Back head pain might be brought on by a migraine disorder or problems with your neck, spine, or posture. Changes in your lifestyle, complementary therapies, and drugs may help you manage or avoid the pain.
The degree of headaches may vary from bothersome to disruptive. They may show up anywhere on the head.
There are several possible reasons for back-of-the-head discomfort in headaches. Additional symptoms may be used to identify many of these causes. These signs and symptoms include the sort of pain felt as well as potential discomfort sites in other areas.
What Causes Head Discomfort In The Back?
Back head pain may have many distinct causes, including those listed below. These headaches often also affect other parts of the body or are brought on by certain situations.
A medical practitioner can determine the cause of your headache and the best course of treatment based on the kinds, location, and other symptoms you’re experiencing.
Back Of The Head And Neck Pain
Occipital Neuralgia
Occipital neuralgia is a disorder that develops when the spinal cord to scalp nerves become irritated. It’s often prevalent in migraine sufferers. Occipital neuralgia is a disorder that results in throbbing, stabbing pain that radiates from the base of the neck towards the scalp.
Additional signs include:
- Suffering from eye discomfort
- Severe stabbing pain in the back head pain and neck that feels like an electric shock
- Responsiveness to light
- Tenderness of scalp
- Neck pain while moving
Bad Posture
Back head pain and neck discomfort may also result from poor posture. Your neck, shoulders, and back become tense as a result of poor body alignment. The stress might give you a headache. At the base of your skull, you could have a throbbing, dull discomfort.
Cervical Headache
Your cervical spine’s (neck’s) herniated discs may be the source of your neck’s strain and discomfort. A cervicogenic headache is one sort of headache that may result from this.
Typically, the back of your head is where the pain starts and is felt. You could feel it behind your eyes or in your temples as well. Other signs might include pain in the upper arms or shoulders.
When you’re laying down, cervicogenic headaches could become more severe. Some individuals may really wake up as a result of the discomfort. You can experience a weighted pressure on the top of your head while you’re laying down.
Headache With Low Pressure
Low spinal fluid pressure in the brain is what causes low-pressure headaches. When spinal fluid seeps out of the spine, this happens. Also known as intracranial hypotension, this condition. These may happen on their own or as a consequence of a treatment like a spinal tap or another one when fluid seeps from the spine and causes the headache.
Right Side And Back Of The Head Discomfort
Tension Headaches With Tension
The most frequent kind of discomfort is a tension headache. Your head’s right side and back will be affected by these headaches. They could include neck or scalp tightness. They feel like a non-throbbing, dull, tight, confining discomfort.
Back Of The Head And The Left Side Of The Body Pain
Migraine Disorder
The headache brought on by a migraine might occur anywhere for someone who has the ailment. Although they may be unilateral or swap sides, they are often felt on the left or rear of the head.
Migraine symptoms might result in:
- Intense, pulsing, throbbing pain
- Auras
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Blinking eyes
- Sensitivity to sound or light
Headaches from migraines may begin on the left side of the head, go through the temples, and end at the back of the head.
Back Of The Head Discomfort While Sleeping Down
Recurring Headaches
Although uncommon, cluster headaches are quite unpleasant. They are known for the “cluster periods” in which they take place. Cluster headache sufferers often endure attacks. These intervals or assault patterns might extend for weeks or even months.
Symptoms Of Cluster Headaches
The sides or the back of the head may hurt from a cluster headache. When you lie down, they can grow worse. Other signs to look out for are:
- Piercing, scorching ache that is acute
- Restlessness
- Nausea
- A lot of tearing
- Blocked nose
- Lowered eyelid
- Sensitivity to both sound and light
How Is Head Discomfort In The Back Treated?
Many headaches may be treated with over-the-counter painkillers such acetaminophen (Tylenol), which helps to relieve discomfort. If you often get headaches, certain medicines, such as Extra-Strength Tylenol, might be beneficial.
The best course of action is one that is based on the precise reason for your headache.
Arthritis Headache Treatment
Anti-inflammatory medications and heat to decrease inflammation are the best treatments for arthritis headaches.
Treating Headaches Brought On By Slouching
Acetaminophen may be taken right away to alleviate headaches brought on by bad posture. By adjusting your posture over time, you may attempt to alleviate or avoid these headaches. Purchase a comfortable, ergonomic office chair, and sit with both feet on the floor.
How To Handle Migraines Brought On By Herniated Discs
The management of the underlying disease is necessary to relieve headaches brought on by herniated discs. Physical therapy, moderate stretching, epidural injections to reduce inflammation, and surgery, if necessary, are all forms of treatment for herniated discs. Exercise may help you sustain positive outcomes.
Occipital Neuralgia Treatment
Warm/heat treatment, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), physical therapy, massage, and prescription muscle relaxants may all be used to treat occipital neuralgia. For quick relief in serious situations, a doctor may inject local anesthetic into the occipital region. The duration of this treatment option is up to 12 weeks.
Tension Headache Treatment
Painkillers available over-the-counter are often used to alleviate tension headaches. If you have severe, persistent tension headaches, ask your doctor about prescription treatment. In order to avoid future headaches, a doctor may also prescribe preventative drugs like muscle relaxants or antidepressants.
Migraine Medications
Your doctor could recommend a beta-blocker as a preventative drug for migraines in addition to an urgent pain reliever.
A few over-the-counter drugs are made expressly to treat migraine symptoms. These could be effective for moderate migraines but not for more severe ones. So that you can avoid certain stimuli, a doctor may also assist you in identifying what causes your migraine condition.
Cluster Headache Treatment
Taking care of cluster headaches. Shortening the duration of headaches, lessening the intensity of attacks, and averting new attacks are the main goals of Trusted Source.
Among the short-term remedies are:
- Triptans, which are also used for the illness known as migraine and injectable for quick relief
- Steroids
- Injection of a local anesthetic
- Treatment including Topiramate, Verapamil, Lithium, and Galacanezumab
Among the preventive measures are:
- Corticosteroids
- Blockers of calcium channels
- Melatonin
- Drugs that inhibit nerves
- Surgery may be required in exceptionally severe situations
When to consult a medical expert
Schedule a consultation with a healthcare provider if:
- You begin getting headaches more often and for more than a few days.
- Your headaches prevent you from doing the things you usually do.
- There is discomfort around your head along with the ache.
- If your headache patterns alter in any way recently
You should schedule a consultation as soon as you can if you get a severe headache that is worse than any other headache you’ve ever had or if your headaches start to become worse over time.
Visit an emergency hospital if you find it hard to reason through your discomfort.
There are certain signs that a situation is urgent. Get immediate medical help if you also have any of the following symptoms in addition to headaches:
- Rapid changes in your personality, such as mood swings or agitation that are out of the ordinary
- You struggle to concentrate during a discussion because you have a fever, stiff neck, disorientation, and diminished attentiveness.
- Alterations in vision, slurred speech, paralysis (especially facial weakness on one side), and Numbness everywhere in the body
- Severe headaches after receiving a head injury
- Headaches that start quite suddenly and don’t usually do so, particularly if they wake you awake