Pain in the back of the head. What to do if your head hurts in the back, in the occipital part, radiating to your temples, neck, eyes. Treatment of pain in the back of the head

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Not everyone knows what diseases cause pain in the back of the head, the reasons, what to do in this situation, what kind of pain there is. Head pain is a common complaint of patients when visiting a doctor. In one case headache is the only symptom, and in others it is combined with nausea and other symptoms. Pain in the back of the head is not always a symptom of the disease. They can occur due to overvoltage. What are the causes of headaches?

Mechanism of symptom appearance

If the back of your head hurts, you need to establish the exact cause similar condition, because a headache is just clinical symptom. Millions of people around the world suffer from of this disease. Modern man lives in the era of scientific and technological progress. Massive use of computers, phones, tablets, increased background noise, active development of industry - all this negatively affects the condition nervous system And of cardio-vascular system. Pain in the occipital part of the head can be caused by the following pathological processes:

brain damage;
muscle damage in the neck area;
high blood pressure;
long-term static load;
neuralgia.

The mechanism of development of pain syndrome is different. In the head area there are ligaments, muscles, nerves, and blood vessels. In this regard, pain in the back of the head is not always a symptom of brain disease.

Types of disease

Headache in the occipital region is divided into several types. Highlight the following varieties headaches:

for migraines;
tension headache;
cluster;
infectious etiology;
vascular;
metabolic;
post-traumatic;
with brain pathology;
medicinal.

Pain in the occipital part of the head can be primary or secondary. Primary is characterized by the fact that it is the main symptom of the disease. A common example is migraine pain. Secondary pain differs in that it occurs against the background of another somatic pathology(tumor, stroke). Secondary pain may occur when using large quantity caffeine If it hurts occipital part head, this may indicate taking some medicines or their sudden cancellation.

Pain in the back of the head can be dull, throbbing, squeezing, or sharp. They can be spotty or diffuse. There are 3 degrees of pain intensity: mild, moderate and severe. The pain syndrome can bother a person every day or it occurs periodically. Sometimes, before the onset of pain, its precursors appear. Most pronounced pain syndrome against the background of inflammation of the hard meninges, blood vessels and nerves.

Main etiological factors

Pain in the back of the head can be a manifestation of the following diseases and pathological conditions:

If you have a headache, the reason may lie in professional activity. There are many professions in which workers assume a forced, uncomfortable body position. The risk group includes programmers, people involved in small handmade(seamstresses, watchmakers, jewelers). They are working in the wrong position. Pain in the occipital region of the head is a sign malocclusion. At the same time, such people are worried about stupidity, constant pain. It may get worse in the evening. Pain in the back of the head, especially in women, often occurs against the background of emotional experiences. Sometimes pressure in the head and pain are observed during physical activity. Vascular pathology contributes to this.

If the back of your head hurts, the cause may lie in a pathology of the neck. The most common cause is cervical osteochondrosis. Almost every person after 25 years suffers from this disease. Some people have a disease long time is asymptomatic, while others experience pronounced periods of exacerbation. Osteochondrosis is called chronic illness spine, which affects intervertebral discs. At the same time, cartilage tissue becomes less durable and elastic. Over time, the cartilage discs can wear away completely. There are 4 stages of development of this pathology. Pain in the back of the head can appear already at stage 1 of osteochondrosis.

Highlight following reasons development of this disease:

incorrect body position while writing or working at a computer;
injuries spinal column;
circulatory disorders.

Predisposing factors include physical inactivity, low physical activity, stress, hereditary predisposition, prolonged sitting, congenital anomalies development, bad habits. Pain in the back of the head is the most common symptom cervical osteochondrosis. It is most pronounced on late stages illness in the presence of complications (syndrome vertebral artery).

Vertebral artery syndrome is caused by compression of the vessel and disruption of the blood supply to the brain. The pain is intense and throbbing. Pain can also be felt in other areas (left or right in the parietotemporal region). Head pain, burning, dizziness, nausea, fear of noise and light are often observed. The appearance of pain in osteochondrosis without complications is caused by spasm of the muscles located at the back of the neck. Sometimes the pain is felt in the arms. This occurs when the nerve roots become inflamed.

Migraine pain syndrome

A sharp headache in the back of the head is the main symptom of migraine. This is a disease in which constant or recurrent headaches are observed. They can be localized in any area: on the left or right in the temples, in the back of the head or in the forehead. Migraine is a disease unknown etiology. The following trigger factors for the development of this pathology are identified:

influence of factors external environment(strong odors, consumption of certain foods);
lack of sleep;
sleep in daytime days;
stress;
severe fatigue;
smoking;
brainwork.

There are 2 types of migraine: with and without aura. An aura is a collection of symptoms that appear immediately before a headache. Migraine headaches have the following characteristics:

intense;
pulsating;
often unilateral;
often accompanied by nausea;
intensify when a person moves;
are gradually increasing.

Often headaches are pressing. They are so painful that they make everyday activities difficult. A sharp headache in the back of the head is caused by the narrowing and expansion of blood vessels in the head area. Migraine headaches without aura can last for several days continuously. Migraines can also occur in children. In this case, it most often has a bilateral localization. Most common reason- big mental load The child has.

Occipital neuralgia

The neck and back of the head may hurt with occipital neuralgia. Pain syndrome occurs when a nerve is pinched. In severe cases, the process involves nerve roots in the neck area. The following reasons for the development of occipital neuralgia are distinguished:

sedentary work;
stress;
tumors;
traumatic injury to the spinal column;
herniated discs;
cervical osteochondrosis;
hypothermia;
gout;
endarteritis;
tuberculous spondylitis.

Most common symptoms neuralgia are:

pain in the back of the head, lower neck or ears;
increased sensitivity to bright light;
difficulty turning the neck.

Pain in the back of the head tends to intensify when turning the head. Increased pain is observed if you touch the occipital region. In some cases, pain is felt in the eye area. The pain is shooting, but can be burning. Such patients are forced to turn their head in one direction to alleviate their condition. Pain syndrome occurs periodically. Hypothermia often contributes to its appearance. Neuralgia occurs in people who do not wear scarves and hats winter time of the year. If the neck or back of the head suffers from neuralgia, then a violation of skin sensitivity in this area is often observed.

Vascular diseases

If you have pain in the back of your head, the reasons lie in cardiovascular diseases. Not everyone knows why hypertension hurts and dizziness occurs. Normally, blood pressure does not exceed 139/89 mm. rt. Art. Often the pressure reaches 200 mm. rt. Art. and more. The following reasons for the development of hypertension are identified:

complicated heredity;
atherosclerosis;
poor nutrition;
smoking;
alcohol consumption;
stress;
overweight;
physical inactivity.

In persons suffering hypertension, with a significant increase in pressure, the back of the head may begin to hurt severely. The pain can be throbbing or bursting. It can intensify when a person tilts to the side. The occurrence of pain is caused by a narrowing of the lumen of the blood vessels that supply the brain. Additional symptoms of the disease are dizziness and weakness. In severe cases, the headache is combined with nausea or vomiting. After vomiting, pain may decrease. Severe headache is often a sign of a hypertensive crisis.

Diagnostic and therapeutic measures

When there is pain in the occipital region, you should consult a doctor. In this situation, consultation and examination by a neurologist may be required. Treatment is prescribed after a thorough examination of the patient. Diagnostics includes:

identification of complaints at the time of contacting a doctor;
collecting anamnesis of the disease and life history;
computer or magnetic resonance imaging of the skull;
general and biochemical analysis blood;
neurological examination;
conducting electroencephalography;
definition lipid spectrum blood (if atherosclerosis is suspected);
measurement of intracranial pressure;
measurement blood pressure;
electromyography;
ECG and ultrasound of the heart;
angiography;
X-ray examination cervical spine spine.

Treatment depends on the underlying disease. What to do if you have a headache due to a migraine? Treatment of migraine involves the use of painkillers such as Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Pentalgin, antipyretics (Solpadeine), serotonin receptor agonists (Sumatriptan, Zolmitriptan), and ergot drugs. Anticonvulsants and antidepressants may be prescribed. To eliminate pain, massage, acupuncture, and placing cold compresses on the head can be performed.

Headache in the back of the head different character : strong, sharp, constant, pressing, pulling, tingling, prolonged and squeezing. The back of my head also hurts various reasons, among which pressure, pinched nerve and other pathologies. That's why it is important to immediately determine the reason why it hurts in the occipital region, the symptoms of what disease it is, and then begin treatment.

Therefore, together we will try to figure out why the occipital region is compressed every day or periodically, why it does not go away, what it means and what to do.

Causes of discomfort

There may be several explanations for why severe pain is felt in the back of the head. more often this is due to the following reasons:

Neuralgia of the occipital nerves.
Pathologies and ailments of the cervical spine ( For example, osteochondrosis, spondylitis, migraine)
Constant spasms.
High ICP.
Hypertension.
Sleeping or staying in one position long time.
Constant stress.
Overstrain of the muscles of the occipital region.
Bite problems.

Condition Photos:

Neuralgia

Vasospasm

High ICP

Cervical diseases

Hypertension

Muscle strain

Malocclusion

The cause of a headache and treatment can only be determined after visiting a specialist, because it may hurt for several days, but it will not be possible to determine the symptoms of which disease based on the nature of the pain.

Types of occipital pain in various diseases

If you constantly have a headache in the back of your head, especially when you press on the back, it is necessary to start treatment immediately, but this is done after determining the cause of the discomfort.

Type of sensation can tell, what kind of disease we are talking about.

Disease	Peculiarities
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine	With this pathology, changes and deformation are observed cartilage tissue, intervertebral discs of the occipital part, which causes pain. In addition, nausea, dizziness, and a blurry picture before the eyes may occur. If you turn your head sharply or throw it back, the ability to move becomes more difficult. Also, against the background of the disease, a cervical migraine may occur, which is characterized by a sharp pain in the occipital part of the head, which can cover the temples and superciliary area.
Cervical spondylosis	In this case, growths appear on the bones and spinal column, and physical activity decreases. The pain in the back of the head continues constantly, the headache can last for four days in a row, and intensifies when turning the head.
Hypertension	If the matter is high blood pressure, then the pain is pulsating in nature and occurs quite often. Additional symptoms include a rapid heartbeat, weakness, and may feel dizzy.
Cervical myositis	Pathology develops due to hypothermia, injury or prolonged exposure to uncomfortable position. Pain in the back of the head intensifies when turning the head, and can be felt in the shoulders, between the shoulder blades. The main feature of myositis is that pain may be felt more strongly in one part of the back of the head than in the other.
Cervical myogelosis	With pathology, compactions appear in the tissues of the cervical spine, which cause sharp pain, dizziness.
Neuralgia of the occipital nerve	Pain with neuralgia is located in the back of the head, but can spread to the ears, back, neck and increase over time. More often the pain is shooting in nature.
Spasm of the arteries	Then the pain will appear during activity and disappear when lying down. You may also experience a pins and needles sensation on your scalp.
Occupational pain syndrome	Pain and discomfort develop, such as in office workers due to prolonged stay in an unchangeable position, drivers.
High intracranial pressure	The pain can be located throughout the entire head area, but it is especially severe in the back of the head. Symptoms also include dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. It is important to note that sharp pain localized in the eyes in bright light is often observed.
Malocclusion	The pain in this case can last up to three days, intensify in the evening, and affect the entire jaw apparatus. It is important to note the dull character pain.

Pain in the back of the neck, behind the ears and aching, tingling in the back of the head also indicates about the presence of problems with pressure or pathologies of the spinal column.

There are also other causes of similar manifestations in the back of the neck, which differ in clinical picture and type.

If there is pain and nausea, and the pills do not help, it is likely not a matter of hypothermia, but a serious pathology. More often the muscles below the back of the head ache with osteochondrosis, and aching and frequent pain in the back of the neck occurs in the presence of infections, inflammations, tumors.

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We offer in details become familiar with the type of pain and diseases that may accompany them.

Severe pain in the occipital region

Often severe discomfort in the back of the head develops due to inflammation, the presence of infections, such as:

Inflammation of the nerve in the back of the head. Feels like burning headache, paroxysmal.
Meningitis ( may also be observed symptoms such as seizures, elevated temperature, vomiting, loss of consciousness).

Pain in the back of the head and feeling of nausea

More often permanent, cutting and pressing pain appears in the back of the head due to:

Concussions.

Intracranial bleeding.
Hematoma.
For a tumor located in the back of the head, a dull pain is felt.

Throbbing sensations

Pulsation in the lower part of the occipital region of the head develops due to high pressure or vascular spasms. In the case of the latter, pain intensifies with physical activity and may affect the temples and forehead.

Also, at first there may be a slight ache in the back, a ache, a feeling of heaviness, but with increased physical activity the throbbing pain will intensify.

With hypertension, you may feel dizzy and experience double vision.

Sharp headache in the back of the head

It starts to hurt sharply, hits the temples and frontal area, there is a feeling of something hot and squeezing - this is due to several reasons:

Myositis.
Migraine.
Subarachnoid hemorrhage (rare and dangerous look stroke).

Myositis

Type of stroke

Constant occipital headache

Constant severe pain below the back of the head that does not go away for the third or fourth day may indicate about the presence of pathologies of the spinal column, which include osteochondrosis, spondylosis, pinched intervertebral discs.

Pain and dizziness

Almost always with acute discomfort, which is located in the back of the head, others are also developing signs such as dizziness, nausea.

It may speak about such pathologies, such as osteochondrosis, hypertension, myogelosis. At the same time, the pain may feel throbbing and bursting.

It will be useful to view:

If he shoots from behind

Shooting headache occurs after hypothermia, inflammation, it intensifies after an increase in activity. Could also be a sign exacerbation osteochondrosis in chronic form.

Also this type pain is inherent in neuralgia of the nerves located in the back of the head.

Pressure in the back of the neck

Pressing and Blunt pain develops for the following reasons:

Overexertion or staying in the wrong position. Also this could become cause of increased blood pressure.
Intracranial hypertension. May also nausea, dizziness, vomiting.
Stress and emotional tension.

What to do if the back of your head hurts?

Constant, frequent and severe pain in the back of the head and the back of the head may indicate a serious illness. Therefore, you should not undergo treatment or buy medications without a doctor’s prescription, better right away go for examination.

Initially, you can contact see a therapist who will conduct an examination and prescribe further examination.

For bite problems need to contact to the orthodontist. The installation of braces will probably be considered.

Photos before and after treatment with braces

Most often prescribed such analyzes:

External examination and history taking.
Blood and urine tests (to detect inflammation in the body).
X-ray, CT or MRI (to detect changes in nerve endings and blood vessels).
Monitoring blood pressure indicators, determining the condition of the fundus.
Encephalograph test (to analyze the condition of blood vessels).

Treatment

Subsequent therapy depends on the type of pathology the person has, but main directions in therapy are the following:

View	Peculiarities
Taking medications	Prescribed in the presence of inflammation and chronic diseases. Drugs are prescribed to improve blood circulation in hypertension. Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed for acute form infections and inflammatory processes nerve endings, antibiotics - in severe conditions.
Physiotherapy	It should only be taken after taking medications for such ailments as myogelosis, osteochondrosis, spondylosis, inflammation of the nerves in the occipital region.
Gymnastics	Prescribed for cases of deformity in the spinal column.
Acupressure, treatment with needle injections, manual treatment, ethnoscience	Used after consultation with the attending physician and when the diagnosis has been accurately established.

Pain in the back of the head, accompanied by nausea, is considered the most unpleasant symptom.

When this kind of discomfort appears, the sick person cannot pinpoint exactly where it hurts, since the headache radiates to the neck.

The pain is felt well when turning or tilting the head. In some cases, there may be severe intensity as well as dizziness.

Main causes of pain

To understand why the back of the head hurts, you need to know the main causes of this condition:

The reason may be hidden in tension that does not go away for a long time, this includes both physical and mental stress.
Frequent stressful situations and various emotional tensions lead to pain in the back of the head. The problem is more common in women, but the cause can also apply to men. Headaches often begin to appear after 30 years of age.
The reasons may be hidden in diseases of the cervical spine.
With incorrect posture and drafts, the muscles of the neck begin to thicken and pain appears in the back of the head.
If headache or dizziness occurs in at a young age, then the reasons may be hidden in vegetative failures and disorders. As a rule, this condition is accompanied by throbbing pain.
In old age, the reason is high blood pressure, in which case the back of the head hurts in the morning. Additional symptoms such as heaviness in the head and throbbing pain are also possible. This condition can appear not only when blood pressure increases; the problem often occurs when the weather changes or emotional instability.
If you previously had head injuries or bruises, then the head and back of the head often hurt.

Often nausea and headache, pain in the back of the head appears during pregnancy. This symptom appears more often in the early and later, although it can accompany women throughout their pregnancy.

As a rule, the reasons are not diseases or abnormalities, but a serious restructuring of the body for normal gestation.

Often, women experience migraines during pregnancy, but measures and treatment can only be taken after childbirth.

Despite the relative safety of symptoms, headache and nausea should be mandatory, is entered into the pregnant woman’s card. This should be told to the doctor during a routine examination.

There are several main reasons why a pregnant woman has pain in the back of her head and nausea:

Hunger.
Dehydration.
Sleep disturbance.
Constant fatigue.

In order to eliminate such problems, you will need to adjust the pregnant woman’s daily routine, eat properly, and also be active every day, but not bring the body to extreme fatigue.

It is also important to protect the pregnant woman from stressful situations and experiences.

Before using any medicine, even from traditional medicine, it is necessary to discuss the appointment with a doctor. In some cases even folk remedies may have negative consequences.

Treatment

If you have a headache in the back of your head, you should initially ventilate the room. To get rid of symptoms, you need to massage your neck and massage your shoulders.

After this, you need to lie down and relax and calm down as much as possible. These are simple actions that often help and the back of the head no longer hurts.

If pain in the back of the head and nausea do not go away, then it will be necessary to establish specific reasons that could cause this condition.

For treatment, you can use folk remedies and medications. But we must remember that these are symptoms that may indicate serious illnesses.

Therefore, if a headache in the back of the head appears constantly, does not go away for a long time, and additional dizziness and nausea occur, then you need to consult a doctor.

For treatment, you can use painkillers or anti-inflammatory drugs. When the doctor determines the exact causes, an individual course of treatment is prescribed, taking into account all the subtleties, features and reasons.

Ibuprofen or antispasmodic medications can be used as a pain reliever.

Often, an acute headache in the back of the head can be relieved in more conservative ways:

Manual therapy.
Drug treatment.
Physiotherapy.

Based on the cause, some can be relieved with physical activity, for example, by swimming.

Doctors can also use surgical treatment, when a headache in the back of the head and nausea do not go away for a long time and are quite pronounced.

In this case, the patient is unable to move normally, and pain in the back of the head begins to negatively affect other organs.

Folk remedies

If a headache in the back of the head does not appear due to serious abnormalities, then treatment can be carried out with folk remedies.

The main indications for such treatment are poisoning, emotional stress and other irritating factors, after which there is pressure in the back of the head.

St. John's wort decoction. This tool relieve a person from nausea, the headache will pass pain, dizziness. In general, St. John's wort can improve stress. It is not recommended to use this medicine for men, since St. John's wort reduces the level male hormones. To make a decoction you need 2 tsp. St. John's wort add a glass of boiling water and leave for 20 minutes. Take 50 ml 3 times a day before meals. The course of treatment lasts 21 days.
Mint tea. This drink has a more sedative effect and is good to drink if nausea occurs. If you have a migraine, the drink will not give a positive result. To enhance the effectiveness of the drink, when dizziness and headaches appear in the back of the head, valerian root is added. The drink is easy to prepare, 2 tbsp is enough. add 500 ml of boiling water and take with honey. The course of treatment should not exceed 7 days.
Elder. If there is pain in the head at the back of the head, nausea, then it is worth using the color or fruits of elderberry, from which the decoction is made. To create, you need 2 tbsp. add a glass of boiling water and leave for half an hour. After this, use the medicine 50 ml 3 times a day before meals. For complete recovery you will need to take the medicine for 2 or more weeks.
Oregano decoction. This plant is often used to treat various diseases, including when a headache occurs. To create a medicine you need 1 tbsp. oregano, add a liter of boiling water and cook for 10 minutes over low heat.

After preparation, take 2 times a day. For treatment unpleasant symptoms You will need to take the medicine for 21 days.

Of course, the use of plant fruits, herbs and other ingredients can help with diseases, but before starting treatment with decoctions and infusions, you need to know the contraindications of each remedy, and it is even better to consult with a specialist so that headaches do not turn into a more complex problem.

To make it clearer, a decoction and infusion of oregano is prohibited for pregnant women to drink, since this plant can cause abortion and premature birth.

If the herb St. John's wort is used for treatment, then the male half of the population needs to give up the herb, otherwise there may be temporary potency.

In addition to using recipes based on fruits and herbs, traditional medicine recommends using cold compresses, as well as massage and simple rest.

If there are no serious illnesses, and a headache in the back of the head appears due to fatigue, you just need to rest and normalize your diet and your workday.

Need urgent medical attention

Sometimes there are situations when headaches may require emergency care. It is important to understand the basic rules when you need immediate medical help:

If the main discomfort symptoms do not disappear for a whole day or more, and additional symptoms in the form of temperature begin to appear, general weakness, then you should call ambulance or, if possible, go to the clinic yourself.
If the discomfort is supplemented by nausea and vomiting that does not go away for a day or more, then you also need to quickly seek help from a doctor.
If, with the symptoms described above, the pressure begins to “jump,” then before the ambulance visit, you need to use special medications that will reduce the pressure.

It should be remembered that the above symptoms, if they continue for a long time, may indicate serious deviations.

Therefore, the main treatment is not to stop the main symptoms, but rather to influence the causes of their appearance.

If all the symptoms persist after using medication or relaxation, and also get worse with each passing hour, then every minute could be at stake.

Preventive measures

A person is not able to completely get rid of headaches. A similar symptom may occur when different condition body, but there are some rules and recommendations that will help prevent and reduce the risk of:

Getting rid of stress. You need to protect yourself from the negative impact of the world around you. It is very important to normalize psychological condition, worry less, worry less. This affects not only your mood, but also your physical condition and various diseases. It is the psychological state that can cause various problems in the body.
Strengthening the immune system. Need to constantly monitor immune system to prevent the body from becoming infected with viruses and infections, this will protect against headaches and other sensations. For normal immunity, you need to eat right, include more plant-based fresh foods in your menu, and give up junk food and food. It is useful to harden the body from time to time by using cold and hot shower.
Playing sports. Physical activity useful not only for headaches, but also for the whole body. From sports, the gastrointestinal tract, blood vessels, and heart begin to function normally, and blood circulates well.
Regular examination. Every person should visit a doctor at least once a year for routine diagnostics of the body.

This technique allows you to protect yourself from various diseases, and even if they arise, then early stage they can be easily cured.

Such examination methods make it possible to get rid of serious diseases and even malignant tumors.

Only if you take care of your health and be responsive to various sensations will you be able to forget about headaches and other unpleasant symptoms.

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Modern people, due to busyness or fear of doctors, often do not pay attention to discomfort in different parts bodies. This often becomes the cause of the development of chronic or critical conditions. Doctors urge not to ignore such a manifestation as occipital headache. Especially if this is not a one-time symptom, but a systematically occurring condition. Dull or acute, chronic or paroxysmal headaches in the back of the head appear for various reasons. Attempts to relieve the manifestation on your own can aggravate the situation and lead to disastrous results.

Why does the back of my head hurt?

The reasons why the back of the head hurts can be physiological and pathological. In both cases, it is necessary to identify the provoking factor and eliminate it.

Ignoring the condition is fraught not only with increased pain and the appearance of new symptoms, but also with the development of dangerous consequences.

Basic causes of headaches in the back of the head:

pathological processes in the cervical spine;
neck muscle diseases;
inflammation or damage to the occipital nerve;
high blood or intracranial pressure;
spasm of the walls of cerebral vessels;
incorrectly selected physical activity;
prolonged stay in a physiologically incorrect position;
problems of the joints of the head and malocclusion;
chronic stress.

Often just one clinical manifestations It is difficult to determine the cause of a headache in the back of the head. To clarify the diagnosis, it is necessary to take tests, conduct a series of studies, and study the patient’s medical history. Each of the possible diseases requires specific treatment. Incorrectly provided assistance can cause more harm than good.

Causes of headaches and their localization

Soreness in the occipital region is the body’s signal about the beginning pathological process. It is important to understand that many vessels and nerve endings are concentrated at the base of the skull. Disruption of these formations can lead to negative consequences in the head and whole body. If other departments are additionally concerned cranium or the back of the neck, action must be taken immediately.

Migraine

This neurological disease, in which excruciating and sharp pain is observed, often on one side of the head. They persist constantly and persist for several days in a row or take the form of systematic attacks. The etiology of the disease is not fully understood. Its relationship with arterial or intracranial pressure, trauma, vascular lesions or tumors has not been established. Separately, experts distinguish migraine with aura – a set of symptoms that precede an attack.

The trigger for pain can be smoking, stress, overwork, lack of sleep, and external irritants.

Cervical migraine

It develops due to a narrowing of the lumen of the canal formed by the openings of the transverse processes of the cervical vertebrae. Acute pain in the back of the head - the result of vasospasm. Usually it is localized on one side, occurs abruptly and reacts poorly to painkillers. Constant It's a dull pain of this nature is no less dangerous if left untreated. The condition leads to oxygen deficiency and nutrients in the brain. Developing ischemic disease, which is accompanied by tissue death.

Brain neoplasms

A situation in which the back of the head hurts and constantly feels nauseous may indicate the presence of a tumor in the structure of the brain. The pain is dull and does not go away. Nausea becomes a consequence of toxic influence cancer cells on the body. Persistent pain in the back of the head is the result of constant pressure pathological formation on healthy tissues. Depending on type cancer and the location of the tumor may add specific symptoms.

Myogelosis of the cervical spine

Failure of the blood flow process in the muscle fibers of the neck leads to the formation of compactions in the tissues. This is accompanied by stiffness in head movements and upper limbs due to local pain. Clinical picture accompanied by pain in the occipital area and dizziness.myositis

Inflammation of the nerve endings causes sharp pain in the back of the head. The sensations are pronounced, burning, in the form of attacks. The pain spreads to the neck, back, often affects the ears and lower jaw. Paroxysmal severe pain is replaced by a dull, pressing sensation. Coughing, laughing and sneezing are accompanied by “shooting” in the affected area. The skin on its surface becomes sensitive. Most often, a headache of this nature occurs against the background of osteochondrosis or after hypothermia.

Cervical myositis

Inflammation of muscle fibers, which is characterized by sharp pain in the neck and back of the head when moving. The sensations are asymmetrical and more pronounced on the side of the affected muscle. They give to the back, shoulder blade, arm. Most often, the disease occurs after prolonged exposure to a draft, hypothermia, injury as a result of careless movement, or prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position.

Liquorodynamic cephalgia

This is a type of headache in the back of the head or other parts of the skull that occurs as a result of impaired movement or absorption of fluids in a specific area. The condition can be provoked by arterial hypertension. It causes tension in the membranes of the brain, which leads to irritation of nerve endings and tension in blood vessels. With increased intracranial pressure discomfort arises in the depths of the head. The pain resembles a bursting type of heaviness, which is aggravated by movements and attempts to assume a vertical position.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

The development of this disease of the cervical spine occurs against the background of changes in the structure intervertebral discs. It is characterized by a dull and persistent pain in the back of the head, radiating to the neck and temples. In advanced forms of the disease, bone growths appear on the surface of the vertebrae. In this case, dull pain is accompanied by dizziness and nausea due to malfunctions of the vestibular apparatus. A patient with this diagnosis, if he suddenly throws his head back or turns it, may fall and lose the ability to move, while maintaining consciousness.

Tension headache

The main cause of the syndrome is a sudden or persistent increase in blood pressure. This occurs against a background of mental tension, chronic stress, long stay in an awkward position. This type of pain in the back of the head is typical for people who, due to their occupation, have to for a long time be in a sitting position. This includes office workers, transport drivers, taxi drivers, and concierges.

What to do if the back of your head hurts

Doctors do not recommend delaying. The systematic or unsystematic occurrence of a symptom indicates the course of the pathological process. You should not try to cope with the condition on your own, as this may cause the disease to worsen. Warming up, ice packs, compresses, taking medications and traditional medicine can provide temporary relief, but this does not mean that they have a beneficial effect on the body.

When the back of your head hurts, you should visit your local physician. Based on the examination results, the doctor will make a preliminary diagnosis and refer you to a neurologist, oncologist or vertebrologist. Sometimes, to clarify the type of pathology, it is necessary to undergo CT, MRI, radiography or encephalography of the vessels of the neck and brain.

