Occipital neuralgia occurs as a result of inflammation of the occipital nerves, which run along the back of your head and carry signals between your scalp and brain. A rare headache disorder, occipital neuralgia causes pain similar to a migraine, including a throbbing sensation behind the eyes. While this condition can occur spontaneously, many cases develop as the result of a pinched nerve, muscle tightness or a head or neck injury.
Speak with a neurology expert about occipital neuralgia.
Signs and Symptoms
Individuals with occipital neuralgia tend to experience a piercing headache that comes and goes. Symptoms also include a throbbing, jolting or burning sensation that’s concentrated around the back and top of the head, where the occipital nerves are located.
Risk Factors and Prevention
While occipital neuralgia often occurs due to a pinched nerve or muscle tightness, certain underlying conditions may increase the risk of developing it, including the following.
- Degenerative disk disease
- Diabetes
- Gout
- Osteoarthritis of the spine
- Vasculitis
How We Diagnose Occipital Neuralgia
Our neurology experts use the following procedures to diagnose occipital neuralgia.
- Physical Exam: In many cases, our experts can accurately diagnose occipital neuralgia by examining your physical symptoms.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): A combination of a magnetic field and radio waves creates three-dimensional images of specific areas of your body.
- Nerve Block: A common way to diagnose occipital neuralgia is to use an occipital nerve block, which involves injecting a mixture of steroids and local anesthetic into the back of your head. If this treatment provides relief, a diagnosis can be confirmed.
Treatment Options
Most cases of occipital neuralgia can be managed through non-invasive treatment methods such as medication and steroid injections. Our experts may also recommend at-home remedies such as stretching, massaging the area and applying hot and cold compresses. Severe cases of occipital neuralgia may require “occipital release surgery” to decompress the nerve.
Speak with a neurology expert about treatment for occipital neuralgia.