Headache is familiar to every person. Its causes are very diverse and indicate serious health problems. Pain on one side of the head also periodically occurs and gives the person considerable discomfort. When the back of the head hurts on the right, why do you feel so? What can affect the appearance of such symptoms? It is necessary to understand the origin of the pain syndrome and prevent the occurrence of a serious disease.
Headache causes
All factors affecting the occurrence of pain on the right side of the nape are divided into three groups.
- Connected with the cervical spine: congenital anomalies, vertebral artery syndrome, various injuries.
- Associated with muscle tissue: myogelosis, myositis.
- Related to the vascular and nervous system: arterial hypertension, stroke, intracranial pressure, neuritis and neuralgia.
Other reasons are possible: large physical exertion, affecting the cervical muscles, malnutrition, poor sleep organization, alcohol and smoking. With the untimely elimination of the cause of the pain symptom, a chronic disease occurs.
Diagnostic Features
If you experience pain in the occipital part of the head on the right and cervical spine, it is better to consult a doctor immediately. It is very difficult to determine on your own why the nape on the right hurts. The nervous system so signals about malfunctions in the body, and before treating, it is necessary to establish the exact cause of the abnormal condition. The doctor will conduct the following studies.
- During a conversation with the patient, he will listen to complaints, find out the circumstances after which the pain occurred. Will clarify: whether there were injuries, past illnesses, the nature of pain, in which case they intensify.
- Will conduct a visual examination and palpation of painful areas of the head and neck, measure blood pressure.
- He will prescribe a general analysis of urine and blood, which will help to identify the presence or absence of an inflammatory process.
- It will be sent to radiography to determine the condition of the cervical spine.
- If necessary, appoint an MRI or CT scan to determine the exact causes of pain.
In addition, consultations of other specialists are possible: surgeon, rheumatologist, infectious disease specialist. After analyzing all the results of the examinations, the doctor will find out why the back of the head hurts on the right and will make an accurate diagnosis, after which he will prescribe the appropriate therapy.
Head injuries due to falling children
In energetic babies with poor coordination of movements during a fall, the head most often suffers, namely its occipital part. The brain fraction located in this place is responsible for the functioning of the organs of vision. The consequences of a strike can occur not instantly, but after a certain amount of time.
Therefore, it is very important, firstly, to provide first aid: when a lump appears, put ice on it for a short time, treat the wound with a disinfectant solution and open it with a sterile cloth. And secondly, if the child hit the back of the head, mother should:
- reassure the baby and calm herself, try to assess the severity of the injury;
- look at the pupils of the child - they should not be narrowed or dilated;
- pay attention to the absence of crying within a few minutes after the fall - this may indicate a loss of consciousness;
- examine the skin: blue and pale are unacceptable;
- monitor coordination of movements;
- measure the pulse and compare with the norm by age, deviations - an alarm;
- eliminate noisy games and eye strain;
- continue to monitor the behavior of the child, preventing him from sleeping.
If bleeding from a wound that does not stop after a quarter of an hour, the appearance of it from the ears and nose, and the above symptoms, call an ambulance. In other cases, in the near future it is necessary to show the child to a pediatrician, optometrist and neurosurgeon.
Occipital neuralgia. Symptoms and treatment
With neuralgia of the occipital nerve, painful sensations develop in the back of the head on one side of the head and neck. This is due to irritation or pinching of one nerve, but bilateral damage is also possible. The following symptoms are characteristic of the disease:
- sudden attacks of sharp, stitching, burning pain that resemble an electric discharge;
- visual impairment;
- the occurrence of photophobia;
- dizziness;
- the appearance of nausea;
- numbness of the scalp;
- increased sensitivity of the head and neck to touch;
- discomfort when driving.
Similar symptoms are possible for other diseases, therefore, to make a diagnosis it is necessary to consult a doctor who, after examination and identifying the cause, will prescribe the necessary therapy. The following groups of drugs are used to treat the symptoms of occipital neuralgia and improve the patient's condition:
- non-steroidal - reduce the inflammatory process;
- relaxants - relax muscle fibers;
- steroids - eliminate pain;
- anticonvulsants - prevent convulsive muscle contraction;
- sedatives - improve cerebral circulation.
In addition to medicines, physiotherapy is used:
- magnetotherapy;
- electrophoresis;
- neck and neck massage;
- laser therapy;
- physiotherapy exercises;
- manual therapy.
If the conservative treatment is ineffective, surgical intervention is indicated.
