Constant pain in the back of the head causes. Headache in the back of the head and its causes

If the back of the head hurts, then the unpleasant sensations can spread to the neck, radiating to the temples and forehead. The causes of pain are different, choose correct method A thorough examination will help with treatment.

The back of the head hurts for various reasons

Why does the back of my head hurt?

Unpleasant sensations in the occipital zone bother a person at any age; the pain syndrome differs in the degree of intensity and duration - it all depends on what caused the discomfort.

Why does a headache appear from behind:

• heavy physical activity - moderate tension pain covers the occipital and frontal region, accompanied by tingling of the skin;
• hypothermia;
• prolonged stress;
• advanced age;
• sedentary work, physical inactivity - the back of the head aches, itches, the pain is dull, disappears after a light warm-up, massage;
• malocclusion, inflammation of the temporomandibular joints - a dull pain can last for several days in a row, covers all parts of the head and face, a click is heard when opening the mouth.

Often, pain in the back of the head occurs after a fall, blow, or accident; in such cases, discomfort is accompanied by loss of consciousness, dizziness, bleeding from the nose and ears.

Sedentary work is a common cause of headaches

Pathological processes in the cervical spine are a common cause of pain in the occipital region

Pain in the back of the head almost always accompanies diseases of the vertebrae and muscles of the cervical region, since there are many vessels and nerve endings in this part.

Causes of pain:

1. Cervical osteochondrosis - accompanied by constant nagging pain in the occipital and temporal zone, at the base of the skull, nausea, and often dizziness, especially when changing body position.
2. Cervical spondylosis - the discomfort is acute or prolonged, the pain radiates behind the ear, in eyeballs, increases with movement, but it also hurts to lie down, which negatively affects the quality of sleep.
3. Cervical myositis - muscle inflammation occurs due to drafts and injuries. Strong and sharp pain in the back of the head it radiates to the shoulder girdle, characterized by asymmetry and increased temperature.
4. Myogelosis of the cervical spine - characterized by stiffness of movements, dizziness, the back of the head aches and pulls.
5. Inflammation of the occipital nerve - pain occurs closer to the neck, burning, shooting, covers the jaw, shoulders, intensifies when pressed. Between attacks, the unpleasant sensations do not completely disappear, they are dull, aching and pressing in nature, the sensitivity of the skin of the neck increases, and there is a feeling that the back of the head is on fire.

Osteochondrosis often provokes the development of cervical migraine - a sudden attack of pain in the back of the head is one-sided, accompanied by tinnitus and darkening of the eyes.

Frequent nagging pain in the back of the head speaks of development cervical osteochondrosis

Other pathologies that are accompanied by discomfort in the occipital area

Pain in the occipital region can be a consequence of problems with blood vessels, disorders of the brain, most often discomfort occurs when blood pressure and intracranial pressure increase.

Why does the back of the head hurt:

1. Hypertension is a fairly common cause of pain in the back of the head; the unpleasant sensations are pulsating, bursting, put pressure on the eyes, and often bother you after sleep. The disease is accompanied by weakness, increased heart rate, attacks of dizziness, all unpleasant symptoms worsen with movement. With normal blood pressure, such phenomena may be signs of vegetative-vascular dystonia.
2. Spasm of the cranial arteries - severe, throbbing pain that covers the forehead and back of the head; at rest, the intensity of the manifestation of unpleasant sensations decreases.
3. Disruption of the outflow of venous blood from the head - bursting pain, encircling pain, disturbing when moving and in a lying position, discomfort often manifests itself in the morning, accompanied by severe swelling of the lower eyelids.
4. Increased intracranial pressure - pressing pain, occurs in the morning, covers various areas of the head, is accompanied by increased sweating, drowsiness, visual disturbances, vomiting . As a result of the disease, hematomas and brain tumors often occur.
5. Migraine - periodic or constant sharp pain occurs on the right or left, it is difficult for a person to perceive light, loud sounds, smells can also irritate, the disease occurs more often in women, and is inherited.

The back of the head may hurt due to spasm of the cranial arteries

Pain in the occipital region occurs in some people during orgasm - this is due to sharp increase pressure, during normal operation of the blood vessels, unpleasant sensations are mild. But if a person suffers from vegetative-vascular dystonia, then the discomfort is pronounced.

Causes of headaches in children

When a headache appears, small children begin to be capricious and often touch the area that hurts; ear and dental diseases are often the cause of discomfort.

Why does the back of the head hurt in children?

• disruption of the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid;
• fever, severe intoxication that occurs against the background of viral and bacterial diseases;
• severe attacks of dry cough;
• vegetative-vascular dystonia;
• meningitis;
• excess weight;
• spinal and head injuries;
• excessive mental and psychological stress;
• hormonal changes during puberty.

A sudden attack of pain in the back of the head can be caused by prolonged running, somersaulting, or jumping.

Often children experience headaches due to excessive mental stress.

Which doctor should I contact?

If pain in the back of the head appears frequently, is accompanied by other negative symptoms, and a general deterioration in well-being, it is necessary for an initial diagnosis. After examination, he can give a consultation to a vertebrologist, osteopath, consultation is often required chiropractor, .

