Throbbing pain in the back of the head on the right side. Causes of headaches on the right side of the back of the head. When does right-sided pain in the back of the head appear?

The appearance of a headache in the back of the head on the right is not taken seriously by most people, because, in their opinion, such discomfort in this area is the result of lack of sleep and overwork. But when painful sensations reach their peak, some of them still reconsider their point of view and try to find an explanation for this phenomenon.

And this approach to business is the most reasonable, since sometimes the usual headache may indicate serious violations in individual bodies. The likelihood of such a dependence is highest when it hurts right part back of the head

Headache on the right back - causes of the disease

In order to cope with a problem, a person needs to determine the cause of its occurrence. So, pain in the occipital region with right side may be caused by:
disorders in the spine: damage to the vessels located in the canals of the spine can provoke the appearance of this problem;
cervical osteochondrosis: the main evidence that the cause of discomfort is this disease is such a sign as sharp increase discomfort when performing physical activity and even with a normal tilt;
inflammation of the occipital nerve on the right: with such disorders, a person initially has a headache. At the same time, he exposes himself to these torments on his own. After all, sleeping on the wrong pillow, an uncomfortable sofa, as well as hypothermia can contribute to the appearance of inflammation, and then discomfort;
stressful situation: the human condition is particularly influenced by external factors. Thus, being in the very center of a stressful situation promises a person long-term suffering from pain that arises in the back of the head on the right. Nervous tension, mental disorders can also provoke the appearance of the disease;
cervical migraine: quite often the dislocation of pain on one side on the right, which is periodic in nature, is the main symptom of cervical migraine;
myogelosis: partial degeneration of muscle fibers into connective tissue- these are the changes that cause this disease and if they are present, it can be explained why the head hurts in the back;
increased intracranial pressure: with this disease, the headache is similar to the unpleasant sensations caused by a sharp blow. Dizziness, tinnitus is additional signs, which can be used to confirm the presence of this particular disease;
suffering spinal injuries.
The following list of reasons consists of the most important points. At the same time, smoking, poor diet, and excessive physical activity can also provoke the problem.

Ways to fight

The cause of pain on the right side of the head is main factor, influencing the formation of the treatment program. After all, only by eliminating the source of the disease can you lose discomfort. At the same time, intense spasms sometimes make it impossible to concentrate and prepare for a visit to a specialist. It is in this case that the initial methods of combating the disease can come in handy.

Refusal labor activity, especially when it is based on mental load, from bad habits - this is the first thing a person who has pain in the back of the head should do. Also, in order to reduce the intensity of the attack, it is necessary to fill your diet with healthy products, adjust your daily routine. The fight can also be carried out by applying a warm or cool compress to the back of the head. For its production you need to use herbal decoctions.

If neuritis or neuralgia are the causes of headaches, then treatment should be based on taking painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, and undergoing physical therapy. If the source of pain in the occipital part of the head is increased intracranial pressure, then the problem can be combated with medication, surgery, or through the use of physiotherapeutic methods. It all depends on the stage of development of the problem, the specifics of its course. The listed control options are also relevant when a person is diagnosed with a disease such as cervical migraine. Thus, a specialist can formulate a treatment program for the patient, which will prescribe the following physiotherapeutic procedures:

Cervical-collar massage: the most relevant measure when you have a headache.
Gymnastics, physiotherapy.
Classes in the pool.
Electrophoresis.

If it is not possible to carry out treatment in such an easy way, the patient may be recommended surgical treatment. Restoration of vertebrae, plastic surgery of blood vessels, elimination of growths - all these are methods for quickly eliminating the problem.

When diagnosing myogelosis, task number one is to restore blood flow to the muscle. And this needs to be done at an early stage of the disease. Gymnastics, massage, maintaining correct posture are the main activities aimed at improving blood flow in this area. After they are carried out, treatment is based on the use of a special ointment and painkillers.

So, treatment in the case of a headache on the right may consist of using various techniques. This is due to the presence of many diseases in which headache is one of the main symptoms.

Preventive actions

Since a headache in the back promises bad prospects for a person, it is much more profitable to prevent its occurrence. In addition, for this you do not need to resort to labor-intensive procedures, and also limit your actions too much. You just need to get used to it the right image life. Thus, the following can ensure a person’s well-being:
Healthy sleep.
Comfortable pillow, quality mattress.
Good nutrition: quite often, women who constantly adhere to a diet have headaches in the neck area.
Negative attitude towards bad habits.
Moderate mental and physical activity.
Correct sitting at the desk.
Periodic visits to a massage therapist to relax the collar area.
Regular examination: it is advisable to visit specialists not only when you have a headache.

For the purpose of prevention, it is also worth avoiding stressful situations and being more resistant to external influences. If the nervous system is on the verge of a breakdown and, accordingly, does not allow you to calmly relate to most events in life, then without taking sedatives not enough.

To begin with, you can start by consuming decoctions prepared from lemon balm, mint, and thyme. Such natural drinks will not only restore nervous system, but will also increase the body’s protective functions. At the same time, the appearance side effects excluded.

If you cannot achieve nervous balance on your own, then it is advisable to seek the help of a doctor. A qualified specialist knows best practices carrying out treatment, and he also has valuable experience in eliminating these types of problems.