Cervical myositis
Inflammation of the muscles of the neck and shoulder girdle is found in people of any age, and does not bypass children. Unusual physical exertion, drafts, prolonged exposure to an uncomfortable position, injuries of the cervical spine, and sometimes infectious diseases and helminthic invasion can provoke it. An additional risk factor may be a stressful condition. The main symptom of myositis is pain. It often covers one side - the posterolateral or the back of the neck. Increased pain appears with head movements. Gradually, the pain syndrome goes to:
- upper back
- occipital part of the head;
- forearm;
- chest
- a hand;
- the area between the forearms.
The patient often has to take a certain position of the head, so as not to cause a new attack of pain. In addition to the main symptom of the disease, with cervical myositis, the following symptoms are possible:
- muscle tension in the affected area;
- redness and swelling of the affected area;
- limited movement;
- enlargement of peripheral lymph nodes;
- throbbing in the back of the head and temples;
- headache;
- increased pain at night.
Myositis therapy
The following medications are used to treat myositis:
- anti-inflammatory;
- antibacterial;
- antiparasitic;
- antihistamines;
- antispasmodics;
- glucocorticoids;
- immunomodulators and vitamin complexes.
To enhance drug therapy, warming and UHF, therapeutic massage are prescribed. In some cases, manual therapy is used. Timely initiated treatment always has a positive prognosis.
Headache headaches
According to medical statistics, headache of muscle tension, felt at one point, is inherent in about 90% of the entire population. The following symptoms are characteristic of it:
- a point on the back of the head on the right or in the parietal part of the head hurts;
- pain gives into the eyes and facial muscles;
- there is a feeling of tightness of the head.
The causes of the disease are mainly related to nervous tension. These include:
- intense pace of work;
- lack of sleep;
- anxiety;
- malnutrition;
- physical fatigue;
- energy and psychostimulants;
- fever;
- menopause
Attacks of pain last no more than 4-6 hours. Muscle tension can last several months, and in some cases for years. Analgesics are used to relieve pain. To clean up the nervous system, medications that stop neurosis and panic attacks can be used. In addition, prescribe drugs to relieve muscle tension.
Vascular spasm
A nape on the right or on the left can constantly hurt as a result of a spasm of the vessels of the brain. Pain manifests itself in different intensities. With a sharp spasm, it occurs suddenly, in other cases it intensifies gradually and is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- pallor;
- sweating;
- limb cooling;
- tachycardia;
- nausea
Treatment of the disease is aimed at restoring blood flow. For this, vasodilators and antispasmodics are used. They relieve vascular tone, and the pain subsides. In the future, an examination is prescribed to clarify the causes of spasm of the vessels of the head and then - appropriate therapy.
Myogelosis
The disease occurs as a result of the degeneration of muscle tissue into the connective due to circulatory disorders. With a unilateral course of the disease, the nape of the head and neck on the right hurt the patient. Unpleasant sensations intensify when moving the head, so the individual feels constrained and limits the mobility of the upper body. On palpation at the site of damage, a seal is felt. It is necessary to treat the disease in the early stages, until muscle degeneration has occurred. To restore blood circulation, apply:
- warming up;
- painkillers;
- hirudotherapy;
- massage and gymnastics to improve posture;
- various ointments.
In extreme cases, surgery is recommended.
First aid for pain in the back of the head
If there are pains in the back of the head, you need to find out the causes of the pathology, and for this, visit a doctor. Before the examination, you can take some measures to alleviate the pain.
The back of the head hurts on the right, what should I do? It is necessary:
- eliminate all external irritants - loud music, bright light;
- ventilate the room well;
- to relax the muscles, perform the exercise - sit directly on the stool, put your palms on the back of the head, and thumbs on the cheekbones; tilt your head back without tipping it; stay in this position for a few seconds and relax;
- apply a warm heating pad to relieve spasm and pain;
- take care of your posture - stand and sit correctly, sleep on an orthopedic mattress and a hard pillow;
- perform self-massage of the head.
For some time, you can get rid of the pain, but the cause will not be eliminated, so visiting a doctor is mandatory.
Pathology Prevention
If the head and nape on the right hurt , the discomfort is eliminated using medications or physiotherapy. However, it is better to prevent this situation and listen to the recommendations of doctors:
- give up bad habits and live an active healthy life;
- perform simple physical exercises every day;
- not be in a draft;
- nutrition, sleep and rest should be complete;
- use orthopedic bedding;
- avoid sudden head movements;
- warm up every half hour with sedentary work;
- do not lift heavy things;
- dress according to the weather;
- periodically consume vitamin complexes.
For the prevention of diseases when the back of the head hurts on the right or left and in the neck, as well as during sedentary work, it is necessary to take breaks to perform simple exercises that stretch the muscles. Such pain can be a signal of serious illness. Therefore, if it occurs, without delaying, consult a doctor and undergo a full examination.