If pain in the back of the head is a consequence of injury, fall, it is necessary to urgently call ambulance, or go to the nearest emergency room.

Diagnostics

Since pain in the back of the head accompanies various pathologies, the attending physician prescribes comprehensive examination, to identify the true cause of unpleasant sensations, but the initial diagnosis can be made after a thorough examination and palpation of the cervical and occipital region.

Basic diagnostic methods:

• clinical blood test - allows you to see signs of inflammation in the body;
• blood test to detect rheumatoid factor;
• blood chemistry;
• general urine test, according to Nechiporenko;
• X-ray;
• CT, MRI of the spine, head;
• arteriography of blood vessels – carried out to identify myogelosis;
• electroencephalography, rheoencephalography - allows you to identify disturbances in the functioning of cerebral vessels;
• ECG, Echo-CG - studies are necessary to assess heart function;
• Doppler examination of the vessels of the neck and head.

When signs of increased intracranial pressure appear, the main diagnostic method is examination of the fundus; a clear symptom of the disease is a significant dilation of the retinal veins.

MRI of the head helps identify the cause of pain

What to do for pain in the back of the head

Based on the test results, the doctor draws up a treatment regimen, which includes medication and manual therapy, massage, physical therapy, and physiotherapy.

Treatment with drugs

Used to relieve pain in the back of the head various drugs for internal and external use, the action of which is aimed at eliminating the main cause of unpleasant symptoms.

How to treat pain in the back of the head:

• analgesics, antipyretics - Ibuprofen, Paracetamol, Aspirin, help with throbbing pain;
• pain-relieving ointments – Dolobene, Fastum gel;
• antispasmodics – No-shpa, Drotaverine;
• ergot-based drugs – Caffetamine, help with migraines;
• beta blockers, combination drugs– Esmolol, Timolol, Adelfan, normalize arterial parameters;
• neuroprotectors – Glycine, necessary for increased intracranial pressure;
• diuretics to eliminate swelling - Furosemide;
• chondroprotectors – Teraflex, Structum, improve vertebral mobility;
• antidepressants, tranquilizers – Valium, Imipramine;
• muscle relaxants - Mydocalm, Sirdalud - normalize the blood circulation process;
• vitamin complexes.

Paracetamol - effective remedy from throbbing pain

In case of spondylosis, it is necessary to immobilize the neck; for this purpose, special corsets and collars are used; the patient is prescribed strict bed rest.

For a mild headache, sometimes it is enough to lie down in a dark room, which must first be ventilated and humidified. You can put a hot compress on the back of the head, drink a cup of hot herbal tea from linden, mint, and sage.

Neck massage

Massage must be included in the treatment regimen for headaches in the back of the head; the procedure can improve blood circulation, capillary function, and normalize blood pressure. In case of serious pathologies, manipulations should be carried out by a specialist, but in case of rare and minor discomfort, they can be done at home, having previously studied photos and video instructions.

How to massage the back of the head and neck yourself:

1. Apply cream or medicated ointment to the neck.
2. All movements must be made in the direction of blood flow - from the scalp to the shoulders, armpits.
3. You should always start and end the session with stroking, repeating each movement 5 times.
4. Palm edge or bone thumb pass from the back of the neck to the chest, then to the shoulder girdle.
5. Thoroughly stretch all the muscles in your neck.
6. Tap the neck and shoulder area with the edge of your palm.
7. Make a ladle out of your palm and perform patting movements.
8. Place your palm with its edge perpendicular to your back and rub vigorously.
9. Massage your head for 5 minutes, using the same movements as when washing your hair.
10. Massage your temples clockwise.
11. Drink green or Herb tea, lie down.

A simple head massage relieves pain well

If you have high blood pressure or spondylosis, massage should not be performed.

One of the simplest, but also effective ways to combat a sudden attack of headache - warm your palms, place one on the back of your head, place one on your friend’s forehead, and lie in this position for 5-7 minutes.

Prevention

To avoid pain in the back of the head, you must adhere to healthy image life, move more, get enough sleep, don’t be nervous, follow a daily routine.

How to prevent pain in the back of the head:

• stop smoking, alcohol;
• avoid drafts, hypothermia;
• accept cold and hot shower daily;
• do gymnastics in the morning, spend more time walking fresh air;
• sleep on an orthopedic pillow, sit on a chair with a high back, maintain good posture.

An orthopedic pillow helps relieve pain in the back of the head

When working sedentarily, it is necessary to take short breaks and light warm-up every hour to avoid blood stagnation and muscle stiffness.

Pain in the back of the head is often painful and negatively affects performance, sleep, and general well-being. Unpleasant symptoms occur with diseases of the cervical spine, of cardio-vascular system, dental problems, some other pathologies, a doctor will be able to determine the exact cause after examination and diagnosis.

There is no such person who has not suffered from headaches. This part of the body can hurt from different sides, it all depends on the malfunction of the body and the characteristics of the pathology. A severe headache in the back of the head is the most common problem. In this article you can learn about the causes of the pathology and methods of its treatment.

Important! According to professionals, constant or sharp pain in the back of the head may indicate a fairly serious and dangerous illness, therefore it is strictly forbidden to ignore it completely.

Pain in the occipital region can be secondary or primary. In the second case, all the most unpleasant sensations are the main symptom dangerous disease– benign or malignant formation. This may include.

Secondary pain is characterized by the fact that it manifests itself against the background of a certain pathology, for example, a stroke or tumor. Such pain may appear after drinking a lot of coffee, and may also appear side effect from reception medicine or its cancellation. Pain is divided into types according to its severity:

• Dumb;
• Pulsating;
• Acute;
• Compressive;
• Precise and spilled.

The distribution is also based on intensity. Pain in the back of the head can be severe, mild or moderate. Unpleasant symptoms may occur every day, or may appear at certain periods. Based on these features, the doctor will build a general treatment plan.

When occipital pain occurs, the pain sensations may vary. Patients may feel sharp pain, or it may be dull. Headache pain in the back of the head can persist for quite a long time, the pain can be either constant or throbbing. In some situations, unpleasant sensations appear and last for some time, or may pass after a relatively short time.

The pain itself is unpleasant, and it also makes it difficult to concentrate.

During the process of exacerbation, it is impossible to carry out daily activities; there is no strength to carry out the simplest activities. If the entire back of the head hurts greatly, this affects the work of those people who are forced to constantly concentrate, and there is a risk of missing one or another important moment.

Due to the frequent occurrence of headaches, many try to find a solution to the problem, eliminate it with the help of medications or folk remedies. These actions can only achieve temporary effect To completely eliminate the problem, you will need to contact a specialist who will identify the problem and only then prescribe effective treatment. At the right approach the sharp headache in the back of the head no longer appears.

What is the pressure if your temples hurt - read the article.

Symptoms

The majority of people who suffer from serious headaches lead a sedentary or recumbent lifestyle. It is they who experience dizziness and severe pain in the entire back of the head. The causes are related to the cervical part of the spine, such as cervical migraine, acute osteochondrosis or spondylitis. Quite often, those who suffer from diseases of the neck muscles or myositis face the problem. There are many reasons for headaches, here are the most important ones:

• Diseases of the spine in the neck area. The whole neck can hurt here, and general pain during a rapid and sharp turn it can be quite strong. The main reason for the occurrence of pain is the proliferation of the main bony processes that are present at the edges of the spinal body. There is also compression of the vessels that go to the brain.
• Long term wrong general position bodies. This form of pain is typical strictly for those who are at the computer, who, due to their professional activities, are forced to remain in one fixed position for a long time. The pain appears in the evening and is characterized as dull and unpleasantly aching. After normal rest it completely disappears.
• Myogelosis. This is a tightening of the neck muscles, which also occurs due to long-term stay in a clear position. The reason is a violation of the figure and posture, strong drafts and seasonal hypothermia. All this can lead to severe difficulty in movements, as well as to the appearance of such a problem as frequent headaches in the back of the head and temples.
• High blood pressure. This form of pathology can be judged if occipital pain is constantly accompanied by severe nausea and spots. An increase in pain occurs after emotional stress, especially in the morning.
• Chronic neuralgia of the occipital nerves. The pathology is caused by diseases of the spine, severe hypothermia. Signs of pain appear unexpectedly, and the attacks can be quite severe, and the pain spreads to the back and shoulders, ear and jaw. Migraine of the cervical area. This is a disease that occurs due to vascular pathology, it is provoked by improper functioning of the arteries. The patient suffers from burning pain in the temples and on the occipital area, there is severe tinnitus and a pre-fainting state.
• Long-term mental and standard muscle tension. A long stay in such tension leads to dangerous vasospasm and an increase in special stress hormones. IN in this case the pain develops at night and in the evening. This problem affects young women who are characterized by hyper-responsibility syndrome, who try to do everything possible ways control everything that happens.
• Inactivity and lack of fresh oxygen. arise dull pain, which appear in the evening. Every day, workaholics who spend time in stuffy rooms with a minimum of physical activity have headaches.
• Everyone's tension optic nerves. Aches and pain may occur due to vision problems or incorrect frames and lenses. For computer scientists, this is a fairly common occurrence.

If the crisis is severe, Lasix may be given intravenously. This situation is characterized by dangerous symptoms; the patient is taken to the hospital, where the pressure is immediately reduced.

When myositis is diagnosed, the doctor prescribes physiotherapy exercises and massage. Very often the pain is caused by severe overwork. In this case, you just need to completely normalize your sleep, remove stress and minimize work on your PC. The pain is relieved with simple analgesics.

You can eliminate headaches with spicy, sweet and fatty foods. You should review your diet and drink up to 2.5 liters of water per day.

You can fast a little, and also completely forget about cigarettes and nicotine.

It’s worth calming down and reducing nervous tension. Walking, meeting with friends, hiking, and yoga classes are ideal here. Before going to bed, take a light sedative and a warm bath.

Carrying out regular massage of the collar area helps to quickly relieve spasm by significantly improving blood circulation. It is better to always keep your head warm and try not to catch a cold.