Thus, if you have a headache on the right side in the back of the head, then you need to take operational actions. After all, it is much easier to overcome a problem at the initial stage of its development. If the disease has not yet crossed the threshold of your home, then it is worth taking into account preventive methods. This will avoid many inconveniences, and most importantly, eliminate the likelihood of dangerous diseases.

Navigation

People who experience headaches from time to time often attribute its occurrence to external factors. In most cases, the causes of the symptom turn out to be physiological and really do not pose a danger. After eliminating the irritants, the discomfort quickly passes and does not return. It is still not worthwhile to independently exclude the pathological origin of the symptom. Especially if the pain is concentrated on the right or left in the back of the head, occurs with enviable frequency, has a strong degree of severity and is accompanied by additional symptoms.

The nature of pain in the occipital region and accompanying symptoms

If a person has frequent or severe pain in the back of his head, especially on the right, he should go to the doctor. Sensations with this localization are usually pulsating and quite intense. They often shoot into the neck or lower jaw, appear abruptly and intensify with movement. IN mandatory A specialist should be visited if cephalalgia does not subside within 24 hours, does not respond to medication, appears in the morning and is observed even in a stationary position.

In addition to the occurrence painful sensations In their heads, patients may complain about the following:

dizziness;
problems with coordination;
nausea and vomiting;
decreased hand sensitivity;
noise or buzzing in the ears;
decreased visual acuity or darkening of the eyes.

If pain is located in the occipital region, it is better to refrain from using medications local action and physical therapy methods before diagnosis. Applying cold or heat in such a situation threatens to stimulate the pathological process and develop complications.

Causes

When an unpleasant symptom appears, first of all it is necessary to exclude the diseases for which the symptom is characteristic. There is no need to panic and grab medications. When the back of the head hurts on the right side, this does not always indicate the presence of serious problems. A one-time occurrence of a symptom is typical for physiological disruptions under the influence of relatively harmless provocateurs.

External factors that can cause pain in the back of the head on the right:

stress, overwork, emotional outburst;
lack of sleep or night sleep longer than 8 hours;
acclimatization and adaptation to a new time zone;
incorrectly selected physical activity;
diet abuse;
wearing a tight high ponytail.

If the effect of these provocateurs is excluded, there is a high probability of the presence of pathology. It is important to understand that point pain no less dangerous than widespread spread of the symptom. The sooner a patient is diagnosed and treated, the higher his chances of a favorable outcome.

Cervical migraine

According to statistics, more than 60% of the adult population of the planet suffers from manifestations of the disease to one degree or another. The disease is often a consequence of pathology cervical region spine. It develops as a result of a narrowing of the diameter of the spinal canal through which the artery passes. The vessel becomes pinched and stops supplying blood to the brain in the required volume. The disease can also occur against the background of hypertension, injury, or muscle spasm.

Clinical picture of cervical migraine:

the patient has a headache from behind, but the sensation radiates to the ear, temple, and eyeball;
dizziness, ringing in the ears, flashes or fog before the eyes without a reason;
increased sensitivity of the skin of the neck, burning sensation;
As the disease progresses, problems with hearing and vision arise, and the patient becomes numb. upper limbs and language.

Treatment of the condition begins with neutralizing its causes. Drug therapy occupies a special place. It is aimed at combating oxygen starvation brain, improving microcirculation. Additionally, antispasmodics and agents to eliminate the inflammatory process can be used. The approach is supported by physiotherapy: exercise therapy, manual therapy, swimming. In extreme cases, it is prescribed surgery. The patient has cartilage growths removed, the shape of the vertebrae restored, and vascular plastic surgery performed.

Myositis

Pain in the back of the head is often the result of muscle inflammation. Provocateurs are hypothermia, long stay V uncomfortable position, muscle spasm, sudden movement or infection. The risk of developing pathology increases with gout, diabetes mellitus and other metabolic disorders.

Clinical picture of myositis:

pain in the back of the head on the affected side of the muscle - the sensation is sharp, intense, intensifies with movement;
pain syndrome is reflected in the neck, shoulder, ear, temple;
symptoms intensify with movement, even coughing and sneezing cause discomfort;
in difficult cases, the inflamed muscle swells - it increases in size, touching it causes pain.

If the inflammatory process is not too severe, then after 2-3 days all the signs will go away on their own. In case of severe pain and stiffness of movement, it is indicated local application ointments and gels with analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. In difficult cases, NSAIDs and novocaine blockade are additionally indicated.

Intracranial pressure

An increase in the volume of cerebrospinal fluid in the cranium leads to an increase in ICP. This is typical for the pathological course of pregnancy and the period after childbirth, a number of infectious diseases, metabolic disorders. The growth of the indicator is facilitated by space-occupying formations in the skull, taking certain medications, and bleeding.

Clinical picture of increased ICP:

headache in the back of the head, although the localization may be different - the sensation is bursting, intense. Their appearance may resemble a sharp blow from within;
nausea and vomiting;
dizziness up to loss of consciousness;
paresis and paralysis;
vision problems;
often noted increased level blood pressure.

To combat headaches, it is necessary to eliminate the cause of the increased flow of cerebrospinal fluid into the cranium. Most often it is possible to get by drug therapy. It is based on taking diuretics, steroids, and antibiotics. Sometimes you have to resort to surgery to remove tumors and other formations.

Neuralgia

This diagnosis refers to nerve pain that occurs in the absence of an inflammatory process. More often discomfort arise precisely on the back of the head due to increased motor activity of this part of the head. Risk factors include prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position, hypothermia of the area, osteochondrosis, and metabolic disorders. Cephalgia can be triggered even by sharply throwing the head back during sports, if the neck muscles are not warmed up first.