Products and medicines

Only the attending physician can decide which pills to take for a headache in the back of the head. It is important to understand that the use of analgesics does not eliminate the problem, but only masks it. Depending on the reason for the development of the clinical picture, the specialist may prescribe a course of anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antihypertensive and other medications. If the medications recommended by the doctor do not relieve the headache in the back of the head, you cannot change the dosage yourself. It is necessary to visit a specialist again so that he can review the treatment regimen.

The use of physiotherapeutic procedures as a remedy for mild headaches is justified only in a number of cases. It is also better to initially discuss this point with your doctor. A clinical picture that cannot be relieved with medication is an indication to call an ambulance. Don't try to make an appointment with a doctor! A seizure or another part of the head may indicate the development of a stroke.

Manual therapy

Modern traditional medicine recognized a number of manipulations with which you can not only relieve a pain attack, but also get rid of its causes. Acupuncture, acupuncture, acupressure, cranial osteopathy provide lasting positive effects. The listed approaches should not be used as an express remedy or first aid. They will only help if used systematically under the supervision of experienced specialists. It is not recommended to resort to them if the back of the head hurts very much; it is better to wait until the acute condition is over.

Physiotherapy

Using simple physical exercise You can reduce the severity of pain in the problem area and restore tissue functionality. Today, with the help of this direction, almost all diseases that cause characteristic symptom. The exceptions are oncological formations and problems with bite.

Those who from time to time have pain in the back of their head should try the following movements and poses:

sitting on a chair with a straight back, let your head lean forward under its own weight and wait 20 seconds - repeat up to 20 times;
standing or sitting, slowly tilt your head back for 10 seconds, while creating resistance with your hands clasped at the back of your head - repeat 5 times;
pull your shoulders back as much as possible, and slowly stretch your chin towards your chest to the maximum - repeat 5 times.

Before starting any sessions, you must consult a specialist. A physical therapy doctor will select the optimal set of exercises and tell you how to perform them correctly. Manipulations are not carried out in acute period against the background of pain that interferes with usual activities.

Massage

If the back of your head hurts severely, you should not go to a massage therapist without a doctor’s permission. For diseases caused by hypertension, these manipulations are contraindicated. But if there is a disturbance in the flow of cerebrospinal fluid and increased intracranial pressure, sessions will provide quick and lasting positive result. Massage certain groups Muscle treatment can be done on your own, but it will not give the same effect as professional treatment.

Folk remedies

Not traditional methods Headache treatments help with mild symptoms. Before starting the sessions, you must visit a doctor to establish a diagnosis. In oncology, in initial stage stroke and against the background of trauma, such treatment options can be harmful.

The following approaches are characterized by increased efficiency:

you need to ventilate the room, draw the curtains, humidify the air, achieve silence and lie in such conditions for a couple of hours;
you can drink a glass of very warm water or herbal tea and at the same time apply a hot compress to the problem area;
Massage relieves severe pain back surface neck with an ice cube;
soreness is relieved by compresses of chopped and grated cabbage, grated horseradish or onion;
a cup of tea from linden color or high primrose.

In 80% of cases, pain in the back of the head is the result of vascular dysfunction. The risk of developing the syndrome will decrease if you stop smoking and drinking alcohol. Sports activities, long walks fresh air And preventive examinations A neurologist will reduce the likelihood of discomfort to a minimum.

Does your head hurt very often and you don't know what to do?

Most people in this case simply take a pill and forget about the pain, but the problem will not go away.

Pain in this part may indicate that some disease is developing. That is why you need not just take a painkiller pill, as is usually done, but run to the doctor.

Causes of pain in the back of the head

Pain in the head can have a different character, it can be aching, pressing, dull, etc. In some cases it is concentrated in one part of the head, and sometimes it radiates to all parts of the head. Moreover, in each case the reason for its occurrence may be different.

So, if the back of the head hurts, the causes of this condition may be the following:

Diseases of the thoracic spine or cervical spine

If such a disease develops, it is quite difficult to determine exactly where the pain is localized - in the back of the head or neck.

When moving, the pain may intensify, and the pain will be very sharp. main reason the occurrence of such sensations is the proliferation of bone processes; they are localized along the edges of the vertebrae or are compressed by vessels that go to the brain.

Body position was wrong

If you remain in an uncomfortable or incorrect position for a long time, the muscles of the cervical spine or spine may become very stiff, resulting in severe or moderate pain in the head.

Unpleasant sensations As a rule, they make themselves felt in the evening, but immediately after rest the condition will improve. This problem mainly occurs among office workers or drivers, because they are the ones who have to stay in an uncomfortable position for a long time.

Myogelosis

The disease is characterized by the fact that thickening occurs in the muscles of the cervical spine, and posture is disturbed. Anything can lead to this - staying in an uncomfortable position, hypothermia.

