Occipital pain in the head. Headache. Causes and symptoms, types. Headache in the forehead, back of the head, temples. Headache and fever. Headache and nausea. Increased intracranial pressure

Shoshina Vera Nikolaevna

Therapist, education: Northern medical university. Work experience 10 years.

Articles written

IN modern world many people experience painful sensations in the back of the head. Why does the head hurt in the back, what causes such pain, how to get rid of this disease - such questions concern many.

Pain in the back of the head can occur from incorrect position body during sleep or serve alarm signal about the presence of serious diseases in the patient’s body.

When it hurts occipital part head, then the pain can be very different, here are the most common.

Why does the back of my head hurt?

Headache in the back of the head often occurs when various types problems, let's look at them in more detail.

Pain with cervical osteochondrosis

This disease is one of the types of problems with the spine, it consists in rapid aging and deformation of the cervical vertebrae and intervertebral space. Often complications occur in several parts of the spine at once. Lesions localized in the cervical region are often accompanied by pain in the back of the head. The disease develops due to the following factors:

Sedentary, sedentary image life.
Overweight.
Bad habits (alcohol, cigarettes).

Pain with cervical spondylosis

This is a disease spinal column represents the following: the patient’s entire cervical area spine, deformation of the vertebrae in the neck occurs, neoplasms appear on them, which constantly cause a person severe pain not only in the cervical region, but also in the back of the head. Cause of the disease:

Sedentary lifestyle.
Advanced age of a person.

Pain with cervical myositis

Inflammatory reactions in the skeletal muscles with lesions bone tissue- this is how this disease is characterized. When it occurs, one of the symptoms is a headache (severely) from the back of the head. Factors contributing to the occurrence of the disease:

Complications after an infectious disease.
Hypothermia of the body.
Spinal injuries, sprains.

The disease is accompanied by constant aching pain in the neck, which also affects the back of the head.

Pain due to hypertension

Narrowing of the arteries, leading to increased blood pressure, loss of vascular tone - this is hypertension. The disease has no specific signs, but symptoms may include a headache in the back of the head. What causes the disease most often:

Stressful conditions.
Genetic predisposition.
Excessive physical activity.

With myogelosis of the cervical area

The disease occurs due to the formation of a seal in the neck muscles. Symptoms are: feeling tired, dizzy, feeling stiff, headache in the back of the head. The provocateurs of the disease are:

Nervous overstrain.
Frequent stress.
Incorrect posture.
Colds.

In case of malocclusion

Incorrectly positioned teeth affect the gums and chewing functions; over time, the process of chewing food can become painful, which leads to a person having a headache in the area cervical spine and the occipital part.

With increased intracranial pressure

This condition is characterized by severe and constant pain in the back of the head. The pain may intensify and is often accompanied by vomiting or attacks of nausea. Causes of pain in increasing amounts cerebrospinal fluid and surges in blood pressure.

Cervical migraine

This disease, widespread in the modern world, is characterized by headaches in the back of the head and frontal lobe, the patient has a feeling of fog when looking at something, in the ears, and has difficulty concentrating.

If the back of your head hurts, the pain can also be caused by:

pathology in the cervical spine due to professional activity person;
experienced stressful situations;
vascular diseases in the neck area, accompanied by pressure surges;
neuralgia.

Characteristics of pain and most common locations

Pain in the back of the head is usually localized on both sides of the head, affecting the following parts of the body:

part of the cervical spine at the back,
frontal lobe
eyes, ears, facial muscles, jaws,
top part backs.

Pain that occurs in the back of the head is usually paroxysmal in nature. While pain in the temple area, eyeballs or ears can rather be called sharp and shooting. Often, any touch to the back of the head only intensifies the attack.

When pain in the back of the head may occur:

with sudden bending of the body,
when turning your head,
during a coughing attack,
after suffering from infectious diseases,
at night or early in the morning,
after suffered trauma heads,
with a sharp change in blood pressure,
in unstable weather conditions,
while chewing food.

Pain in the back of the head during pregnancy

Expectant mothers quite often experience discomfort in the occipital region. There is no pathology in this, it’s just that the body of a pregnant woman is subjected to additional stress, affecting the musculoskeletal, nervous and cardiovascular system. Occipital pain is often a consequence of fatigue, physical and emotional stress.

If the pain is not constant, a pregnant woman should rest more and do special exercises, helping to relieve muscle tension. At constant pain you must immediately contact a specialist.

Actions of a person experiencing pain in the back of the head

If attacks of pain in the back of the head are isolated in nature, there is no need to sound the alarm; most likely, bad weather conditions, overexertion or an uncomfortable position during sleep are to blame. But, when the back of the head constantly hurts, and the reasons are unknown, what should a person do?

Of course, without delaying to consult a specialist, only a competent doctor will be able to find out why the headache hurts, what treatment should be prescribed to the patient.

What examinations are usually prescribed upon application:

visual examination with mandatory blood pressure measurement,
a series of analyzes
brain tomography,
examination by an ophthalmologist,
X-ray examinations of the spinal column,
brain.

This is the only way a doctor can determine correct diagnosis and discover the cause of the pain. Based on full examination The patient is prescribed therapeutic treatment. Independent and uncontrolled reception painkillers can only temporarily relieve symptoms, but will not help cure the disease.

If the back of the head hurts very strongly and often, you need to visit a neurologist; also, the causes of painful attacks can be discovered by doctors such as a cardiologist (if problems with blood vessels are suspected) and a traumatologist (and cervical spine).

How to avoid back pain

If you have a headache (sometimes) in the back of the head, you need to try to get rid of the factors causing seizures pain, as well as:

Adjust your daily routine by highlighting right time for a good rest.
Choose a comfortable pillow in cases where pain occurs after a night's sleep.
Refuse bad habits(drinking alcohol, smoking).
Perform complexes physical exercise aimed at stretching the muscles of the cervical spine.
Try to sit on a chair with a high back.
Introduce foods containing fatty acids to avoid inflammatory processes.
Maintain proper posture.

Procedures that can alleviate or completely eliminate pain symptoms

To relieve pain you can take medicines which help relieve pain. These are mainly drugs containing such active substance like ibuprofen. The most effective are: Pentalgin, Paracetamol, Citramon. All medications must be taken strictly according to the instructions; if they do not help, you must consult a doctor so that adequate therapeutic treatment can be prescribed.

In the treatment of pain in the back of the head, in addition to therapeutic treatment, are often prescribed following procedures, significantly alleviating the patient’s condition:

Physiotherapy.

Electrophoresis is one of the most effective physiotherapeutic procedures, which is often prescribed to patients with pain in the head and neck. The principle of action is to improve blood flow in vessels and muscles, increase lymph drainage.

Massage courses.

Especially "collar", is also considered in an effective way get rid of pain in the head and neck area.

Massage should be done in courses, at least ten sessions per course. Massage procedures not only help relieve pain and tension, but are also an excellent preventive measure.

Manual therapy.

Contacting a chiropractor often leads to complete relief from pain after just a few sessions, but if the pain does not go away, it is still necessary to undergo a full examination.

Exercise.

For a disease such as osteochondrosis, it is often prescribed special complex physical exercise ( therapeutic exercises), helping to relieve muscle tension and reduce headaches. The exercises should be performed under the supervision of a specialist.

Traditional medicine

There are many recipes to reduce pain symptoms in the back of the head:

we drink green tea with mint. Good green tea, supplemented with fresh mint or a few drops of mint ether, helps improve the tone of the whole body, has an anti-inflammatory effect, and reduces pain. You should only drink a freshly brewed drink, adding a small amount of honey to it;
preparing healing decoction from medicinal herbs. For preparation you will need: dried fruits hawthorn, dried valerian root, motherwort, dried bearberry. Pour two parts of hawthorn, motherwort and bearberry into a glass container, add one part of valerian, pour boiling water over it, let it brew for an hour. Strain the broth and take half a glass before meals 2-3 times a day. Such a drink, taken regularly, will relieve tension, reduce pain syndrome;
we use essential oils. Essential oils of rosemary, peach, and mint will help reduce pain in the back of the head. A few drops of ether should be applied to the back of the head and begin to gently rub it in a circular motion;
We make contrast compresses. Sometimes contrast compresses help relieve pain in the back of the head. A warm or cool damp cloth is alternately applied to the back of the head; this procedure helps the person relax and reduce pain.

Headache is one of the most common symptoms and can indicate either normal fatigue or some other dangerous disease. Depending on the location and nature discomfort you can try to determine their cause. It is worth considering the main causes and treatment of headaches in the back of the head, which bother many people.

When a headache occurs in the back of the head, it can be difficult to determine whether it is the head or the neck that hurts. In a number of diseases of the spine and neck area, pain can radiate to the occipital region, which makes it difficult to diagnose a possible disease.

Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the accompanying symptoms and consult a doctor to make sure there are no serious pathologies. For headaches, children and adults should consult a neurologist.

It is worth considering the main causes of occipital headaches. Some of them require urgent assistance likely to occur severe complications. In each case, the accompanying symptoms will be different, it is worth paying attention to them.

Various head injuries. Periodic severe headaches in the occipital region can occur after head injuries, blows, bruises, and concussions. However, they may not appear immediately after the injury; sometimes quite a lot of time passes. If painful sensations develop as a result of a blow or other injury, they are usually accompanied by nausea, dizziness, and the patient may notice that memory and concentration deteriorate.
Migraine. This disease often develops without expressed reasons and becomes chronic, females are most susceptible to it. With migraine, the headaches are pulsating, usually localized with right side head or from the opposite, left. There is a feeling of squeezing; with a migraine, the painful sensations include dizziness, increased sensitivity to light, and irritability.
Arterial hypertension. Given this cardiovascular disease Painful sensations may also occur in the back of the head and temples; the pain is dull in nature. This pathology usually cannot be fully treated and is associated with a persistent increase in blood pressure. Also, with high blood pressure, pulsation may occur in the back of the head without pain.
Fatigue, nervous tension, stress. In severe cases of physical and mental fatigue mild pain may occur in the back of the head, spreading to the temples. In this case, isolated pain does not indicate serious illness.

