabric pads and evenly distributed throughout the room.
When preparing compresses or decoctions, it is important to strictly observe the dosage, since some plant components may have a negative effect in case of an overdose.
Prevention
Dear doctors have always been of the opinion that it is much easier to prevent the development of pathology than to treat its consequences. On this basis, a set of recommendations was developed that must be observed as prevention of pain in the occipital part of the head:
- When sedentary work, it is important to take a break every 30-40 minutes and be distracted by light physical exercises. They can be allocated only 2-3 minutes, but such a simple measure will help get rid of stagnation of blood in the cervical spine.
- It is important to adhere to proper nutrition - refrain from drinking carbonated drinks, alcohol and excessively fatty and spicy foods.
- It is necessary to regularly engage in physical education.
In addition, you need to monitor the vitamin balance in the body and, if necessary, replenish it. This can be done both with the help of pharmaceuticals, and by increasing the amount of consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits.