A variety of different causes can lead to headaches at the back of the head; it may only be caused by mild injury or a secondary symptom of other body issues. The location and kind of pain can be influential in diagnosing the cause of headaches. Extreme and frequent headaches always demand a doctor’s medical attention.
Different types of headaches occurring at the back of the head
There’s a variety of different causes that can cause headaches to occur at the back of the head. Here are a few Headaches types:
Tension headaches
- Tension headaches in the back of the head are the most frequent source of discomfort. They can last from seven days to 30 minutes.
- Severe stress, tiredness, lack of sleep, missing meals, poor body posture, or not drinking enough water may cause tension headaches.
- Typically patients feel pressure around the back or front of the head; pain can range from mild to extreme.
- Treatment involves pain relievers, changes in diet, relaxation, and occasionally soothing techniques. Sometimes stress headaches, however, need monitoring by a doctor for further care.
Migraine
- A migraine is a common form of chronic headache that usually begins during childhood and progresses with age.
- Migraine is most prevalent in females.
- Symptoms include intense pain with nausea, vomiting, and visual discomfort on one side of the brain. Usually, patients are sensitive to light, noise, or odor. Physical exercise can intensify the pain. Pain can last from several days to a few hours.
- Typically the triggers include mental or physical stress, changes in the environment, and diet. Medications (e.g., contraceptive pills) may often lead to migraine headaches.
- Cold compress, caffeine, and ginger are some natural ways to cure a migraine.
Occipital neuralgia
- Occipital neuralgia is an uncommon but severe headache that appears to start at the neck base and can spread to the back of the head, then to the ears.
- Typically, occipital nerves are damaged or irritated and run up the back of the neck to the scalp base.
- Underlying disorders, the neck’s strain, or other unknown factors may cause nerve damage or irritation.
- Pain is generally severe with a feeling of burning or shooting; the pain persists on one side of the head but sometimes worsens with the body’s movement. Typically the patient will be sensitive to light.
- Possible causes include spinal injury, tumors, diabetes-induced nerve damage, blood vessel swelling, and unusual infection.
- Options for recovery include applying heat packs, rest, massage, physical therapy, and taking painkillers, which may minimize swelling. Severe pain can consist of medication, such as relaxants to the oral muscle, injections of the nerve block, steroid injections, or local anesthesia. On rare occasions, an operation may be needed to reduce the nerve pressure or block pain impulses to this part of the body.