Important! If you have persistent pain that occurs for no apparent reason, you should consult a doctor and not self-medicate.

At various diseases a pain syndrome occurs in the cervical spine, radiating to the occipital region of the head. In this case, the pain usually spreads to the upper back and is accompanied by a burning sensation and muscle tension. The most common diseases of the spine that cause pain in the back of the head include:

Cervical osteochondrosis. This disease is extremely common, and as it develops, degenerative changes V intervertebral discs leading to limited mobility and severe pain. With osteochondrosis, the nerve endings in the cervical region are pinched, resulting in constant headaches, accompanied by increased fatigue, tinnitus and a number of other vegetative symptoms.
Spondylosis. Another disease of the spine, which, when it occurs in the cervical region, provokes the development of a pain syndrome radiating to the back of the head. Violated normal functioning cartilage tissue, pain usually occurs when turning the head or sudden movements. This disease usually develops with an insufficient level of physical activity.
Myogelosis. This disease is characterized by compaction muscle tissue neck, it can occur due to injuries, severe physical strain. With this disease, the pain is aching in nature and spreads to the back area. If you touch the muscles of the neck, you will notice that they are tense and compacted.

Important! Pain in the back of the head can also appear with various spinal injuries, injuries spinal cord and pinched nerve endings.

To diagnose these diseases, an examination by an orthopedic surgeon is required. An X-ray of the cervical spine is usually taken, sometimes an MRI or CT is required, other studies depending on the accompanying symptoms.

Painful sensations in various parts Headaches occur less frequently in children than in adults. They usually appear with severe emotional and physical fatigue, lack of sleep, and other difficulties faced by school students.

If a child experiences a headache, it is advisable to reduce the load and consult a doctor; the development of vegetative-vascular dystonia, a set of symptoms that significantly affects the child’s performance, is likely. You should also exclude curvatures and other diseases of the spine, which often develop in younger and older adults. school age.

During pregnancy

Headaches are also common during pregnancy. The body of the expectant mother is more susceptible to stress, carrying a child is an additional burden on musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular and nervous system. Therefore, the occurrence of aching pain is quite common. Usually occur against the background severe fatigue, emotional stress.

However, if pain occurs constantly and is quite intense in nature, it is advisable to check with a doctor to rule out serious illnesses, which may threaten the health of the expectant mother and child.

Treatment at home

If headaches in the back of the head occur frequently or develop against the background of other diseases, they should be treated under the supervision of a doctor. However, you can independently relieve isolated attacks of pain caused by fatigue and stress. There are various painkillers for this purpose, folk remedies and other methods.

First of all, if painful sensations appear, you should rest, drink water, and, if possible, postpone all important matters. It is also advised to avoid sources of bright light and noise, they can cause deterioration in well-being. To get rid of pain, you can use the following methods:

Medicines. For headaches, you can use non-prescription simple painkillers; it is important to take them exactly as directed. Ibuprofen-based medications can help with headaches; Citramon, Pentalgin, Paracetamol and their analogues are especially effective.
Massage. If painful sensations in the back of the head occur against the background of osteochondrosis, spasm of the neck muscles, self-massage with smooth rubbing movements and acupressure technique is recommended.

With enough rest and correct intake painkillers, the painful sensations will go away fairly quickly.

Treatment with folk remedies

There are several folk remedies that help get rid of headaches, some of them are effective even for migraines and fairly intense pain in the back of the head.

High-quality green tea with the addition of dried mint or a couple of drops helps with headaches peppermint oil. Brew should be sufficient strong drink, if no further important matters, tea can be eaten with natural honey. This combination tones the body well and helps get rid of unpleasant sensations in the back of the head.

Herbal remedies also help. For example, you can mix two tablespoons of hawthorn fruit with one tablespoon of valerian root, add two tablespoons of motherwort herb and two tablespoons of bearberry. Prepare a decoction from a mixture of herbs, take a third of a glass three times a day after meals.

Folk remedies are extremely effective, but if, despite all efforts, the headache does not go away, you should urgently consult a doctor.

There can be many causes of pain. A neurologist will help you understand them.

