Occasional Headache

Occipital neuralgia is a condition in which the nerves that run from the top of the spinal cord up through the scalp, called the occipital nerves, are inflamed or injured. You might feel pain in. It’s like someone’s stabbing your face with an ice pick. That’s why they're also called stabbing headaches. Many people from time to time feel quick jabs or jolts of severe pain around one of. In some cases, occipital release surgery only works temporarily, and the pain returns. Further surgery to cut the greater occipital nerves can be performed after about a year, however, this procedure is regarded as a last resort since it would result in permanent scalp numbness. Some stroke survivors notice new joint pain, shoulder pain or skin pain after a stroke, with as many as 1/3 of stroke survivors complaining of pain severe enough to interfere with daily activities. Headaches are similar to other types of post-stroke pain patterns, but they have their own unique characteristics. Tension headaches are dull pain, tightness, or pressure around your forehead or the back of your head and neck. Some people say it feels like a clamp squeezing their skull. They’re also called.

Play/Pause

headache_slideshow_03.png

10 Most Common Headache Triggers

It’s not just loud music or a tight deadline or even an impending visit from your mother-in-law. With so much going on, it can be hard to avoid headaches, but there are a few common (and unexpected) things you can learn to avoid to prevent pain in the future.

10 / Anxiety

Stress can take a toll on you. Breathe, relax and take a stroll.

9 / Glare

Brightness from your computer screen, sunlight or overhead lights can make things painful. Turn it down and try adding a desk lamp.

8 / Noise

It’s not just loud, repetitive sounds. Even lower level on continuous noise can hurt. Calming music and headphones may help.

7 / Eating + Sleeping Patterns

Eat when you’re hungry. Sleep enough (not too much or too little), and don’t sleep in an odd position in a cold room – it can make your muscles spasm.

6 / Medication

Some prescription medications may have the potential to trigger a headache. If you notice an increase, talk to your doctor.

5 / Physical Activity

Take it easy in the gym. Pushing too hard can result in an exertional headache from the swelling of blood vessels in your head, neck and scalp.

4 / Lack of Physical Activity

Even though over-exertion can increase your risk for headaches, staying sedentary doesn't help either. As with most things in life, moderation is key. Talk to your doctor before beginning or revising any exercise regimen.

3 / Posture

Your mom was right! Sit up straight to keep blood flowing (and move around when you can if you spend extended periods of time bent over a desk).

2 / Hormones

When estrogen levels drop (especially right before your period), you may be more likely to get a headache. Keep track of your cycle and plan when you can.

1 / Food Sensitivities

Food and drink release neurotransmitters, which can cause headaches in some people. Triggers include aspartame, caffeine, chocolate, alcohol, cheese and more.

“So what should I do?”

Well, every body is different. But knowing what works for you (and what doesn’t) can help you avoid headaches in the future. Listen to your body. It’s smarter than you think! Experiment and see what works for you.

What is occipital neuralgia?

Most feeling in the back and top of the head is transmitted to the brain by the two greater occipital nerves. There is one nerve on each side of the head. Emerging from between bones of the spine in the upper neck, the two greater occipital nerves make their way through muscles at the back of the head and into the scalp. They sometimes reach nearly as far forward as the forehead, but do not cover the face or the area near the ears; other nerves supply these regions.

Irritation of one of these nerves anywhere along its course can cause a shooting, zapping, electric, or tingling pain very similar to that of trigeminal neuralgia, only with symptoms on one side of the scalp rather than in the face. Sometimes the pain can also seem to shoot forward (radiate) toward one eye. In some patients the scalp becomes extremely sensitive to even the lightest touch, making washing the hair or lying on a pillow nearly impossible. In other patients there may be numbness in the affected area. The region where the nerves enter the scalp may be extremely tender.

Types Of Headaches By Location

What causes occipital neuralgia?

Occasional Headaches Icd 10

Occipital neuralgia may occur spontaneously, or as the result of a pinched nerve root in the neck (from arthritis, for example), or because of prior injury or surgery to the scalp or skull. Sometimes 'tight' muscles at the back of the head can entrap the nerves.

How is occipital neuralgia diagnosed?

There is not one test to diagnose occipital neuralgia. Your doctor may make a diagnosis using a physical examination to find tenderness in response to pressure along your occipital nerve. Your doctor may diagnose — and temporarily treat — with an occipital nerve block. Relief with a nerve block may help to confirm the diagnosis. For patients who do well with this temporary 'deadening' of the nerve, a more permanent procedure may be a good option.

Occasional Headache

How common is occipital neuralgia?

True isolated occipital neuralgia is actually quite rare. However, many other types of headaches —especially migraines — can predominantly or repeatedly involve the back of the head on one particular side, inflaming the greater occipital nerve on the involved side and causing confusion as to the actual diagnosis. These patients are generally diagnosed as having migraines involving the greater occipital nerve, rather than as having occipital neuralgia itself.

Treatment

Nonsurgical Options for Occipital Neuralgia

Medications and a set of three steroid injections, with or without botulinum toxin, can 'calm down' the overactive nerves. Some patients respond well to non-invasive therapy and may not require surgery; however, some patients do not get relief and may eventually require surgical treatment.

There are other treatment options such as burning the nerve with a radio-wave probe or eliminating the nerve with a small dose of toxin. However, these are not always the best choice since either treatment can permanently deaden the nerve, resulting in scalp numbness.

Occasional Headache

Surgery for Chronic Headaches: Is it Right for You?

Surgical Options for Occipital Neuralgia

Surgical options include decompression of the greater occipital nerves along their course, called occipital release surgery.

Occasional Headaches During Pregnancy

In this outpatient procedure, the surgeon makes an incision in the back of the neck to expose the greater occipital nerves and release them from the surrounding connective tissue and muscles that may be compressing them. The surgeon can address other nerves that may be contributing to the problem, such as the lesser occipital nerves and the dorsal occipital nerves.

The surgery generally takes around two or three hours and is performed with the patient asleep under general anesthesia. Patients are able to go home the same day, and full recovery is generally expected within one or two weeks.

In some cases, occipital release surgery only works temporarily, and the pain returns. Further surgery to cut the greater occipital nerves can be performed after about a year, however, this procedure is regarded as a last resort since it would result in permanent scalp numbness.