Throbbing pain in the back of the head

Causes of pain

Pain in the back of the head can be caused by injury: a blow or a fall. But patients usually know about this. It can also be caused by prolonged stress, incorrect head position while sitting and excessive physical activity. This symptom is typical for people who work at computers or at a desk.

Among the pathological causes of pain in the back of the head are:

• diseases of the nervous system;
• pathologies of the heart and blood vessels;
• damage to the jaw apparatus;
• infectious diseases.

To establish the exact cause, an additional examination is required, which is prescribed by a doctor.

Throbbing pain in the back of the head: causes, treatment

A headache can come from anything, and the reasons that cause the discomfort are not always cause for concern. Usually this is overwork, lack of sleep, changes in atmospheric pressure, stress, nervous strain, or just a cold. Painkillers and sleep help cope with the discomfort. However, if attacks begin to occur regularly and become increasingly intense, it is necessary to take emergency measures and seek advice from a specialist.

Headaches in the occipital part of the head and in the upper neck are among the three most common complaints of patients. As a rule, the feeling of discomfort originates in the cervical area, then spreads to the scalp at the base of the skull. Unilateral pain requires special attention, as it may indicate the development of serious diseases of the spinal column, blood vessels surrounding the brain, nerve roots, spinal cord or brain.

The pulsating nature of the pain may indicate compression of the vertebral arteries.

Causes of pain

The main factors causing headaches in the back of the head:

• Pathologies of the spinal column (osteochondrosis, spondylitis, spondylosis, hernias, protrusions, vertebral instability, etc.).
• Traumatic injuries (dislocations, subluxations, sprains, open wounds, etc.).
• Pathologies of the muscle corset (myositis, myogelosis, muscle strain, spasm or inflammation of the fibers). Prolonged stay in an uncomfortable forced position, as a result of which the muscles become numb and do not receive the necessary nutrition (for example, when sitting for a long time at a computer or at work). Weakening and atrophy of the muscular corset due to insufficient physical activity and an inactive lifestyle.
• Damage to nerve structures (neuralgia of the occipital or facial nerves, inflammation or pinched roots).
• Instability of arterial or intracranial pressure.
• Pathologies of blood vessels running in the cervical area and washing the brain and spinal cord.
• Damage to the temporomandibular joints.
• Nervous or psychological stress, overwork, stress, chronic lack of sleep.

To determine the cause or complex of factors causing pulsating headaches in the back of the head, a thorough diagnosis is necessary, taking into account all the features of the development of the disease and the general health of the patient. Only after conducting a set of necessary studies and making an accurate diagnosis, the attending physician prescribes an individual treatment program.

Osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis damage to the intervertebral cartilage is the most common and common cause of pain in the occipital part of the head. Losing the necessary nutrition and water supply, the vertebral discs gradually dry out, crack, flatten and cease to perform the functions (shock absorption and flexibility) originally assigned to them by nature. Sagging discs lead to pinched nerves, blood vessels, and soft tissues.

The pain can be localized only on one side, radiating to the parietal region and temples. Accompanied by dizziness, poor coordination of movements, unsteady gait, nausea, and sometimes vomiting. With the addition of vertebrobasilar syndrome, dysfunction of the organs of vision (flickering “fly spots”, dark spots, a feeling of blurriness of the surrounding space, etc.) and hearing (tinnitus, weakened hearing) is noted. Physical activity and sudden movements of the neck increase pain.

Spondylosis of the cervical area

Spondylosis is a disease characterized by the growth of bone growths (osteophytes) at the edges of the vertebral bodies. Both cartilaginous tissue and ligamentous apparatus can ossify, forming sharp edges that injure or compress blood vessels and/or nerve endings. The causes of early degeneration of spinal tissue are a sedentary, inactive lifestyle or metabolic disorders in the body.

The pain syndrome extends to the base of the neck, shoulder girdle, stiffness of movements is observed (up to complete fusion, formation of a bone block and immobilization of the cervical segment). In addition to pain in the back of the head, patients experience decreased hearing and visual abilities, disturbed sleep, irritability, and fatigue. In some cases, the pain does not go away even at rest and is poorly relieved with analgesic drugs.

Neck muscle diseases

Myositis, myogelosis are diseases of muscle fibers in which they become inflamed, swollen, and hardened, causing stiffness of movement, pain on palpation and other unpleasant sensations. They appear when the neck or the whole body is hypothermic, during prolonged exposure to a draft, in the presence of poor posture or deformities of the spinal column (scoliosis, kyphosis), after suffering from nervous strain, stress or viral infections.

Tension headaches are also associated with pathologies of muscle fibers. They occur when staying in an uncomfortable position for a long time (for example, at a table with constant concentration, concentration of attention and vision), lack of physical activity, when the muscular corset of the neck atrophies and is not able to confidently support the head. In this case, the nature of the pain is pulsating, but moderate, with a slight tingling in the occipital-parietal region of the head or the sensation of wearing a hoop or helmet. May be accompanied by tinnitus, dizziness, and a feeling of fatigue.

Complete relaxation, the patient taking a horizontal position, a light massage of the head and collar area, and a hot bath help relieve pain.

Nerve fiber pathologies

Neuralgia, neuritis - damage or inflammation of peripheral nerve fibers, characterized by attacks of sharp and acute pain in the innervation zone, loss of sensitivity and reflex reactions. In particularly difficult cases, it can develop into paresis or paralysis (complete immobilization). Depending on the damage to a particular nerve, the distribution of pain depends (on the neck, shoulder girdle, ears, lower jaw) and accompanying symptoms are observed (muscle spasms, limited mobility, weakened hearing, difficulty swallowing and speech disorders, etc.).