Headaches in the back of the head can be symptoms of the following conditions:

Nervous tension- occurs as a result of stress. People with vascular diseases of the head and neck are prone to this.
Overvoltage as a result of prolonged physical or mental work, prolonged exposure to an uncomfortable position, for example, in front of a monitor screen or while driving a car, can also cause a headache in the back of the head.
Cervical spondylosis — is a disease of the spine that occurs when the ligaments and joints of the spine change, causing pressure on nerve roots and vessels. There is constant or prolonged pain in the back of the head, sometimes spreading to the ears and eyes. It is often observed in those people who move little (usually in mental workers).
Cervical osteochondrosis— change in structure intervertebral discs accompanied by education intervertebral hernia. A hernia can put pressure on the structures of the spinal cord and cause pain in the back of the head, temples and neck. Osteochondrosis can provoke the occurrence of vertebrobasilar syndrome. In the presence of cervical osteochondrosis, the so-called cervical migraine may develop. With this disease, the patient experiences sharp pain in the right or left half of the back of the head, then spreading to the temple and superciliary area.
Vascular pain- pain caused by spasm of the arteries located at the entrance to the skull or inside the head is pulsating in nature, comes from the back of the head and can spread to the forehead. Vascular pain also includes pain that occurs when venous outflow from the head is obstructed.
Occipital neuralgia- characterized by recurrent pain in the back of the head. The pain also spreads to the back, neck, ears, lower jaw. Turning the head, coughing and sneezing cause an increase in pain. Often the patient prefers to avoid turning the head so as not to provoke a new attack of severe pain. Occipital neuralgia can occur as a result of spinal disorders, e.g.

Every person has experienced a headache in the back of his head at least once in his life. The nature of this pain varies. A sharp headache in the back of the head or a dull, throbbing, pressing, aching headache may occur. The pain may be constant or occur periodically. The nature of the pain is related to the factors that cause it. However, regardless of the cause of a headache in the back of the head, it is always quite painful, and a person must get rid of it. But, as you know, in order to cure a disease, you must first determine its cause.

The main causes of headaches in the back of the head

Pain in the back of the head can indicate the presence of many diseases. The most common of them are:

occipital neuralgia;
diseases of the cervical spine, such as spondylitis, osteochondrosis, spondylosis, cervical migraine, etc.;
spasm of cerebral vessels;
increased intracranial pressure;
hypertension (increased blood pressure);
staying in an uncomfortable position for a long time;
stressful conditions;
excessive muscle tension due to physical activity;
diseases of the temporomandibular joints or malocclusion.

The nature of headaches in the back of the head in various diseases

Cervical osteochondrosis. This disease causes changes in the structure of the intervertebral discs and is accompanied by constant pain in the back of the head, neck and temples. Often painful sensations accompanied by nausea, dizziness, decreased hearing, and loss of coordination. There may be a feeling of a “veil” before the eyes, double objects. When the head is thrown back or there is a sudden movement, the patient falls and loses the ability to move for some time, although he remains fully conscious. Often when cervical osteochondrosis The patient experiences a cervical migraine, which is accompanied by a sharp headache in the back of the head, spreading to the temples and superciliary area.
Cervical spondylosis. The disease is accompanied by the appearance on the spine bone growths which significantly impair neck mobility. The patient experiences very frequent headaches in the back of the head, sometimes almost non-stop. With any turns or tilts of the head, the pain intensifies. Due to constant pain, the patient's sleep is disturbed.
Hypertension. Often, high blood pressure is accompanied by the appearance of throbbing, frequent headaches in the back of the head. Headaches in the back of the head are often accompanied by palpitations, general weakness, dizziness and sudden nausea.
Cervical myositis. This disease often occurs as a result of hypothermia, injury, or prolonged exposure to an uncomfortable position. The main symptom is headache in the back of the head when moving (turning or tilting) the head. In this case, the pain often radiates to the shoulders, back of the head and interscapular area. This disease is characterized by asymmetry of pain, that is, on one side it is more pronounced.
Myogelosis of the cervical spine. This disease characteristic appearance painful lumps in the neck muscles, which is accompanied by dizziness and sharp headaches in the back of the head.
Occipital neuralgia often causes headaches in the back of the head. The pain is paroxysmal in nature, radiating to the neck, back, ears, and lower jaw. Any movement of the head, coughing or sneezing increases the pain. Patients with this disease describe the pain as “shooting.”
Vascular pain caused by spasm of the arteries. The patient complains of pain in the back of the head, mainly occurring with movement and subsiding when sitting or lying down. At physical activity pain in the back of the head also occurs due to vascular pathology. At the same time, frequent headaches in the back of the head occur with increased physical activity and are accompanied by a sensation of “goosebumps” on the scalp.
Occupational pain. They often occur in people who are forced by duty to remain in one position for a long time. Thus, professional pain in the back of the head occurs in drivers and office workers.
Increased intracranial pressure. Mostly with this disease, the patient experiences pain along the entire circumference of the head, but sometimes it is localized in the back of the head. The pain is accompanied by nausea and vomiting, and a feeling of heaviness in the head. Often these symptoms are accompanied by sharp pain in the eyes in bright light.
Malocclusion. If malocclusion is not treated, it often leads to various negative consequences, including the occurrence of a dull pain in the back of the head, which intensifies significantly in the evening. In this case, the pain can last from several hours to several days in a row.

Treatment of headaches in the back of the head

In order to prescribe adequate treatment for a headache in the back of the head, it is necessary to find out why it arose. To do this, the patient must undergo a preliminary examination, which includes an x-ray of the cervical spine.

