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Occipital Neuralgia
Information
The pain of ON is commonly localized in the back of head and around or over the top of the head, sometimes up to the eyebrow or behind the eye. Another symptom is the eyes being sensitive to light, especially when headaches occur.
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Latest Activity: Feb 21
What is Occipital Neuralgia?
Occipital neuralgia is a distinct type of headache characterized by piercing, throbbing, or electric-shock-like chronic pain in the upper neck, back of the head, and behind the ears, usually on one side of the head. Typically, the pain of occipital neuralgia begins in the neck and then spreads upwards. Some individuals will also experience pain in the scalp, forehead, and behind the eyes. Their scalp may also be tender to the touch, and their eyes especially sensitive to light. The location of pain is related to the areas supplied by the greater and lesser occipital nerves, which run from the area where the spinal column meets the neck, up to the scalp at the back of the head. The pain is caused by irritation or injury to the nerves, which can be the result of trauma to the back of the head, pinching of the nerves by overly tight neck muscles, compression of the nerve as it leaves the spine due to osteoarthritis, or tumors or other types of lesions in the neck. Localized inflammation or infection, gout, diabetes, blood vessel inflammation (vasculitis), and frequent lengthy periods of keeping the head in a downward and forward position are also associated with occipital neuralgia. In many cases, however, no cause can be found. A positive response (relief from pain) after an anesthetic nerve block will confirm the diagnosis.
Is there any treatment?
Treatment is generally symptomatic and includes massage and rest. In some cases, antidepressants may be used when the pain is particularly severe. Other treatments may include local nerve blocks and injections of steroids directly into the affected area.
What is the prognosis?
Occipital neuralgia is not a life-threatening condition. Many individuals will improve with therapy involving heat, rest, anti-inflammatory medications, and muscle relaxants. Recovery is usually complete after the bout of pain has ended and the nerve damage repaired or lessened.
What research is being done?
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and other institutes at the National Institutes of Health conduct research related to pain and occipital neuralgia in their clinics and laboratories and support additional research through grants to major medical institutions across the country. Much of this research focuses on understanding the basic mechanisms of pain and testing treatments in order to find better ways to treat occipital neuralgia.
Occipital neuralgia is a distinct type of headache characterized by piercing, throbbing, or electric-shock-like chronic pain in the upper neck, back of the head, and behind the ears, usually on one side of the head. Typically, the pain of occipital neuralgia begins in the neck and then spreads upwards. Some individuals will also experience pain in the scalp, forehead, and behind the eyes. Their scalp may also be tender to the touch, and their eyes especially sensitive to light. The location of pain is related to the areas supplied by the greater and lesser occipital nerves, which run from the area where the spinal column meets the neck, up to the scalp at the back of the head. The pain is caused by irritation or injury to the nerves, which can be the result of trauma to the back of the head, pinching of the nerves by overly tight neck muscles, compression of the nerve as it leaves the spine due to osteoarthritis, or tumors or other types of lesions in the neck. Localized inflammation or infection, gout, diabetes, blood vessel inflammation (vasculitis), and frequent lengthy periods of keeping the head in a downward and forward position are also associated with occipital neuralgia. In many cases, however, no cause can be found. A positive response (relief from pain) after an anesthetic nerve block will confirm the diagnosis.
Is there any treatment?
Treatment is generally symptomatic and includes massage and rest. In some cases, antidepressants may be used when the pain is particularly severe. Other treatments may include local nerve blocks and injections of steroids directly into the affected area.
What is the prognosis?
Occipital neuralgia is not a life-threatening condition. Many individuals will improve with therapy involving heat, rest, anti-inflammatory medications, and muscle relaxants. Recovery is usually complete after the bout of pain has ended and the nerve damage repaired or lessened.
What research is being done?
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and other institutes at the National Institutes of Health conduct research related to pain and occipital neuralgia in their clinics and laboratories and support additional research through grants to major medical institutions across the country. Much of this research focuses on understanding the basic mechanisms of pain and testing treatments in order to find better ways to treat occipital neuralgia.
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Comment by Kerry on February 4, 2010 at 10:45pm -
The nerve block they doctor gave me, was done under a light anesthesia so I was not awake nor asleep - this gave me virtually no recall of the procedure at all, however i do remember answering questions that they asked me during the procedure. Twice now I've had a nerve block done - one for each (both left and right) side of my face. The pain relief I got from that lasted approximately 1 week.
So now, that the nerve block done to my trigeminal gasserion ganglion worked, they will follow up in early March with the PRF lesioning (Pulsed Radiofrequency lesioning) http://www.deaconess.com/body.cfm?id=1916
So I'm very much looking forward to that - now, "IF" that works also, I'll get about 3 months pain free time with each procedure. So every 3 months I'll need to get 2 procedures done - one on the left and one on the right.. But again, IF it does help me - then bring on the needles!!
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Comment by Diana Parker on January 26, 2010 at 3:02pm - I hope the nerve blocks can help for you, they did not work for me and I got side effects from it. The first 3 nerve block seemed smaller than the tow that the other Dr. gave me, he used bigger needles and almost made me pass out from vertigo and made me lay down for 20 min. and I had a nasty metallic and did not do away, no more needles for me!
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Comment by Kerry on January 26, 2010 at 1:41pm
- My Occipital pain does include the full range of that branch of nerves, into the ear again - i mean every neuralgia i have goes into my poor ear. Plus the ON into my eye, eyebrow and cheekbone ... Then it sets off the TN ... Sigh ...
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Comment by Kerry on January 26, 2010 at 1:39pm
- yes you're right on the money there D ~ I haven't slept again all night. It's dawn here now in Australia. This just suxs. I never realised that the meds don't help the neuralgia when the neuralgia is occipital. I'm gonna ask my pain doc about nerve blocks for the occipital - at least it'll help something..
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Comment by Diana Parker on January 26, 2010 at 11:49am
- Just horrid isn't it
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Comment by Kerry on January 25, 2010 at 9:34pm
- Ya, me too D - bilateral TN & bilateral ON.
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Comment by Diana Parker on January 24, 2010 at 9:09pm
- I have it on both sides.
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