5 causes of pain in the back of the head and how to deal with it

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

You may be drinking pain relievers too often.

Those who work a lot at the desk - with papers or at a laptop - especially often face a headache that radiates to the back of the head. It is unpleasant, but usually safe and goes away quite quickly by itself.

Occasionally, however, a headache in the back of the head can be a symptom of a life-threatening condition.

When you have pain in the back of your head, you need to see a doctor immediately

Contact your GP or, depending on how you feel, call an ambulance if How to Know When to Worry About a Headache:

• The pain in the back of the head occurred immediately after a blow or head injury.
• Sharp, severe pain came on suddenly. Headache: When to Worry And What To Do is especially dangerous if she wakes you up in the middle of the night.
• The pain increases with coughing or changing posture.
• There is a stiffness ("petrification") of the neck muscles: you cannot tilt your head forward or towards your shoulders.
• Along with severe pain, a fever appeared - the temperature jumped above 38, 9 ° C.
• Pain is accompanied by dizziness, loss of balance, confusion, nausea and vomiting, neurological symptoms: double vision or blurred vision, severe weakness (especially on one side of the body), numbness or cramps in the limbs, slurred speech or difficulty understanding words others.
• In addition to severe pain, there is another symptom - reddened whites of the eyes with burst capillaries.
• The pain appeared shortly after the bite of any animal anywhere on the body.

Such symptoms may indicate intracranial hemorrhage, stroke, or serious infectious brain lesions that require urgent medical attention.

If there are no threatening signs, you can exhale. Most likely, the discomfort in the back of the head is caused by relatively harmless reasons.

Why does the back of the head hurt and what to do about it

Here are the five most common What is this pain in the back of my head? conditions and situations due to which occipital headache can occur.

1. You are overworked or nervous

The so-called tension headache (tension headache) tension headache (tension headache) is the most common case of pain in the back of the head. It occurs if you spend a lot of time sitting behind the wheel or leaning over a book, papers, or a laptop. However, other factors can also cause HDN: for example, prolonged eye strain, an insufficient amount of water that you drink, or a stressful environment from which you cannot escape for a long time.

Such pain is of a dull, constricting character - as if the head was enclosed in a tight wide hoop. With HDN, there is no sensation of throbbing, nausea or vomiting, and it does not become stronger with head turns or other movements.

What to do

You can just endure - for example, lie down and relax. HDN in many cases goes away within 30 minutes. If you can't rest or your headache is preventing you from working, regular over-the-counter pain relievers can help. It is important to take them strictly according to the instructions and in no case continue to use them for more than 2-3 days.

If pain occurs too often or does not go away for a long time, be sure to consult with a physician. Your doctor will advise you on how to deal with the situation. Treatment options include:

• Massage.
• Physiotherapy.
• Acupuncture.
• Relaxation Technique Training - Explained how to deal with stress.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. This psychotherapeutic method will also help you relax and take control of your life.

2. You have a migraine

Migraines are a common type of recurring headache. Typically, the first migraine attack occurs in childhood. With age, episodes become more frequent - up to several times a week. Women aged 35–45 suffer the most from migraines.

A migraine can be recognized by its characteristic features: severe throbbing pain that covers only one part of the head, increased sensitivity to odors and light, nausea, blurred vision. The unpleasant sensations increase with movement.

What to do

The most common prescription for migraine headaches is to take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as paracetamol, and lie down in a quiet, darkened room until the attack is over.

If a migraine occurs over and over again, be sure to talk to your doctor about it. Your healthcare professional can help you figure out the triggers - the factors that trigger pain. This can be stress, lack of sleep, the use of certain foods or drinks (chocolate, sugar, coffee, alcohol), excessive physical activity, sudden changes in the weather.

Depending on what exactly is causing your migraine, your doctor will recommend how to overcome it. Perhaps prescribing medications, referring to physical therapy, or suggesting ways to reduce stress.

3. You overuse headache medications

If you have a headache from time to time and are taking over-the-counter pain relievers, this is normal. But if you drink analgesics more than two or three times a week for months, it can ruin your life: there will be a so-called drug headache.

It is possible to assume that we are talking about this phenomenon by the following signs What is this pain in the back of my head?:

• Your head began to bother you every day.
• The worst headache you experience is in the morning after waking up, but during the day you “walk around”.
• The usual pain relievers help, but as soon as their effect wears off, the discomfort returns with renewed vigor.

Additional symptoms of drug headache are weakness, irritability, anxiety, difficulty concentrating and remembering.

What to do

Try giving up painkillers for a while. It's best to do this on a weekend or vacation. The pain may seem worse at first, but if you go without the pills, it will likely go away in a few hours. Try not using your medication for a couple of weeks. Then, if necessary, you can return to them - but do it consciously and try not to frequent.

If the headache does not go away without a pill, consult a physician. He will tell you how to get rid of drug addiction.

4. You have occipital neuralgia

This happens with the Occipital Neuralgia Information Page when the occipital nerve is damaged or irritated. The nerve can be damaged if you sit in one position for too long. Or they turned their heads too sharply. Or maybe they were overcooled. Or, for example, you have osteoarthritis, gout, or a hernia of the spine, due to which the nerve is pinched. Or we are talking about an infection.

In general, there are dozens of reasons for neuralgia, but the symptoms are the same in all cases:

• Constant throbbing or burning pain in the occiput.
• Periodic shooting (short-term, but sharp) pains.
• Increased discomfort when turning or tilting the head.
• Increasing the sensitivity of the eyes to light.

What to do

First you need to make an accurate diagnosis and, if it is neuralgia, try to find out its cause. This can only be done by a therapist, so if you suspect occipital neuralgia, go to him.

The doctor will ask about the symptoms, conduct an examination. You may be asked to undergo some tests - they are necessary to identify or rule out diseases that lead to nerve damage (for example, diabetes).

Treatment depends on the results of the examination. But, most likely, the doctor will advise you to use a warm compress, send you for massage, physiotherapy, or prescribe a number of medications, including anti-inflammatory, pain relievers, steroids and muscle relaxants.

5. You have overextended yourself

Unbearable physical activity can also cause an occipital headache. Moreover, "overwhelming" is a very loose concept. Some people start to have headaches after a difficult workout associated with lifting weights, or, for example, a speed race. Others just need to have sex or go to the toilet if they are constipated.

Pain due to physical overload is usually throbbing and engulfs the head through the back of the head on both sides.

What to do

This type of Primary Exercise Headache pain can last from 5 minutes to two days. Try to rest and endure. Or take an over-the-counter pain reliever if needed. If occiput pain persists after exercise, consult a physician.