Pain in the right side of the head occurs when the nerves on this side are damaged. She has varying degrees intensity depending on the degree of damage to the fibers. Minor tingling sensations can give way to sharp stabbing sensations. Skin sensitivity is increased. Cephalgia worsens when turning the head. Occipital neuralgia requires drug treatment– reception and local use of NSAIDs, analgesics. After graduation acute period Physiotherapy in the form of massage and warming is indicated.

Diagnosis and treatment

A one-time appearance of pain in the right side of the head and its spontaneous subsidence within 1-2 hours is not considered alarming symptoms. If sensations appear systematically, you should visit a therapist or neurologist. Depending on the features clinical picture the doctor will make a preliminary diagnosis. To clarify the cause of discomfort, a CT scan or CT scan may be performed. Must be assessed general state patient by measuring blood pressure, blood and urine tests.

The main methods of treating pain in the back of the head, in the absence of organic disorders:

taking painkillers, NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, nootropics - depending on the causes of the problem;
local application of warming ointments, compresses, lotions, solutions;
classical or manual massage;
osteopathy;
acupuncture;
acupressure;
physiotherapy.

The back of the head on the right can hurt for a number of reasons, each of which requires equal attention. It is very important not to miss any of the nuances and carry out complex therapy. This is only possible by passing necessary diagnostics and treatment under the supervision of a physician.

Prevention

It’s easy to prevent the occurrence of symptoms - you just need to monitor your health and consult a doctor in time with problems and complaints. Many people go to specialists only when they no longer have the strength to endure. As a result, treatment begins too late and does not produce results as quickly as it could.

To prevent pain in the back of the head, you need to follow these rules:

do not be in a draft, protect your neck and head from the cold;
introduce physical activity according to a reasonable program;
observe work and rest schedules;
sleep on a quality mattress using an orthopedic pillow;
lead healthy image life;
engage in stress prevention, achieve emotional harmony;
review your diet, give up harmful products and excesses.

Sometimes pain in the back of the head is the result of wearing an inappropriate headdress or having a hairstyle that is too tight. You shouldn't sacrifice your health for the sake of fashion. This is a rather dangerous trend that can cause circulatory problems in the scalp and make the symptom chronic.

Pain in the right side of the back of the head does not always require treatment, but it signals some kind of malfunction in the body. Manifestation should not be taken lightly. It is better to immediately find the cause of the problem and fix it. This will avoid more unpleasant symptoms, treatment and decreased quality of life.

People suffering from occipital pain quite often attribute their occurrence to a bad hike, physical fatigue, or nervous tension. The reason may lie in this, if pain on the right side of the head is rare, is not accompanied by symptoms of a pathological nature, and the pain goes away after rest or sleep. But if pain in the back of the head on the right begins to bother you regularly, appears suddenly and grows rapidly, and it develops on one side, for example, on the right, then you need to see a doctor and undergo medical examination.

Why does the back of my head hurt on the right side, reasons

Right-sided pain in the back of the head in most cases indicates that an inflammatory process affecting the structures of the brain, nervous, vascular or spinal system develops on this right side. The back of the head may hurt on the right when the following diseases and states:

– right-sided pain in this disease appears in cases where deformed cervical vertebrae compress the spinal vessels on one (right) side. As a result, blood flow through them is disrupted, which can provoke an attack of hypertension and throbbing, bursting occipital pain.
– acute, shooting pain on one side of the occipital part occurs due to an inflammatory process affecting the fibers of the occipital nerve. The cause of the pathology can be hypothermia, uncomfortable posture, or nervous tension.
Right-sided cervical myogelosis - against the background of pathological degeneration of muscle tissue, the patient develops a feeling of stiffness in the cervical region, painful subcutaneous seals in this area there are also occipital pains that do not go away even during the period of rest.
Syndrome vertebral artery– pressing, bursting pain in the back of the head appears due to compression and inflammation of the vertebral arteries. The pain syndrome in most cases is unilateral. For example, right-sided tenderness is felt when an artery is affected on the right side.
Hypertension – high blood pressure can also provoke right-sided occipital pain if pathological narrowing of cerebral vessels is observed on the right side.
– as with classic migraine, this form of the disease is characterized by attacks of one-sided, sharp and intense pain. The cause of the pathology may be cervical osteochondrosis, arterial hypertension, post-traumatic syndrome.
– pain, especially in the morning, can either cover the entire back of the head or be localized on the right. In the latter case, the cause of painful attacks is a pathological narrowing of the cerebrospinal fluid channels on the right, as a result of which the fluid washing the brain accumulates and creates pressure.
Cervical myositis is a disease accompanied by unilateral pain in the back of the head, occurs due to inflammation of the neck muscles, provoked by drafts, hypothermia, viral and purulent infections.

To get rid of occipital pain on the right, caused by one of the described diseases, it is necessary to treat at an early stage pathological process, thereby preventing the appearance unpleasant consequences further.