The most common treatment for headaches in the back of the head is the following specialists: traumatologist, neurologist, chiropractor, physical therapy doctor, massage therapist, physiotherapist.

If the pain in the back of the head is caused by neuralgia of the occipital nerve, cervical osteochondrosis, stress, myogelosis, intracranial pressure, or is of a professional nature, it will effectively help manual therapy and massage.

For spondylosis and high blood pressure, hard massage is strictly contraindicated. But light self-massage can have a positive effect on any type of pain in the back of the head.

Physiotherapy (magnetic therapy, electrophoresis, ultrasound or laser treatment) has a good effect in treating headaches in the back of the head. Physiotherapy is especially indicated for spondylosis, cervical osteochondrosis, myogelosis, increased intracranial pressure, vascular pain, neuralgia of the occipital nerve.

Physical therapy will be useful for all patients with headaches in the back of the head, except for pain caused by malocclusion (only an orthodontist can help here).

Folk remedies for headaches in the back of the head

For mild headaches, the following folk remedies can have a positive effect:

regular ventilation of the room, humidification of the air using special devices;
hot compress on the back of the head and hot drink;
compress from cabbage leaf, previously crushed in the hands;
compress of chopped onion and grated horseradish;
warm tea made from high primrose herb or linden flowers. A mixture of herbs is also effective: meadowsweet, sage, peppermint.

For headaches in the back of the head, it is recommended to avoid the use of tobacco and alcoholic drinks, since they contribute to its strengthening. For occupational pain, it is recommended to adjust workplace so that you can sit comfortably. You can also purchase an orthopedic pillow. Sleeping on it will promote maximum relaxation neck muscles at night.

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Probably every person has experienced at least once in his life pain in the back of the head, or adjacent to the back of the head upper section neck. The nature of this pain is different people different: the pain can be sharp, dull, pressing, throbbing, aching, constant or episodic.

This is due to various factors, various diseases, causing headache in the back of the head. Regardless of the cause, a headache of this localization is always extremely painful, and a person wants to get rid of it immediately. But the method of relief is closely related to the cause that caused the pain in the back of the head. What are these reasons?

Causes of headaches in the back of the head

Pain in the back of the head can be caused by the following diseases and conditions:

diseases of the cervical spine (osteochondrosis, cervical migraine, spondylitis, spondylosis, etc.);
diseases of the cervical muscles (myositis, myogelosis);
occipital neuralgia;
hypertension (high blood pressure);
increased intracranial pressure;
spasm of cerebral vessels;
staying in an uncomfortable position for a long time;
excessive muscle tension during physical activity;
malocclusion and diseases of the temporomandibular joints;
stressful conditions.

Characteristics of pain in the back of the head in various diseases

Cervical osteochondrosis

This disease, associated with changes in the structure of the intervertebral discs, is accompanied by constant pain in the back of the head, temples and neck. The pain is often accompanied by nausea and dizziness. When you move your head or tilt your head, the pain intensifies.

When pain in the back of the head occurs against the background of deterioration of neck mobility, stiffness of head movements, it is constantly present or occurs for long periods of time, spreads to the eyes and ears, intensifies with any movements of the head, subsides when taking a stationary posture, spondylosis or spondylitis can be assumed, and in In this case, you should contact a vertebrologist or orthopedist. If such specialists are not available in a medical institution, you can contact surgeon (make an appointment), osteopath or chiropractor.

When the pain is mainly localized in the neck, and is felt when moving the head, and only radiates to the back of the head, it occurs after hypothermia, injury or long stay in an uncomfortable position - myositis is suspected, and in this case it is recommended to contact therapist (make an appointment), surgeon or orthopedist. If pain occurs after an injury or being in an uncomfortable position, it is better to contact an orthopedist or surgeon. If the pain is caused by hypothermia, then it is better to consult a therapist.

When a headache in the back of the head appears against the background of pain and stiffness in the muscles of the neck and shoulders, as well as painful tightness in the neck muscles, and is combined with dizziness, myogelosis is suspected and in this case you should consult a rheumatologist, surgeon, orthopedist or chiropractor.

When pulsating, bursting pain appears in the back of the head, intensifying when the head is tilted, often combined with dizziness, a feeling of heaviness in the head, weakness and tachycardia, and decreasing after sudden vomiting occurring without nausea, an increase in blood pressure is expected, and in this case it is necessary to contact Cardiologist (make an appointment) or a therapist, since these are the specialists who diagnose and treat hypertension.

If the pain in the back of the head is paroxysmal, very strong, burning or shooting in nature, spreading to the ears, neck, and sometimes to the lower jaw or back, intensifying when moving the head or neck, coughing, sneezing, subsiding slightly after the end of the attack, but at the same time during the interictal period, persisting in the form of dull and pressing pain in the back of the head, then neuralgia of the occipital nerve is suspected, in which case you should consult a neurologist.