These are actions that you can completely do on your own. You can also use various traditional treatment methods, which turn out to be no less effective in the process of combating such an unpleasant phenomenon as occipital headache. About a day after all the rules are fully followed, the pain becomes less intense.

Traditional methods of pain relief

In the process of deciding what can be done in a situation where the back of the head hurts, you must remember that it is not at all necessary to take medications right away.

It is quite enough to ventilate the room and slightly humidify the air using special modern devices.

Experts advise taking certain actions as soon as the pain makes itself felt. You need to immediately ensure silence and complete peace. It is advisable to lie on your back and place a cool compress made from cabbage on your forehead. It's good to drink beforehand herbal infusion based on linden, sage and mint.

Tea brewed with mint is ideal for pain relief. The herb is used in pure form and simultaneously with cinnamon or dissolved in green tea. This is a very healthy drink that perfectly refreshes, tones, improves digestion, and is also characterized by ideal nutritional qualities. Mint is ideal for those who suffer from high blood pressure, she reduces it.

Cranberries can be used as folk methods for treating headaches. Juice from it or alcohol tincture perfectly reduces headaches. Drinking these mixtures is 50 ml three times a day.

No less effective is viburnum red, which eliminates migraines in a few minutes. The fruits can be ground with sugar or simply added to tea. Just three tablespoons of berries are enough to give the body daily dose vitamin C, relieve stress and provide optimal antiviral therapy.

Each herb is taken in the amount of one tablespoon. Everything is poured with a liter of boiling water and infused in a thermos for 6 hours. After the mixture has infused and been strained, you need to add half a liter of vodka to it. All this is infused again throughout the day. The composition is taken before meals, 30 ml. To obtain a positive effect, the mixture must be drunk completely.

Ginger is no less effective for occipital headaches. It is necessary to prepare tea from it by simply adding one tablespoon of grated root to hot water. After the mixture boils, it should sit for about 20 minutes. Tea is drunk in the morning before eating. To achieve faster results, you can add mint to the infusion.

There are some recipes that can be used as external remedies. This is an ideal opportunity to remove unpleasant symptoms with products that are allergenic. Among the most popular means are:

• Lemon or other citrus zest. The substance is taken in the amount of a couple of spoons and placed on the temples for about 15 minutes. At the end of the procedure, everything is simply washed off with water.
• Sugar has a special analgesic effect. It is worth making sugar syrup, cool and moisten gauze with it and apply it to the forehead. Usually after 30 minutes everything goes away. It is advisable to use cane sugar.
• Regular potatoes, which are pre-grated to give it the appearance of a paste, can provide relief from pain. The mixture is placed on the forehead or where it is located. You can put a warm cap on top and walk around in it for an hour. Many patients note that within 10 sessions they are completely freed from migraines that have tormented them for years.

Various herbs can be used as external remedies. This applies not only to mint, but to ordinary cabbage. It is important to first knead the product and apply it to your head. Usually just a few minutes are enough to completely eliminate the pain.

Preventive measures

If you have frequent headaches, you should carefully follow preventive measures that will help get rid of headaches. If the patient spends a lot of time in a sitting position, it is necessary to arrange the workplace as competently as possible.

It is worth purchasing a comfortable chair and an ergonomic desk, and carefully adjusting everything in the process of arranging your workplace.

Great importance is given to the bed and bedding. To completely eliminate problems with the spine, you need to buy orthopedic mattresses and pillows.

If you are constantly experiencing severe pain, you will need to completely eliminate everything that will cause and intensify such attacks. First of all, this concerns giving up alcoholic beverages and nicotine.

More needs to be done active view lifestyle, get enough sleep and then you can forget about the problem for many years.

For more serious problems, competent drug therapy will allow you to achieve positive dynamics.

There can be many causes of pain. A neurologist will help you understand them.

Headaches in the back of the head can be symptoms of the following conditions:

• Nervous tension- occurs as a result of stress. People with vascular diseases of the head and neck are prone to this.
• Overvoltage as a result of prolonged physical or mental work, prolonged exposure to an uncomfortable position, for example, in front of a monitor screen or while driving a car, can also cause a headache in the back of the head.
• Cervical spondylosis — This is a disease of the spine that occurs when the ligaments and joints of the spine change, which causes pressure on the nerve roots and blood vessels. There is constant or prolonged pain in the back of the head, sometimes spreading to the ears and eyes. It is often observed in those people who move little (usually in mental workers).
• Cervical osteochondrosis— change in structure intervertebral discs accompanied by education intervertebral hernia. A hernia can put pressure on the structures of the spinal cord and cause pain in the back of the head, temples and neck. Osteochondrosis can provoke the occurrence of vertebrobasilar syndrome. In the presence of cervical osteochondrosis, the so-called cervical migraine may develop. With this disease, the patient experiences a sharp pain in the right or left half of the back of the head, which then spreads to the temple and superciliary area.
• Vascular pain- pain caused by spasm of the arteries located at the entrance to the skull or inside the head, is pulsating in nature, comes from the back of the head and can spread to the forehead. Vascular pain also includes pain that occurs when venous outflow from the head is obstructed.
• Occipital neuralgia- characterized by recurrent pain in the back of the head. The pain also spreads to the back, neck, ears, lower jaw. Turning the head, coughing and sneezing cause an increase in pain. Often the patient prefers to avoid turning the head so as not to provoke a new attack of severe pain. Occipital neuralgia can occur as a result of spinal disorders, e.g.