Possible treatments

The causes of disturbing pain in the back of the head on the right should be eliminated at an early stage with the help of medication, otherwise their intensity will only increase. Depending on the nature of the origin of the pain, the patient may be prescribed the following types of treatment:

Painkillers and anti-inflammatory medicines(Nimesil, Diclofenac, Nurofen, Imet) – if occipital pain is caused by an acute inflammatory process.
Muscle relaxants (Tizarlud, Mydocalm) - to relieve muscle tone.
Nootropic drugs (Piracetam, Phenotropil) – for recovery nerve fibers and improving the functioning of the central nervous system.
Warming solutions and ointments (Menovazin, Diklak-Gel) – for removing inflammatory processes caused by myositis, neuritis of the occipital nerve.
Classic warming massage - indicated for pain caused by deformation of the cervical vertebrae (osteochondrosis or myogelosis).
Manual massage is prescribed to correct the spine and thereby release compressed blood vessels.
Cranial osteopathy - indicated to normalize the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid if occipital pain is provoked

Update: October 2018

When a person can definitely remember that yesterday he sat in a draft and the wind blew on his neck, or that a day ago he had to work with his head bowed, then a headache in the back of the head is a natural consequence of these situations.

If this symptom appeared without apparent reason, if it is accompanied by other subjective manifestations, then it is imperative to look for the cause of this condition and eliminate it. Perhaps, of course, it is quite banal - fatigue associated with overload of the organ of vision. But it can also happen that the causes of pain lie in insufficient blood flow to the brain, and the symptom is.

Understanding the factors that caused the disease means eliminating it. Neuropathologists who work in clinics, hospitals and conduct private consultations deal with the problem of occipital headaches. The purpose of this publication is to consider the main diseases that cause this symptom, as well as the algorithm with which you can provide effective first aid.

What can hurt?

The occipital region of the head is closely connected on the one hand, with the temporo-parietal regions, on the other hand, with the neck, so the pain that occurs here is not always easy to localize: does it hurt in the back of the head or radiates to this area, or maybe the neck hurts. The anatomy of this department is as follows:

Occipital bones

They form a bed for the occipital lobe of the brain, which is responsible for processing information coming from the eyes (it is in the brain that the image is formed). The brain itself does not hurt, but with inflammation or tumor in this area, the membranes of the brain will react to the increase in intracranial volume. With such pathologies, visual symptoms are also observed.

Deep in the brain lies the pons

This is an education from white matter with splashes of gray. It is not fused with the occipital lobe, but is a second conditional continuation spinal cord into the cranial cavity (the first extension that directly passes into the spinal structures is the medulla oblongata). They depart from the pons varoliev cranial nerves, carrying commands to the face (trigeminal, facial and abducens), as well as the nerve that conducts information from the vestibular apparatus and inner ear. With pathology in this area, there will be a headache in the back and hearing impairment along with balance.

The cerebellum, an organ responsible for balance, muscle tone and coordination of movements, extends from the pons not downwards, but sideways, under the hemispheres of the brain. It consists of two hemispheres and a small area in the middle - the cerebellar vermis. If there is inflammation or swelling in this area, the head will hurt in the back, and there will be a lack of coordination and muscle tone.

The pons enters the medulla oblongata

Here are the starting points of the four cranial nerves, which carry commands to the muscles of the pharynx, mouth and neck, coordinating the work of the heart, bronchi, lungs and intestines. On a surface medulla oblongata There is also the main path along which cerebrospinal fluid - a liquid that supports metabolic and nutritional processes between all parts of the brain and blood - passes from the cranial cavity to the spinal canal of the spine. If this road is blocked, cerebrospinal fluid will begin to accumulate in the cranial cavity and compress the brain. The first symptoms will be: headache in the back of the head, nausea, drowsiness and vomiting, which does not bring relief.

The medulla oblongata passes into the spinal cord, and from the latter they extend spinal nerves

This brain exits the cranial cavity through the foramen rotundum. All the cranial nerves formed in the area of the pons and above exit next to it. There are also vessels here: arteries that bring blood to the occipital lobe of the brain and its trunk (this includes the pons, cerebellum, midbrain), veins and lymphatic vessels. If these structures are compressed from the outside or outside (bones, soft tissues, tumors), then the head also begins to hurt in the back, in the occipital area.

Spinal cord

It is located inside a special canal in the spine, its membranes are located around it (the same ones surround the brain), and cerebrospinal fluid circulates between them. Compression of the spinal cord or the nerves that come from it by bony structures can cause pain in the back of the head and neck area. Basically, the symptom accompanies pinching or inflammation of the occipital nerve, which, formed from the fibers of several pairs of spinal nerves, provides sensitivity to the skin from the back of the head to the area behind the ears.

Neck contains a large number of muscles

They can become inflamed and pinched by the bone structures of the spine. This is also accompanied by headache.

Ligamentous apparatus

The spine is held in the required position using the ligamentous apparatus. It is especially developed in the cervical region, where the first two vertebrae are connected to each other and to occipital bone extremely unstable joint.

The head and neck are covered with soft tissues: skin and subcutaneous tissue. Inflammation can also develop here, and this will cause pain.