When pulsating pains are localized inside the skull, seem to emanate from the back of the head and reach the forehead, intensify with movements and subside with rest, suggest spasm of the blood vessels of the brain and skull, which requires contacting a neurologist or cardiologist.

When pain in the back of the head is dull, bursting, spreading to the entire head, combined with a feeling of heaviness in the head, intensifying when lowering the head, coughing and in a horizontal position, a violation of the venous outflow of blood from the brain is assumed, and in this case you should consult a neurologist or a cardiologist.

When pain in the back of the head occurs during physical activity (hard work or exercise) or during orgasm, is of the nature of compression, combined with a feeling of heaviness in the head, tingling and goosebumps running across the skin, pathology is assumed vascular wall, and in this case it is necessary to contact a neurologist or cardiologist.

When the pain is felt over the entire surface of the head, including in the back of the head, has a pressing and bursting character, intensifies with a loud sound and bright light, is combined with a feeling of heaviness in the head, nausea and vomiting that does not bring relief, pain in the eyes - increased intracranial pressure, and in this case you should contact a neurologist or cardiologist, and in their absence, a therapist.

When, against the background of malocclusion, dull ache in the back of the head, ear, in the crown and near the ears, usually begins during the day, intensifies in the evening, is combined with a click in the temporomandibular joint, it is believed that the pain syndrome is caused by a malocclusion or inflammatory disease temporomandibular joint. In such a situation, you should contact dentist (make an appointment), and if missing malocclusion, then you can also refer to traumatologist-orthopedist (make an appointment).

What tests and examinations can a doctor prescribe for pain in the back of the head?

Since pain in the back of the head is caused by various diseases, the doctor prescribes various studies at this symptom in order to identify causative factor pain. The list of examinations and tests in each specific case of pain in the back of the head is determined accompanying symptoms, on the basis of which a preliminary clinical diagnosis can be made, and then studies can be prescribed to confirm or refute it, as well as distinguish it from other pathologies with similar symptoms.

Thus, with constant pain in the back of the head, temples and neck, aggravated by head movements (especially bending), combined with nausea, dizziness, sometimes vomiting, tinnitus, hearing impairment, spatial orientation disorder, double vision, darkening of the eyes or with pain in the back of the head against the background of stiffness in head movements, poor neck mobility, when the pain spreads to the eyes and ears, intensifies with any head movements, subsides when taking a stationary position - you can suspect osteochondrosis, cervical migraine, spondylitis or spondylosis, to confirm which The doctor prescribes the following tests and examinations:

X-ray of the spine (make an appointment);
Computer or Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine (make an appointment) and brain;
Electroencephalography (EEG) (sign up);
Rheoencephalography (REG) (sign up).

In practice, as a rule, first of all, radiography of the spine is prescribed, which makes it possible to detect spondylosis and osteochondrosis. If x-ray (sign up) did not help identify the disease, then computer or magnetic resonance imaging of the spine is prescribed, which can detect osteochondrosis, spondylitis, and spondylosis. If technically possible, a medical institution may immediately prescribe a tomography instead of an x-ray. Electroencephalography and rheoencephalography are rarely prescribed, and only to confirm cervical migraine and to assess blood flow in the vessels of the brain.

If the pain is mainly felt in the neck, and occurs when moving the head, and radiates to the back of the head, often develops after hypothermia, injury or prolonged exposure to an uncomfortable position, the doctor suspects myositis and prescribes the following tests and examinations:

Inspection and palpation of the painful area of the neck muscles;
Blood test for rheumatoid factor(sign up);
General blood test.

As a rule, doctors limit themselves to examining and palpating the painful area, since these simple steps in combination with characteristic symptoms in the vast majority of cases, they allow diagnosing myositis. So, the affected area is red, swollen, hot, touching it causes very severe pain, and the muscles when palpated are dense, tense, and hard. Blood tests for rheumatoid factor and general analysis blood medications are rarely prescribed, mainly for atypical or protracted myositis.

If pain in the back of the head develops against a background of pain, stiffness in the muscles of the neck and shoulders, and painful tightness in the neck muscles, combined with dizziness, the doctor suspects myogelosis, to confirm which he may prescribe the following tests and examinations:

Manual search for a painful lump in the muscle that causes pain in the back of the head;
General blood test;
General urine test;
X-ray of the spine;
Arteriography of vessels at the site of injury;
Myotonometry;
Electromyography (sign up).

Directly to diagnose myogelosis, the doctor mainly uses a manual search for painful lumps in the muscles, when the muscles of the neck, collar area and upper back are felt with their hands. When the doctor, while palpating the muscles, finds a lump, a kind of lump the size of a pea to a large cherry, he presses on it. And if, as a result of pressure on the seal, a person experiences severe pain, then this is considered an undoubted sign of myogelosis. The examination may end here, and the doctor will not prescribe any instrumental or laboratory tests.