Gradually this will cause the muscles to become tighter. Movements will become difficult, and a dull, aching pain will appear in the back of the head.

Neuralgia

The occipital nerve can become inflamed due to hypothermia or the development of diseases of the spinal column. In this case, pain will occur when it is not expected at all, and the attacks can be severe. The pain radiates to the shoulders, back and even to the ear. The moment you make any movements, the discomfort will intensify.

Arterial hypertension

High blood pressure– these are frequent and regular pains in the back of the head, they can be accompanied by nausea or so-called spots before the eyes. Hypertension increases in the morning, as well as after prolonged physical activity.

Mental or muscle tension

Frequent stress, inability to relax, constant problems - all this can lead to pain in the back of the head. It is not difficult to explain them - the muscles in the neck area are constantly tense, vascular spasms are observed, stress hormones increase. In the evening and at night the pain becomes unbearably strong, and over time it will become stronger. In most cases, such problems are faced by women who are over thirty years old.

Cervical migraine

Migraine is a rather unpleasant disease; it occurs due to vascular pathologies. There is a burning pain in the temples, back of the head, and on the face. Moreover, attacks of pain will be accompanied by tinnitus, frequent dizziness, and blurred vision. The patient is literally in a state of fainting.

Physical inactivity or lack of oxygen

Dull or aching pains occur in the back of the head, which are especially noticeable in the evening. The patient cannot fully engage in his business. The disease is common among office workers who work in poorly ventilated areas.

Optic nerve tense

Pain in the back of the head can occur due to incorrectly selected glasses or lenses. The optic nerve is under severe strain. Also, pain can occur in those people who constantly work at the computer; their vision is also impaired. constant voltage.

Other diseases

Severe pain in the back of the head can be a sign of any disease related to the brain. If they recur periodically, and constantly with renewed vigor, it is necessary to visit a doctor and undergo an examination. The examination may reveal many serious illnesses, for example, brain cyst, cancer And so on.

As you can see, if the back of the head hurts, there can be numerous reasons and it is simply impossible to diagnose yourself.

What to do when the back of your head hurts

In case of severe pain in the back of the head you need to visit first medical institution and undergo examination. However, if it is possible to go to the doctor right now, no, You can try to alleviate your condition yourself at home:

1. Pay sufficient attention to your rest and work. Most often, in order to completely get rid of pain, it is enough to rest well. The daily routine needs to be clearly developed - you get at least eight hours of sleep, you need to go to bed at the same time. It is better to get up earlier in the morning. Before going to bed, be sure to take a contrast shower, this will help relieve tension and strengthen blood vessels.

2. Be actively involved in sports - if, due to your work, you have to sit a lot, you need to try to change your body position as often as possible, you can turn your head, bend over. Get up every hour and just walk around. If possible, sign up for a swimming pool or Gym.

3. Normalize your blood pressure - if the pain in the back of your head hurts for this reason, then the only way get rid of it, control your hypertension.

4. Pay attention to your diet - no matter how strange it may sound, it is thanks to the removal of all toxins that you can normalize your condition. It is recommended to drink at least one liter of water per day; avoid fatty and salty foods. Abuse bad habits also causes irreparable harm, therefore bad habits will have to refuse.

5. Keep track of your emotional state. If your life is associated with constant stress and depression, you need to learn to calm down first. Try to walk in the fresh air as often and as long as possible, do yoga. Before going to bed, take a bath; decoctions of motherwort or valerian are useful.

6. Visit a massage room - remove muscle spasm You can use a massage, in the same way blood circulation will be improved.

7. The head should always be warm - no drafts and no walks without hats in the cold season.

What to do if the back of the head hurts should be decided by the doctor; any treatment with medications is simply out of the question.

What to do when the back of the head hurts - traditional methods

Knowing the causes of pain in the back of the head, it will be difficult to diagnose yourself. At the first symptoms, you need to go to the hospital and undergo appropriate examination. In order for the diagnosis to be made correctly, you need to undergo examination by the following specialists:

1. Traumatologist or exercise therapy doctor.

2. Neurologist.

3. Cardiologist.

Often the pain is so severe that the patient cannot sleep. Today there are several common methods for treatment and these include the following:

1. Massage.

2. Medications.

3. Use of manual therapy.

4. Physiotherapy.

The choice of treatment method will depend on what exactly caused the pain. For example, with osteochondrosis, taking any painkillers simply does not make sense. In this case, only manual therapy, as well as massage.

If you have a migraine or fatigue, you can relieve pain with a glass of hot tea. In some cases, it is recommended to use ice; it is applied directly to the back of the head and relieves pain. Traditional methods They say that pain can be relieved with the help of ordinary cabbage leaf. It is applied directly to the part where the pain is localized.

In order not to encounter such a problem as pain in the back of the head in the future, you should not neglect exercises in the morning, take a walk in the air more often. When working on computers, be distracted for at least a few minutes and do gymnastics.