Diseases accompanied by headaches in the back

Above we looked at which structures can hurt. Now let's name the reasons why the head hurts in the back, in the back of the head. These are the following diseases and conditions:

Pathologies of the cervical spine:, spondylosis, spondylitis, fractures or fracture-dislocations of the cervical vertebrae. They cause a violation of the sympathetic regulation of vascular tone in the neck, and this leads to a condition called. If bone structures compress the vessels passing through the neck area, feeding the occipital lobes and the brain stem, a pathology called vertebrobasilar insufficiency develops.
Diseases of the kidneys, brain, adrenal glands, as well as a condition whose cause is unclear ( hypertonic disease), accompanied by an increase in blood pressure.
Pathologies accompanied- concussion or contusion of the brain, subarachnoid hemorrhage, decompensation of hydrocephalus.
Diseases of the neck muscles (myogelosis) or their overstrain during professional activities where you have to bow your head for a long time or frequently turn your neck. This also includes situations of overwork or stress that led to the person sleeping in a position with an unnaturally twisted neck.
Pathology of vascular tone regulation– vegetative-vascular or neurocirculatory dystonia, when the vessels passing in the neck are spasmed.
Pathologies of the vessels supplying the occipital lobes of the brain, its trunk and soft fabrics neck and occipital region of the head:
- developmental anomalies;
- blockage by thrombotic masses;
- reduction in diameter due to overgrowth with lipid deposits during atherosclerosis;
- change vascular wall with long-term arterial hypertension;
- compression of blood vessels by the scalene muscles of the neck.
Physical and mental stress, leading to the appearance of a pathology called “tension headache.”
Migraine is a pathological regulation of vascular tone in the cranial cavity, leading to migraine - with or without aura.
Arthrosis, arthritis- diseases of the temporomandibular joints arising from malocclusions and bruxism.
Dysfunction of hormonal regulation vascular tone of the head. This occurs in rapidly growing adolescents, pregnant women and women during pregnancy.
Incorrect posture.
A sharp change in the living climate to the opposite of the usual one.
Calcification of the ligaments that fix the cervical spine.
Constant tension on the skin of the back of the head, pulling the hair into a ponytail or braid, leading to irritation of the occipital nerve.

Learn more about pathologies that cause pain

Let's look at the most common diseases.

Arterial hypertension

This is the most common reason this symptom. You can suspect her based on the following signs:

the pain is mainly in the back of the head and temples, the neck does not hurt;
a little nauseous;
pressing on the vertebrae of the neck does not hurt;
there may be “flies before the eyes”;
feeling of heat in the face (and it often turns red);
left chest pain.

First of all, you should think about increasing blood pressure:

if the person is over 45 years old,
or if it's full,
likes to drink alcohol
in cases where he suffers from kidney disease, heart disease, diabetes mellitus,
notes swelling in the face or legs,
if the pattern of urination or the type (color, smell) of urine has changed,
suffered or had a stroke.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

This is the second most common cause of headaches in the back, in the back of the head. It is characterized by a disruption of the normal nutrition of the disc between the vertebrae; as a result, it wears out, its central shock-absorbing part is displaced and can leak into the spinal canal. In place of the thinned disc, as compensation for the decrease in the volume of this “layer,” bone “spikes” grow. It is they who can damage or pinch the nearby spinal nerves, as well as, precisely in this section, the vessels that feed the tissues of the head, neck and cranial cavity.

Cervical osteochondrosis is common cause conditions such as cervical migraine and vertebrobasilar syndrome.

Cervical migraine

It occurs when the vertebrae compress the nerves around the vertebral artery. Signs of this pathology are manifested by periodically occurring severe pain on one side - right or left - in the back of the head. It can radiate to the forehead and eye sockets and sharply intensifies when a person begins to do any work. At rest, especially lying down, the pain calms down a little.

If you tilt your head back, there will be a darkening in the eyes, severe dizziness, possibly fainting. In addition to these symptoms, nausea, a sharp “switching off” of hearing and vision for a short period, and the appearance of “spots” before the eyes are noted. Blood pressure remains unchanged or slightly increased.

If the disease is left untreated for a long time, migraine attacks become more frequent, and signs of personality changes are added: irritability, nervousness, depression and even aggression.

Syndrome of damage to the vertebrobasilar artery system

Here, in addition to headaches, there will be disturbances from those structures (and these are the brain and cranial nerves), which, as a result of compression by the altered osteochondrosis of the spine, have ceased to receive normal amount oxygen. These are the following symptoms:

loss of visual fields;
the appearance of “floaters”, “lights” before the eyes or a feeling of fog interfering with vision;
strabismus;
facial asymmetry;
dizziness accompanied by nausea, vomiting, profuse sweating, changes in blood pressure;
impaired coordination of movements;
difficulty swallowing;
feeling of a lump in the throat;
hoarseness of voice.

Cervical spondylosis

Spondylosis is the process of thinning and the appearance of fragility in the anterior and lateral regions intervertebral disc. As a result, the jelly-like center of the disc “pushes” the thin substance outward, and bone growths appear on the adjacent edges of the vertebrae. In addition, the long ligament running along the anterior edge of the vertebral bodies acquires bone hardness due to the deposits of calcium salts (lime) here.

The disease manifests itself:

severe pain in the back of the head to the ears, shoulders, and sometimes in the eyes;
pain does not go away with rest;
makes it difficult to find a sleeping position at night;
moving your neck is painful and difficult;
the pain intensifies when throwing the head back.

Cervical spondylitis

Spondylitis is a disease in which the vertebral bodies are destroyed as a result of microbial (mainly tuberculosis) inflammation. The spine is deformed and compresses the neurovascular bundle. The disease manifests itself:

pain in the neck and back of the head;
numbness of the skin in the same area;
increased temperature;
weakness;
stoop;
difficulty in neck movements.

Myositis (inflammation) of the neck muscles

The muscles become inflamed due to hypothermia, sitting in a draft, or standing for a long time with the neck bent or turned.