However, if the doctor still has doubts about the accuracy of the diagnosis of myogelosis, he may prescribe an x-ray of the spine to identify osteochondrosis, spondylosis, and joint damage that can provoke similar pains. Arteriography is prescribed to assess the condition of blood vessels in a tense muscle and is rarely used in practice, since its results are not particularly significant. A complete blood count and a complete urinalysis are usually prescribed simply for assessment. general condition body. But myotonometry and electromyography significantly help in diagnosing myogelosis, since they allow one to assess the condition of the muscles. But, unfortunately, these studies are rarely prescribed due to the lack of medical institutions necessary equipment and specialists.

If the pain in the back of the head is pulsating, bursting in nature, intensifies when the head is tilted, can be combined with dizziness, a feeling of heaviness in the head, weakness and tachycardia and decreases after vomiting without previous nausea, then the doctor assumes hypertension, and prescribes the following tests and examinations for it: confirmation:

General blood test;
Biochemical analysis blood (glucose, urea, creatinine, cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoproteins, high-density lipoproteins);
Blood test to check the level of potassium, calcium, sodium and chlorine in the blood;
General urine test;
Zimnitsky test (sign up);
Nechiporenko test (sign up);
Blood pressure measurement;
Electrocardiography (ECG) (sign up);
Echocardiography (Echo-CG) (sign up);
Ultrasound Dopplerography (USDG) of neck vessels (sign up) and kidneys.

If hypertension is suspected, all of the above studies from the list above are prescribed, as they are necessary to diagnose and distinguish the disease from other pathologies that manifest similar symptoms.

When the pain in the back of the head is paroxysmal, burning, shooting in nature, very strong, spreads to the ears, neck, lower jaw and back, intensifies when moving the head or neck, coughing, sneezing, subsides at the end of the attack, but not completely, but remains in the interictal period in the form of a dull and pressing pain in the back of the head, the doctor suggests occipital neuralgia, and prescribes the following tests and examinations:

X-ray of the spine;
Computer or Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain (sign up) and spine;
Echo-encephalography;
Electroencephalography (EEG);
Electroneurography.

As a rule, the above studies are rarely used when occipital nerve neuritis is suspected. And to diagnose neuritis of the occipital nerve, only special neurological examinations are performed, and if the doctor remains in doubt about the diagnosis, then electroneurography is most often prescribed. And all other studies are used as additional studies to exclude other diseases of the spine and cerebral vessels, which can lead to similar symptoms.

When the pain pulsates inside the skull, begins in the back of the head and rolls all the way to the forehead, intensifies with movements, subsides at rest, or there is a dull, bursting pain in the back of the head that spreads throughout the entire head, intensifying when lowering the head, coughing and in a horizontal position, a doctor suggests spasm of cerebral vessels or impaired venous outflow from the veins of the head, and to confirm the diagnosis prescribes the following studies:

Magnetic resonance or computed tomography spine and brain;
Echo-encephalography (Echo-EG);
Electroencephalography (EEG);
Ultrasound Dopplerography of the vessels of the head (USDG) (sign up).

Exactly the same examinations are prescribed in cases where pain in the back of the head occurs during physical activity, orgasm and is of a pressing nature, combined with a feeling of heaviness in the head, tingling and goosebumps.

Most often in practice, echo-encephalography and Doppler ultrasound vessels of the head, since these methods make it possible to accurately detect blood flow disorders in the vessels of the brain and skull. Electroencephalography is used as additional method diagnostics, and magnetic resonance imaging perfectly complements ultrasound and echo-EG, but, unfortunately, it is rarely used due to the high cost, lack of equipment and specialists in medical institutions.

When the pain is felt over the entire surface of the head, including in the back of the head, is pressing and at the same time bursting in nature, intensifies with loud sounds and bright light, is combined with a feeling of heaviness in the head, nausea and vomiting that does not bring relief, pain in the eyes, the doctor suggests an increase in intracranial pressure, and prescribes the following tests and examinations:

General blood test;
Biochemical blood test (cholesterol and its fractions, creatinine);
Fundus examination (make an appointment);
Electroencephalography;
Echoencephalography;
Rheoencephalography;
Tomography (computer or magnetic resonance imaging).

The main examination that allows you to accurately diagnose increased intracranial pressure is an examination of the fundus, since specific sign diseases are dilated and blood-filled veins of the retina. If there are no signs of increased intracranial pressure in the fundus, then the person does not have this. All other above methods are prescribed very often in practice, but are not very informative, since for them there are no exact criteria for increased intracranial pressure. Unfortunately, electroencephalography, echoencephalography, rheoencephalography and tomography can only establish the cause possible increase intracranial pressure or identify any other diseases of the brain, its vessels and nerves.

If the pain is present simultaneously in the back of the head, ear, in the crown and near the ears, is dull in nature, intensifies in the evening, and is combined with a click in the temporomandibular joint, the doctor suspects either an incorrect bite or inflammatory process in the temporomandibular joint. In this case, an examination of the dentition by a dentist is carried out, which makes it possible to identify various disorders bite An orthopedic traumatologist also examines the temporomandibular joint - the doctor feels the joint, asks you to open and close your mouth to listen to the sound the joint makes, and also inserts a finger into the ear and asks you to open and close your mouth to identify subluxation or dislocation of the joint . In addition, an x-ray or tomography may be prescribed to identify existing disorders in the temporomandibular joint.