“Causes and what to do if the back of the head hurts” is a common complaint and question with which patients turn to a doctor. The pain can be localized at the base of the skull, in the neck, or spread to other parts of the head. Also not the same intensity pain, their severity and duration. The causes of headaches in the occipital region can be varied. If the deterioration in health in the form of a headache in the back of the head is not episodic, but regular or long-term, and accompanying symptoms are noted, you should not postpone a visit to a specialist. Timely diagnosis and prescribed treatment appropriate to the situation will help avoid health problems in the future.

Causes of pain in the back of the head and neck

Pain in the neck and back of the head is a fairly common symptom. The reasons may lie in a variety of things: how the impact external factors, and in illness internal organs. Only a doctor after a detailed examination can determine the exact reason why the back of the head hurts and tell you what to do in such a situation if you feel unwell. The most common reasons why the back of the head hurts are given below.

Cervical osteochondrosis

Cervical osteochondrosis is a disease that affects more than a third of the population major cities. It can develop due to:

• insufficient muscle activity;
• sedentary lifestyle;
• obesity;
• due to genetic predisposition;
• long periods of work at the computer, etc.

Pain occurs in the neck area and spreads to the back of the head. At the same time, diagnostics show destruction and deformation of the intervertebral discs and the vertebrae themselves, and their early aging. The disease affects one or several vertebrae at once, leading to disruption motor activity.

Cervical spondylosis

The disease is caused by deformation of the vertebrae in the cervical region and the formation of specific growths. Pain is observed in the neck and occipital part of the head. Discomfort increases with active movement, as well as during sleep and rest in a supine position.

It is worth noting: most often this disease appears in older people, as well as in people leading a sedentary lifestyle.

Cervical myositis

An insidious disease that affects skeletal muscles, causing acute and chronic inflammatory processes, often disguised as other diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Pain in the neck and occipital part of the head can be aching in nature - the intensity is medium or self-expression (moderate) in the initial stages, severe - with a progressive illness.

If treated in time, myositis can be eliminated once and for all. The doctor prescribes antibiotics, physiotherapy, massage. A preliminary diagnosis is carried out and an X-ray image is studied. Advanced forms can only be cured surgically.

Hypertension

Hypertensive patients often complain of pain in the neck and in the back of the head. Increased blood pressure and vascular pathologies often lead to unpleasant sensations in the collar area and pain in the head. It is dangerous to ignore such a symptom - arterial hypertension tends to progress over time. Moreover, at the initial stage of this pathological condition drug therapy It is quite effective and can significantly slow down the process.

Neuralgia

With occipital neuralgia, the patient complains of intense pain localized in the back of the head and neck. The reasons for the appearance are hypothermia, chronic diseases of the musculoskeletal system, such as osteochondrosis, spondyloarthrosis and others. Associated signs of this type of neuralgia:

• sore eyes;
• tinnitus, hearing impairment;
• pain when swallowing, sneezing, coughing, chewing food.

Cervical migraine

A problem with which people of active and fully working age often seek medical help. Migraine occurs due to:

• frequent stress;
• physical and emotional stress;
• overwork;
• incorrect position during sleep.

The symptom spreads from the occipital to the frontal and parietal regions, the left or right eye, and intensifies with movement and pressure on the vertebral artery.

If the pain does not go away after taking analgesics or antispasmodics, is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, darkening or “gnats” in the eyes, photophobia, and rapid heartbeat, it is better to seek help from a specialist. There is a high risk of sudden jumps in blood pressure, pinched nerves, acute inflammatory process or other pathologies. Requiring immediate medical intervention

Other causes of headaches in the occipital region

Even quite a few people may have a headache or neck ache. healthy person. A headache in the back of the head appears due to high fatigue and exposure to external negative factors. If you stay in an uncomfortable position for a long time, blood circulation in the collar area is disrupted and muscle spasms are observed. This is one of the very common causes of pain in a healthy or relatively healthy person.

Pain occurs during stress or nervous tension. The reason is the same spasm of the muscles of the collar zone, poor blood supply to the soft tissues, and increased intracranial pressure. At the same time, even severely, if the back of the head hurts, it is enough just to change the position of the body, walk in the fresh air for half an hour for noticeable relief to occur. If you have a headache in the back of your head and it doesn’t stop, you should resort to taking medications.

During pregnancy, many expectant mothers complain of severe pain in the occipital region. Due to hormonal changes and multiple changes affecting the functioning of almost all organs and systems, the pregnant woman feels unwell, weak, and headaches. The symptom develops as a result of disturbances in the production of serotonin and increased vascular tone.

Weather-dependent people and the elderly complain of the discomfort described above in the vast majority of cases. Its appearance can be caused by changes in climatic or weather conditions, moving, crossing time zones. Pain in the back of the head appears when atmospheric pressure changes.

