Occipital HeadacheKnowing the link between both Occipital Headache and Neck Pain Headache is the first step towards relief.
Chances are, if you have been told your headaches are occipital headaches, then you probably already knew this bit of information. Occipital headache is felt at the occiput and can radiate to the vertex or top of the head. Occipital Headache also known as (or related to) headache with neck pain, or the headache back of head. Neck Pain HeadacheThe neck pain component is a clue for consideration of just where the source of this condition may be originating from.Occipital headaches may result from inflammation, injury, (and if that is the case, ice may be a good first line of treatment) or pressure on the occipital nerves, upper cervical spinal roots, dorsal horn, or sensory ganglion (all neurologic terminology).  Paraesthesia or anesthesia of the tissues of the scalp and the skin of the neck is characteristic of occipital headache. Occipital neuralgia is referred pain from an inflammation or compression of the greater occipital nerve. It exits between the occiput and the posterior arch of first cervical vertebra to pierce the large cervical muscle insertions/attachments to the skull. The Sub Occipital muscle group form a triangle that the nerves must pass through, and around. An imbalance in that area can cause migraine and occipital headache. Sometimes, the pain in this disorder radiates to the eye region, but can involve radiation over the scalp to the eye. This type of headache falls into the tension-type headache class. Learn about tension headache symptoms here. What are Some Symptoms of an Occipital Headache?Differentiating between occipital headache and other forms of headache may be difficult secondary to variability in presentation, and considerable symptom overlap.Pain is usually localized in the distribution of the greater or lesser occipital nerves. The affected nerve is tender to palpation (touch). Some patients have endured painful diagnostic injections. This process can have a role in differentiating different types of headaches, and sometimes identifying the pain generator. Be wary about exotic/radical treatment protocol. If this condition becomes chronic, and has persisted for months and or years, one might jump to treatment protocols that are harmful and relatively unproductive. Occipital headaches are painful enough for patients to be susceptible to multiple injection procedures, even surgery. 9 times out of 10, this painful form of headache can be successfully treated and resolved via the Beyond Headaches Lifestyle and other conservative approaches.
Read More About Different Types of Headaches Here
Click on the Filmstrip images to view the FREE Beyond Headaches Video Tour.
Return to the top of Occiptial Headache Information here
|
Put your hand on the back of your head. Now, slide your hand to the base of the skull. This area you feel is the area known as the occiput. 
