Neuralgia is a lesion of the peripheral nerves that occur when they are squeezed by surrounding tissues and accompanied by attacks of acute pain in this area. It can affect almost any nerve in the human body. The most common types of neuralgia in medical practice are: trigeminal neuralgia, intercostal neuralgia, occipital and sciatic nerve neuralgia .
Occipital neuralgia is one of the often called causes of headaches. The pain can be aggravated by turning the head, sneezing and coughing, palpating the neck. Often causes nausea and vomiting.
The main reasons for its occurrence are:
- osteochondrosis (deformation or destruction of intervertebral discs, leading to compression of nerves in this area);
- hypothermia;
- infection;
- injuries in the cervical spine;
- intoxication;
- swelling or pseudotumor in the cervical vertebrae;
- blood supply disturbance;
- gout (inflammation of the joints).
Pain with neuralgia it is pulsating, burning, sometimes turning into a shooting one and can have a long-lasting character. It usually begins at the base of the skull and spreads to various parts of the head. Pain in the eye may be noted (on the side where there is a pathology). More often the pain is one-sided, but it sometimes occurs on both sides. Simple neck movements can provoke her. The scalp can become very sensitive to touch: even combing your hair can cause pain.
The treatment of neuralgia depends on the causes of its development and the type of affected nerve. It is extremely difficult to diagnose occipital neuralgia, since the doctor must distinguish it from other causes of headache. To make a correct diagnosis, a thorough examination of the patient, assessment of complaints and additional diagnostic measures, which include magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography, are required.
Surgical treatment of occipital neuralgia is prescribed in cases of severe chronic pain and the lack of effectiveness of conservative treatment. Several types of operations are used, the choice of which depends on the causes of the disease.
- Microvascular (microvascular) decompression consists in eliminating compression of the occipital nerves using microsurgical techniques. This method helps to significantly reduce the sensitivity of the nerve roots, leading to the elimination of pain.
- Neurostimulation (stimulation of the occipital nerves) allows you to block pain in the occipital neuralgia by applying electrodes to the nerve that stimulate it with electrical impulses. The pain impulse, therefore, does not reach the place where it is perceived by the brain - it is interrupted by the electric one, felt by the patient in the form of vibration or a feeling of warmth in the place where the pain pulsed before.
Non-surgical treatment of neuralgia, in order to alleviate pain, consists in taking thermal procedures, relaxation, physiotherapeutic procedures, including massage, in the use of muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory drugs. Anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine (finlespine) and gabapentin give a certain effect. Very effective in such cases, the method, which consists in the blockade of the occipital nerves with anti-inflammatory steroid drugs: hydrocortisone, Kenalog, metipred, dextamethasone, etc.). However, it is worth noting that the frequent use of this method can cause side effects.
If the treatment of neuralgia does not bring positive results, you will have to undergo an additional examination in order to clarify the diagnosis. It is possible that the cause of pain in the back of the head and neck is another disease.