Usually the muscles become inflamed on one side; less often, myositis is bilateral. The following sign indicates myositis: when an inflamed muscle is involved in the movement of the neck, pain occurs in the neck area. Then it spreads to the back of the head, the area between the shoulder blades and the shoulders. At rest, neither the neck nor the back of the head hurts.

Myogelosis

The causes of this disease are almost the same as those of myositis, but their list is a little wider. These are drafts, staying in an uncomfortable position, overexertion due to stress, prolonged sitting at the computer, doing physical exercise, which can lead to poor circulation in the neck muscles. Unlike myositis, here the muscles do not just swell - they become denser. The disease develops more often in women. It is accompanied by pain in the neck and back of the head, as well as other symptoms:

the shoulders also hurt, it becomes difficult to move them;
attacks of dizziness often occur.

Occipital neuralgia

This pathology occurs when the occipital nerve is compressed, inflamed, or irritated. The following reasons lead to this:

neck muscle tension;
osteoarthritis;
neck injury;
neck tumor;
inflammatory diseases (carbuncle,) soft tissues of the head and neck;
pathology of intervertebral discs of the cervical spine;
diabetes.

Here intense pain occurs in the back of the head. It is so sharp that it resembles an electric shock that reaches the neck or radiates to the eye(s), lower jaw, ears and neck. It is also described as a severe, throbbing pain that shoots or burns. It can occur on the right or left, and can spread to 2 sides at once. Her neck movements intensify.

The skin of the occipital region acquires increased sensitivity to touch and temperature changes.

Vascular spasm of the cranial cavity

The condition caused by vasospasm of the arterial bed is accompanied by:

pain in the back of the head;
soon the pain also affects the forehead;
it intensifies with movement;
decreases at rest.

When a problem occurs in the venous bed, and the outflow of blood from the cavity becomes difficult, the following signs appear:

pain appears in the back of the head;
“spreads” to the temples and further throughout the head;
character – dull, bursting, can be described as a “feeling of heaviness”;
it intensifies if you lower your head;
the pain becomes more intense when coughing and lying down;
may be accompanied by swelling of the lower eyelids.

Tension headache

The basis of the pathology is overstrain of the muscles of the neck, back of the head, eyes, tendons that form the covering of the head from the forehead to the back of the head. Pain here can be triggered by changes in weather conditions, overwork, drinking alcohol, being in a stuffy room, or working at night.

A tension headache can last from 30 minutes to a week – it is an episodic pain. It is not too intense, accompanied by anxiety, but not accompanied by nausea or vomiting. It is monotonous, wraps around the head like a hoop, and does not have a pulsating character; occurs after overexertion or stress.

If your head hurts monotonously for more than 2 weeks a month, it is a chronic tension headache. It does not stop, and its character does not change under load. It can change a person’s personality: he becomes withdrawn, depression develops, and social activity is disrupted.

The diagnosis of tension headache is made if tension is detected in the trapezius and neck muscles, pain when pressing on the points corresponding to the transverse processes of the vertebrae of the neck and chest. In this case, there is no asymmetry of the face, no “goosebumps”, no impairment of sensitivity or motor activity of the muscles of the face, neck, or limbs. An MRI of the brain, its trunk, including the cervical spine and spinal cord does not show any pathology.

Intracranial hypertension

With prolonged exposure to low oxygen levels, traumatic brain injury, impaired venous outflow from the cranial cavity, low blood pressure, meningitis, decompensated hydrocephalus or subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracranial pressure increases.

This dangerous condition is accompanied by the following symptoms:

severe headache;
worsens at night and before getting up;
accompanied by nausea;
there may be vomiting (one or several times), spontaneous, not bringing relief;
sweating;
pain in the eyes when looking at the light;
pain intensifies with loud sounds;
sensitivity to changes in weather conditions;
feeling of heartbeat;
fast fatiguability;
increased nervousness.

If intracranial hypertension occurs due to meningitis, an intracranial tumor, encephalitis, or hemorrhage into the cranial cavity, the person’s condition progressively worsens. Drowsiness increases, he is periodically agitated, may express delusional ideas, and stops complaining of headaches. If help is not provided, coma may occur, accompanied by difficulty breathing and swallowing.

Temporomandibular joint diseases

These pathologies (arthrosis, arthritis) can also be accompanied by pain in the back of the head. Such pain is usually one-sided, spreads to the ear and crown area, begins during the day, intensifies in the evening. In this case, there is pain in the joint area (in front of the ear), and a crunching or clicking sensation may be felt.

The cause depends on the location of the pain

If there is pain in the back of the head and temples, this may indicate:

increased blood pressure, which is also accompanied by the appearance of “spots” or disturbances before the eyes, chest pain on the left, dizziness;
cervical migraine – the most frequent complication cervical osteochondrosis. Here, any more or less sharp throwing back of the head leads to darkening of the eyes, dizziness, nausea, and sometimes loss of consciousness;
Cervical osteochondrosis, not complicated by entrapment of the vertebral artery, manifests itself as pain in the occipital part of the head and temples, as well as in the neck. Here, movements of the neck may be accompanied by a crunching sound, and pain may be accompanied by dizziness, hearing loss, the appearance of a “veil” before the eyes, double vision;
Meningitis also manifests itself as pain in the temples and back of the head. In addition, there will be nausea, vomiting, body temperature rises, and photophobia is noted.

Pain in the neck and back of the head is typical:

for cervical osteochondrosis (it is described in the previous paragraph);
for cervical spondylosis. The latter is manifested by severe pain, which may not even stop. This pain intensifies with any turning or tilting of the head. It takes a lot of effort to find a position in which to fall asleep;
for inflammatory diseases of the back of the head and neck: carbuncle, boil. In this case, when examining the disturbing localizations, you can see redness and swelling, which will be very painful and from where (when they mature) pus will be released.

Pain in the occipital part of the head, spreading to the temples, crown and forehead at once, indicates:

tension headaches: then they appear after overexertion, squeeze with a “hoop”, without nausea and vomiting;
increased intracranial pressure: appear for no apparent reason, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, photophobia, drowsiness;
spasm of the vessels of the cranial cavity: accompanied by a feeling of heaviness in the head, intensifies when tilting the head, has a dull, bursting character;
increased blood pressure. There will be one or more additional symptoms: heart pain, weakness, spots before the eyes, nausea.

If the pain radiates to the back of the head, and its “center” is the neck or shoulders, this indicates a pathology of the neck muscles:

myositis: pain is usually one-sided, occurs when moving the neck to the side, spreads to the shoulders and interscapular area. Provoke this pain physical exercise, which involve the neck, drafts and hypothermia;
myogelosis: pain not only in the neck and back of the head, but also in the shoulders, while the latter are difficult to move, and when palpated, all these muscles - the neck, shoulders, shoulder blades - are tight. Occurs after stress, physical exertion, or prolonged exposure to an uncomfortable position.

Others

Pain radiating to the back of the head, which is accompanied by difficulty chewing, opening the mouth, crunching in the area in front of the ear, when this painful area can be found, indicates the pathology of the temporomandibular joint.
Severe, throbbing pain from the neck, radiating to the back of the head, accompanied by numbness, “pins and needles” or hypersensitivity skin of the neck and back of the head indicates neuralgia of the occipital nerve. It is usually one-sided and worsens with neck movements.

Unilateral pain – in the left or right back of the head is typical for:

cervical osteochondrosis;
left cervical migraine;
myohyelosis of the right trapezius or sternocleidomastoid muscle on the left;
neuralgia of the left occipital nerve;
spondylitis;
injuries to the left occipital region;
sympathetic irritation nerve ganglia left;
development of purulent-inflammatory diseases of soft tissues on the left side of the back of the head.

There are no specific diagnoses when pain occurs in the right back of the head, just like for the left. Above we have listed those diseases in which occipital pain will be one-sided.

Possible cause depending on pain characteristics

Throbbing pain is typical for:

increased blood pressure;
neuralgia of the occipital nerve;
hormonal changes during pregnancy, menopause, and also in adolescents.

Severe pain is typical for:

increased intracranial pressure;
spasm of arterial vessels;
cervical spondylosis;
neuralgia of the occipital nerve;

If the pain is described as sharp, most likely, the examination will reveal either complicated cervical osteochondrosis, or myogelosis of the cervical spine, or occipital neuralgia, or cervical migraine.

Diagnostics

If you have a headache, you need to determine the cause. To do this, they turn to a therapist, and he refers either to a cardiologist or a neurologist. If there was a head injury, you need to visit a traumatologist, and if a painful formation is detected on the skin, then you need to see a surgeon.

When examining, narrow specialists use the following diagnostic methods:

Dopplerography of the vessels supplying blood to the neck and brain;
MRI of the head and neck;
radiography of the cranial cavity;
X-ray of the temporomandibular joint.

Algorithm for first self- or mutual help

Measure your blood pressure; if it is above 140/99, take the emergency drug Captopres (1/2 tablet), and consult a therapist the next day to select therapy.
You can take a pill or another pain reliever to which you have not been allergic.
Massage – only on the shoulders and only with an assistant: you cannot touch the neck, as pain can be caused by pathologies in which the cervical spine is unstable (poorly fixed). In this case, arm movements can lead to further imbalance bone structures, as a result, important structures can be pinched and lead to such dangerous disorders as disruption of the rhythm of breathing, the tone of all blood vessels in the body and normal heartbeat.

If, in addition to pain in the head, a crunching sound is heard in the back of the head when turning the neck, or the pain syndrome appeared after an injury (especially in a car or public transport), when the head “lobbed”, you need to call an ambulance. Or, if there is no dizziness, no nausea, no loss of consciousness, first ask a family member to buy a Shants collar or other orthosis at the pharmacy for a similar case, and only then contact a neurologist. While the neck brace has not yet been purchased, you must not move your neck while in a sitting position with support on the back. You cannot lie down until the cervical spine is fixed and a specialist is consulted.

In cases where the pain is shooting, intensifies when tilting the head and moving the neck, apply it to the neck dry heat, relax in a quiet room, ask a family member to massage your neck muscles.

The same can be done if pain occurs that squeezes the head with a “hoop.”

If you don’t hear a crunch when moving your neck, the pressure is normal, to relieve pain you can perform the following exercises:

Initial position	Exercise
Sitting on a chair with a straight back	Let your head bow under own weight, stay in this position for 20 seconds, return to the starting position for 20 seconds
Sitting on a chair, raise your arms up, clasp your head so that your thumbs rest on your cheekbones and the rest on the back of your head.	Inhale - throw your head back, resisting with your fingers lying on the back of your head. Stay in this position for 10 seconds, while looking up. Exhale (7-8 seconds) – maximum tilt of the head, without muscle tension. Look down. Repeat 3-6 times.
Sitting on a chair	Feel the point on the back of the head between the skull and 1st cervical vertebrae, midline. Two thumbs Using your hands, massage the point in a circular motion clockwise – 15 times. Then just press on this point for 90 seconds. Rest for 2 minutes. Do it all over again

What do doctors prescribe?