In children and adolescents, pain often occurs during periods of active growth and development, during adolescence, if hormonal disbalance. During this period, the symptom is caused by vascular spasms and circulatory disorders. Overwork, studying, and playing on the computer can also lead to illness.

Localization and nature of pain

Unpleasant sensations most often have a bilateral localization, but there are also cases when the head hurts on the left or right, closer to the auricle. This occurs with neuralgia and damage to the neck muscles. Nature of the headache:

• throbbing pain - can be noted not only in the area of ​​the temples, but also in the back of the head, usually caused by vascular disorders, hypertension;
• paroxysmal, worsening with movement - occurs due to muscle spasms, destruction of intervertebral disc tissue (osteochondrosis);
• dull - does not intensify or disappear when changing body position, does not have sharp changes on a scale from 1 to 10;
• sharp, shooting - lumbago can be observed in cases of dysfunction of the musculoskeletal system, sprained or damaged muscles, neuralgia.

Qualified assistance for complaints of pain in the back of the head

Those who have encountered a similar problem were interested in the question: what to do if the back of the head hurts badly? First of all, in case of unclear causes of headache, it is necessary to contact medical institution and consultation with a qualified medical specialist, which will tell you what to do if the back of your head hurts badly.

When contacting a specialist, be sure to inform accompanying symptoms. These include: severe nausea and vomiting, darkening of the eyes, lumbago when turning the head, pain in the eyes, a feeling of fullness and heaviness. During the examination, the doctor will pay attention to changes in body temperature, if any. At initial appointment Blood pressure is measured and anamnesis is taken. The specialist issues a referral for a comprehensive examination, tests that help identify a number of disorders (including the presence inflammatory processes), x-ray. Only after the full examination it is possible to accurately determine the causes of development this state and tell you what to do if you have a headache in the back of your head.

A specialist can determine what to do if there is a headache in the back of the head and prescribe adequate treatment only after establishing accurate diagnosis. Self-medication or uncontrolled use of pharmaceutical products and drugs traditional medicine unsafe.

A condition in which a headache in the back of the head requires a visit to a specialist in two cases - if it recurs often and is of high intensity. The doctor prescribes medication correction, diet therapy, and, if necessary, bed rest. A prerequisite is the preliminary origin of the diagnosis.

The second definition of headache is cephalalgia. There are several varieties of it - pulsating, hoop-shaped, periodic, constant. Localized in the frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital regions. It may be accompanied by various symptoms, taking into account which it is possible to differentiate the pathology. Leads to loss of consciousness or is not aggravated by fainting. Eliminated with the help of medications quickly, slowly or not at all.

Strong pain

Is a sign of an infectious lesion, the presence tumor process, hypertensive crisis. Severe cephalalgia is the result of a violation cerebral circulation, existing intoxication.

Consequences of increased or decreased blood pressure. Additional symptoms– vomiting, flashing spots before the eyes, blurred vision. Reason – nervous tension, hard physical labor, lack of sleep, exposure to direct sun rays, impact hot water. Dyspeptic disorders are associated with cephalgia during poisoning.

Pulsating

Twitching sensations moving to the temporo-parietal region indicate a violation of the blood supply to the tissues. The phenomenon characterizes the development of a hypertensive crisis and indicates an increase in intracranial pressure. Throbbing pain is a basic symptom of migraine. The sensation is a consequence of poor sleep hygiene (using a hard pillow). The pulsation serves as a signal to stop drinking too much coffee.

Sharp headache in the back of the head

It is a manifestation of brain tumors, stroke, hypertensive crisis. High-intensity cephalgia is characterized by a spontaneous increase in blood pressure, a migraine attack, or traumatic brain injury. Cervical osteochondrosis of stages 3-4, myositis, manifests itself as severe discomfort.

Constant

Characteristic of cervical osteochondrosis and spondylosis. Sometimes the appearance of continuous cephalalgia is preceded by chronic problems With circulatory system. Overwork, being in a stressful environment, and poor sleep hygiene also contribute to the appearance of pain. Subsequently, clinical manifestations are supplemented by dizziness.

Pain and dizziness

The combination of these features is clinical picture cervical osteochondrosis, problems with blood pressure, cervical myogelosis. Tension in the occipital region, along with dizziness, manifests intoxication of the body and overwork; lack of sleep caused by resting on an uncomfortable pillow.

Shoots

Shooting and crunching inside the back of the head are a harbinger of osteochondrosis, myositis, spondylosis, myogelosis, and less commonly, hypertension. You can differentiate the disease based only on the type of pain. Problems with the condition of the musculoskeletal system always manifest themselves as shooting sensations.

Presses

The pressing type of cephalgia is a harbinger of gradually increasing blood pressure. Gradually, an unpleasant sensation may spread to the temples, parietal region, or less often, it does not change location. Additional symptoms are nausea, vomiting. Need to:

• measure blood pressure;
• then take a horizontal position;
• Place an antihypertensive drug under the tongue.

Must be nearby close person who can, if necessary, provide first aid or call a medical team. Pressure on the back of the head when weather conditions change, if long time the person was in an uncomfortable position (for example, on a hard, embossed pillow).