How to treat pain in the back of the head

Preliminary examination

To cure a headache in the back of the head, you need to find out why it developed. Therefore, if frequent or severe pain in the occipital region, you should first of all contact the local police officer
Gentle manual therapy and gentle massage are prescribed for pain in the back of the head associated with increased intracranial pressure.

At occipital pain caused by increased blood pressure, massage is contraindicated.

A light self-massage of the head can help (and at least not cause harm) for any pain in the back of the head. Give yourself this massage with warm, well-warmed hands. First, lightly massage your ears with your palms. Then, using the ends of your fingers, using gentle rotational movements with slight pressure, massage the entire surface of the head, starting from the back of the head and ending with it. In this case, the palms should constantly touch the ears. In most cases, such a massage helps the pain disappear, or at least relieve it.

Japanese has the same effect for pain in the back of the head. acupressure Shiatsu. But an experienced specialist should conduct it (or teach you self-massage techniques).

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapeutic procedures (electrophoresis, magnetic therapy, laser treatment, ultrasound, etc.) provide good healing effect for pain in the back of the head caused by the following factors:

cervical osteochondrosis;
spondylosis;
myogelosis;
occipital neuralgia;
increased intracranial pressure;
vascular and occupational pain.

Therapeutic exercise

Physical therapy exercises have been developed for almost all diseases, causing pain in the back of the head, except for malocclusion (here you need the help of an orthodontist). A physical therapy doctor will teach you how to perform a set of exercises necessary for your illness.
You can try to relieve a headache in the back of your head yourself with the help of therapeutic movements and poses.

Therapeutic movements-poses for relieving pain in the back of the head

Movement 1
Sit on a chair, straighten your torso, and let your head bend forward under the force of its own gravity. Stay in this position for about 20 seconds (count slowly to yourself to 20). Straighten your head, rest for 20-30 seconds and repeat the movement. A total of 15-16 repetitions are recommended.

Movement 2
You can sit or stand while performing this movement. Raise your hands up, put your thumbs on top edges cheekbone, and the remaining fingers on the back of the head. As you inhale, try to tilt your head back, while simultaneously resisting this movement with your fingers lying on the back of your head. The gaze should be directed upward. Slowly count to yourself to 10. Then exhale for 7-8 seconds with the head tilted downwards as much as possible, but without muscle tension. The gaze is also directed downwards. 3-6 repetitions are recommended.

Movement 3
Feel with your fingers the painful point at the bottom of the back of the head, between the edge of the skull and the 1st cervical vertebra. Place both thumbs at this point, and use the pads of these fingers to make 15 rotational movements clockwise. Then just press for 1.5 minutes thumbs to the painful point. Stop pressure, rest for 2 minutes. 3-6 repetitions are recommended.

Folk remedies (for mild headaches)

For mild headaches in the back of the head, folk remedies can help:

Ventilate and darken the room where the patient is; humidify the air in it using a special humidifier, or by hanging pieces of damp cloth on heating radiators; eliminate loud sounds.
Apply a hot compress to the back of your head and at the same time drink hot water or tea (1 glass). For some people, on the contrary, with pain in the back of the head, cold compresses and massage of the back of the head with an ice cube help.
Place a cabbage leaf compress on the back of your head (the leaf must first be crushed in your hands). A compress of grated horseradish or chopped onion is also recommended.
Drink a cup herbal tea from linden flowers or high primrose herb, or from a mixture of herbs: peppermint, sage, meadowsweet.
Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol - alcohol and nicotine increase any headaches.
Rub your palms vigorously against each other to warm them up. With your right palm, grab the back of your head, and with your left palm, grab your forehead. Sit in this position for several minutes.

1. If you experience even mild and quickly passing pain in the back of your head, strengthen control over your health: try not to get overcooled or be in a draft; start doing regular morning exercises, take daily walks in the fresh air.

2. When working at a computer, take 10-15 minute breaks every hour if possible to get up and stretch and walk around. Move, do not allow your muscles to numb and blood to stagnate!
Adjust the height of your computer chair so that you can sit and look at the monitor directly without bending or craning your neck (i.e., the monitor should be at eye height).

3. If you have hypertension, measure your blood pressure regularly (2-3 times a day). Do not allow pressure to rise to high numbers, however, take antihypertensive (pressure-lowering) drugs only as prescribed by your doctor.

4. Try to avoid stressful situations, or try to change your attitude towards them to a more calm one. You can take mild sedatives, but to choose them you need to consult a doctor.

5. Buy an orthopedic pillow. Sleeping on such a pillow in a supine position provides maximum relaxation of the muscles of the occipital region.

Before use, you should consult a specialist.