It depends on the identified pathology. So, for osteochondrosis, spondylosis and neuralgia of the occipital nerve, the following medications are prescribed:

painkillers: , Ibuprofen, Rofika;
muscle relaxing drugs: , Sirdalud, Baclofen;
vitamin B complex: Neurorubin;
drugs that eliminate dizziness: Betaserc, Vestibo, Betahistine.

Can be performed novocaine blockades, and also - in case of instability of areas of the spine and the threat of infringement of the spinal cord, as well as in case of severe neuralgia that cannot be controlled by drugs - can be performed different kinds surgical interventions. Physiotherapy procedures are also prescribed here: ultrasound treatment.

If the back of the head hurts due to myositis or myogelosis, painkillers and decongestants, a course of massage and physiotherapy are prescribed: , .

Vascular pain require treatment with drugs that eliminate arterial spasm and improve venous drainage from the cranial cavity.

Treatment of meningitis, encephalitis and hemorrhages into the cranial cavity is carried out only in a hospital. It includes the prescription of antibiotics, hemostatic drugs, drugs that improve communication between the affected areas of the brain, and oxygen therapy.

Suppurative diseases of soft tissues are treated surgically.

For occipital neuralgia, tension headaches and cervical osteochondrosis In addition to medication, doctors can also prescribe a course of acupuncture.

Headache prevention

If the back of your head hurts at least once, it means that your body is signaling that you need to take measures to improve the oxygen saturation of your brain. For this:

Try to sleep on an orthopedic pillow.
Do not overcool your neck and neck.
Try to move more, do morning exercises.
Take 10-minute breaks every hour you work at the computer.
Learn to meditate to make it easier to cope with stressful situations.
Monitor your blood pressure.
When working, the computer should be at eye height.
Every day, perform self-massage of the muscles of the neck and shoulders using gentle pressure or various auxiliary devices.

Do you often have headaches and is it bothering you? Don't worry, there is not a single person on the planet who has not experienced it. It is not entirely correct to talk about its prevalence among the population, because then this figure would be 100%. However, this symptom appears more often in some and less often in others. In this case, cephalalgia becomes a cause of discomfort, sometimes it can be so painful that even medications do not help.

According to statistics, this symptom is in first place when receiving temporary disability. It is worth noting that cephalgia can be a symptom of more than 50 different diseases. However, there are many types and characteristics of headaches.

Types, features of symptoms and causes

For many cases of cephalalgia, it is typical when the patient complains that the head hurts from behind or from back side neck. Based on such complaints, up to 10 diseases corresponding to a given localization can be identified. Let's look at the features pain syndrome and determine why the headache hurts (Table 1).

Differential diagnosis

If you have a headache, you should Special attention on frequency, intensity, location and accompanying symptoms. If cephalgia high intensity, often occurs and is accompanied by vomiting or sensitivity to light and sound, then you should immediately contact a neurologist.

The main diagnostic methods are:

Tonometry. Allows you to determine blood pressure indicators, which makes it possible to make a diagnosis of “arterial hypertension.”
MRI. Makes it possible to visualize the soft tissue of the brain and determine the presence of a tumor.
Transcranial Dopplerography. Makes it possible to measure intracranial pressure and assess the state of blood flow in the cerebral vessels.
EchoEG. At intracranial hypertension makes it possible to assess the displacement of brain structures.
EEG. Makes it possible to carry out differential diagnosis with migraine attacks.

Antihypertensive therapy is aimed at reducing blood pressure to levels that do not exceed normal. For these purposes the following drugs are used:

"Captopril", "Enalapril";
"Nifedipine", "Cordipine";
Furosemide, Diacarb, Hypothiazide.

In the presence of vascular headaches, the following is prescribed:

"Pirroxan", "Redergin", "Sermion";
"Cinnarizine", "Sibelium", "Stugeron".

For diseases accompanied by impaired tone and blood flow in the veins, venotonics are prescribed:

"Detralex", "L-lysine escinate", "Troxevasin".

For tension headaches, the main components of therapy are massage of the collar area, psychotherapy, the prescription of antidepressants and muscle relaxants to relax the neck muscles:

"Baclofen", "Mydocalm", "Sirdalud".

If you experience a headache, we recommend that you contact a neurologist, because it is the disease diagnosed early stages, is best treated and corrected. At the same time, frequent and uncontrolled use of simple analgesics leads to the formation of chronic cephalgia - the so-called abuse headache, a kind of dependence on NSAIDs.

Sources:

Grigorova I.A., Sokolova L.I. (ed.) Neurology – 2014 – 640 pp.
Neurology and neurosurgery / ed. A.N. Konovalova, A.V. Kozlova; E.I. Gusev, A.N. Konovalov, V.I. Skvortsova: textbook: – vol. 1. – 2009.
Yakhno N.N., Shtulmana D.R. Diseases of the nervous system: A guide for doctors - T. 1-2nd ed., revised and additional. - Medicine, 2001 - p. 744.