Causes of pain in the back of the head

Cephalgia, which is localized in the back of the head, is sometimes regarded as a problem with the neck, and they try to eliminate the pathology with physical activity and massage. But in half of the cases the cause of the condition is the presence of intracranial problems. By focusing on the supposed dysfunction of the musculoskeletal system, the patient wastes time. It allows the transition of craniocerebral disease to chronic stage. Thanks to diagnostics, it is possible to determine the localization of the pathology.

Manifests itself as unilateral cephalgia. The patient notes:

• pulsation in the parietal region
• dizziness
• nausea ending with vomiting
• tension, burning eyes from light
• tearfulness

Cause of migraine - genetic predisposition suffered head injuries. The irritant can be sound, emotional stress, bright light.

Increased blood pressure levels. This is a dominant symptom that can be caused by hereditary predisposition, stress, or cardiac dysfunction. Symptoms: cephalalgia, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, lacrimation and destruction of the eye capillaries. There is pallor of the skin, nose bleed. In severe cases, fainting occurs. No emergency medical care increases the likelihood of a stroke.

Intracranial pressure

The pathological phenomenon is caused by drinking strong coffee, infectious diseases, loud sounds. Development is promoted by stress factors and traumatic brain injuries. Increasing, intracranial pressure causes an attack of vomiting, nosebleeds, and a feeling of sand in the eyes. Additionally, capillaries are destroyed and bruises appear on the eyelids and eyeballs.

The condition is characterized by a decrease in blood pressure. Causes: hidden bleeding, anemia, low-quality nutrition, vitamin deficiency, problems with tone blood vessels. Other reasons:

• lack of sleep, overwork
• staying in an environment with high air humidity
• problems with the nervous system
• incorrect alternation of work and rest regimes

Symptoms are pale skin and mucous membranes, nausea, dizziness, and bouts of vomiting. With absence adequate treatment- fainting.

Causes of pain in the back of the head and neck

If pressure was not applied to the back of the head, the patient was not in an uncomfortable position for a long time - the discomfort is caused by pathology. Over 10 diseases can occur in the body, which, as they progress, are accompanied by cephalgia of the occipital region. The degree of intensity of the pathology, the frequency of exacerbation and the nature of discomfort depend on the specifics of the pathology.

A degenerative-inflammatory process that affects the cartilaginous parts of the vertebrae. It develops under the influence of an incorrect lifestyle - lack of full physical activity, poor posture, and stress factors. The main symptoms are pain in the occipital region spreading to the entire surface of the neck. Discomfort increases when turning the head. Associated symptoms– dizziness, decreased visual acuity, difficulty concentrating.

A pathological process in which ossification occurs of those structures that, according to physiological principles, should consist of cartilage tissue. In the case under consideration - intervertebral discs of the cervical spine.

Symptoms:

1. Cephalgia, which appears more and more often as the pathology develops
2. Decreased vision quality
3. Feeling of a tight collar
4. At stage 3, the pathology causes dizziness and fainting

The reason for the appearance is lack of physical activity, previous injuries, impairment metabolic processes, inflammation.

Characterized by compaction muscle tissue neck, neoplasms compress nerve fibers and blood vessels.

Symptoms:

1. Pain and stiffness when trying to tilt or turn your head
2. When palpating the neck, neoplasms are determined, the size of which sometimes reaches the size of a walnut
3. Dizziness and dyspeptic disorders

The cause is exposure to a draft, excessive exercise stress, prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position, microtrauma. Predisposing factors are lack of physical activity, obesity, endocrine problems. Myogelosis also causes a condition after surgery, since it requires adherence to bed rest.

Inflammation of the muscle tissue of the neck. Symptoms: pain inside the neck when turning the head, an unpleasant sensation is also observed at rest, on the eve of a change in weather. Additional manifestations are swelling, redness of the problem area, difficulties with self-care, stiffness.

• hypothermia
• previous injuries
• intoxication
• infectious processes in the body

The presence of dysfunction of the musculoskeletal system predisposes to the development of pathology. More often, myositis is associated with the formation of intervertebral hernia, osteochondrosis, and arthrosis.

Occurs after hypothermia, the appearance of cervical osteochondrosis, diseases of infectious origin, compression by tumors, hematomas. The main symptom is the spread unpleasant sensation on the back, neck and lower jaw. The pain manifests itself in attacks, during which it is impossible to perform even self-care activities. An increase in pulsation occurs during coughing, chewing, and sneezing.

Which doctor should I contact?

When the first signs of deterioration in health appear, it is advisable to consult a therapist. Doesn't matter what kind medical institution it is related to private or public. In both cases, a specialist will conduct an examination, interview, and refer you for an examination. Then, based on the diagnostic results, it becomes clear who will be involved in drawing up the therapeutic program.

Prescribes, supervises and, if necessary, adjusts treatment:

• Neuropathologist. Deals with the elimination of diseases associated with disorders of the state and functioning of the nervous system. Treats neuritis, neuroses, post-stress conditions, migraine.
• Orthopedist. Relieves all joint diseases that cause headaches and discomfort in the neck, spreading to the shoulders. Eliminates osteochondrosis, osteoporosis.
• Vertebrologist. Treats pathologies of the structure and condition of the vertebrae, if their violation causes headaches and associated discomfort.
• Cardiologist. Treats hypertension and frequently recurring episodes of hypertensive crisis.
• Oncologist. Eliminates tumor processes in brain tissue (malignant, benign).
• Neurosurgeon. Assists the oncologist. The participation of a specialist in this profile is necessary to perform an operation in which brain tumors are removed. The neurosurgeon also performs interventions to eliminate hematomas of the brain. Normalizes the well-being of patients who have suffered a traumatic brain injury, since this condition is one of the causes of cephalgia.

Additionally, you may need a consultation with a psychologist, the participation of an endocrinologist, or a chiropractor. In rare cases, regular massage is sufficient to eliminate cephalgia. The action ensures normalization of blood flow to the vertebrae and tissues, which eliminates muscle strain, degeneration of cartilage tissue, and relieves pain. It is possible to determine which specialist will treat the patient in a particular case only after identifying the root cause of cephalalgia.

Diagnosis and treatment

The examination assumes:

1. Laboratory analysis of blood and urine. Clinical and biochemical parameters are determined. Based on these, it is possible to confirm the presence of inflammation, intoxication, anemia, and pre-infarction condition.
2. ECG. Allows you to determine the condition of the heart, its functional characteristics.
3. Radiation imaging methods – simple and complex. The patient is referred to x-ray examination, MRI, CT. The techniques allow us to identify inflammation, pinched nerves, degenerative changes in the vertebrae, narrowing or dilation of blood vessels. An important feature of diagnostic methods is the ability to detect a tumor and determine its size.

Additional diagnostic options depend on the doctor's assumption regarding the patient's diagnosis. The level of equipment of the clinic and its technical capabilities are also important.

Treatment for each headache condition various types, assumes individual approach. The doctor prepares treatment taking into account the nature of the underlying pathology, the general well-being of the patient, the presence of chronic diseases, age, and weight. The specialist prescribes the administration of the following groups of drugs:

• Vitamins (B1, B2, B6, B12). Aimed at restoring blood supply to tissues and strengthening the body's immune abilities. They can also prescribe vitamin complexes - Neurorubin, Neurobex.
• Medicines aimed at increasing low blood pressure. These include Cordiamin, and sometimes Dexamethasone (4 mg) and Caffeine are prescribed.
• Hypotonic agents (these include Dibazol, Papaverine, Magnesium sulfate). Normalize the level of pressure when it increases.
• Diuretics. They reduce blood pressure by removing excess fluid from the body.
• Chondroprotectors. Normalize the structure and condition of the cartilaginous part of the vertebrae. Prescribed for osteochondrosis, which is accompanied by headache.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Reduce pain, reduce the spectrum of inflammation. Voltaren, Ibuprofen, Diclofenac are prescribed.
• Sumatriptan is prescribed for migraines. This effective drug, which provides long-term pain relief to the patient if the attacks are severe and standard analgesics do not help.
• For cephalgia caused by poisoning, detoxification therapy must be carried out. The patient is connected to a drip and given saline solutions, glucose, vitamins. The stomach is first cleaned of pathological contents.
• If headaches are a consequence of a neurological disorder, Cerebrolysin, Actovegin, L-lysine aescinate, and vitamin therapy help. Additionally – Sirdalud or Mydocalm. To quickly eliminate pain, administer Dexalgin or Ketanov, then go for diagnostics to find out the cause of your deteriorated health.
• Cephalgia against the background of a tumor process is a debilitating phenomenon. Pain relief is carried out in a medical institution or by calling a doctor at home. Since the disease debilitates the patient physically and psychologically, an injection is performed narcotic analgesic. Its action allows you to relieve pain and tension, relax, and get enough sleep.

During a headache attack, it is necessary to adhere to bed rest and increase water consumption. Especially if the condition is caused by intoxication or decreased blood pressure. 98% of the listed drugs are administered in a hospital, where the patient is hospitalized with the types of pathologies considered. The doctor monitors the condition, replaces or discontinues medications if necessary, and seeks full recovery patient.

Prevention

It is difficult to prevent the development of certain pathologies, since there may be a genetic predisposition to them. These include migraine, hypertonic disease, problems with the condition of the spine. Prevention consists of following the following recommendations:

1. Monitor your posture, maintain sleep hygiene, and when working at the computer, take periodic breaks to warm up.
2. Normalize your diet, stop eating unhealthy foods and dishes. Monitor the quality of food, prevent the consumption of expired, low-quality products.
3. Refuse bad habits: The toxic effects of alcohol and nicotine are known.

You can avoid headaches thanks to regular visits ecologically useful areas. It is equally important to alternate between work and rest. If you avoid hypothermia, you can protect yourself from pathologies such as neuritis and myositis. The patient needs to limit himself from nervous tension. If you cannot overcome stressful events on your own, it is advisable to consult a psychologist.

Video: What to do if you have a headache in the back of your head?