Quite often, neurological headaches are accompanied by hyperesthesia (increased sensitivity) of the pathological area, do not weaken at rest, and intensify with sudden movements (turning the head, bending, coughing, sneezing).

Vascular diseases

Anomalies of the vascular bed of the neck and head can be either congenital or acquired. Compression of the vertebral arteries by muscle, bone, cartilage or ligamentous structures leads to impaired blood circulation in the brain and its constant oxygen starvation. Over time, brain cells are depleted, the patient experiences chronic weakness, malaise, fatigue, and any, even the most insignificant, factor can cause a severe throbbing headache in the back of the head.

Such pain is accompanied by dizziness, tinnitus, darkening of the eyes, sudden fainting, and vegetative-vascular dysfunction.
A feeling of heaviness, nagging pain and confusion, and rapid heartbeat are inherent in blood pressure disorders (hypertension, hypotension). Relief comes from vomiting, complete rest, foot baths, and hot, sweet drinks. Author: K.M.N., Academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences M.A. Bobyr

Diseases associated with the symptom

The reason why the back of the head hurts may be pathology. Diseases characterized by symptoms:

• neuralgia;
• cardiopsychoneurosis;
• hypertension;
• cervical osteochondrosis;
• migraine;
• cervical spondylosis;
• myositis - inflammation of the neck muscles;
• myogelosis;
• malocclusion;
• lymphadenitis is inflammation of the lymph nodes near the neck.

They can be detected using diagnostic tests, some tests and examinations.

Diagnostics

You can get rid of occipital pain in the head only after discovering the cause of its occurrence. For this purpose the following is carried out:

• inspection and palpation;
• general blood analysis;
• ECG;
• Ultrasound of the heart;
• Ultrasound of head and neck vessels;
• EEG;
• X-ray of the cervical spine.

If infection is suspected due to lymphadenitis, additional tests and examinations are prescribed in specialized institutions (anti-tuberculosis dispensary, dermatovenerological dispensary, infectious diseases hospital or department).

Other common causes

A dull pain of tension in the back of the head occurs from prolonged tension in the muscles of the back and neck, which combined leads to overstrain of the supracranial muscle and initiates pain in the occipital area. Neck relaxing exercises and rubbing help eliminate this cause. This condition is usually regarded as neck myositis.

With ankylosing spondylitis, the ligamentous apparatus of the cervical vertebrae suffers, the head is fixed in a certain bent position, which also causes chronic pain in the back of the head.

Regardless of the cause of suffering, the experienced specialists of the international clinic Medica24 will help each patient feel better, reduce and even remove the clinical manifestations of the disease in order to return to an active life.

Treatment

Once the diagnosis is established, adequate treatment is selected. It is aimed at eliminating the cause of the headache. Treatment options:

• rest and painkillers for pathologies of the nervous system;
• drugs that lower blood pressure and cardioprotectors for heart diseases;
• ointments and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for myositis;
• physiotherapy, physical therapy and massage for osteochondrosis;
• antispasmodics for neurocirculatory dystonia;
• antibiotics for tuberculous lymphadenopathy;
• antiretroviral therapy for lymphadenitis initiated by HIV infection.

In some cases, nootropics are prescribed to improve blood circulation in the brain. But their effectiveness has not been clinically proven, so taking these drugs remains at the discretion of the doctor and the patient.

Often headaches go away after visiting a chiropractor. This is not a massage, but rather a treatment of pathologies of the spine and muscles. Sessions may be painful, but after them there is a noticeable relief of the condition, and unpleasant sensations occur much less frequently.

A headache cannot be tolerated - at this time brain cells are damaged. It is worth taking an analgesic and consulting a doctor to find the cause of poor health.

Read also: Why do you feel dizzy?

Dear patients! Remember that only a qualified doctor can make an accurate diagnosis, determine the causes and nature of the disease, and prescribe effective treatment. You can make an appointment with our specialists or call a doctor at home by calling 8-(4822)-33-00-33

Be healthy and happy!

Pain at the base of the skull

Rheumatism

Arthritis

28665 11 February

IMPORTANT!

The information in this section cannot be used for self-diagnosis and self-treatment.
In case of pain or other exacerbation of the disease, diagnostic tests should be prescribed only by the attending physician. To make a diagnosis and properly prescribe treatment, you should contact your doctor. Pain at the base of the skull: causes of occurrence, what diseases it occurs with, diagnosis and treatment methods.

Definition

Pain at the base of the skull (vertebrogenic cervicocranialgia) is a pain syndrome localized in the cervico-occipital region, which can spread to the frontotemporal region and the eye area on the homolateral side. It has been proven that the source of pain can be the structures of the upper cervical spine. Typically, this is the level of the C1, C2 and C3 vertebrae, which includes joints, discs, ligaments and muscles. The lower cervical vertebrae, as a rule, play an indirect role in the formation of clinical symptoms of pain.

Pathological diseases of the cervical spine, which are accompanied by intense or aching pain, experts call “painful neck” syndrome.

The International Headache Society, 3rd revision (ICHD-3) recommended considering cervicogenic headache as secondary, arising due to changes in the cervical spine, including bone structures, intervertebral discs, and soft tissue structures, the pathology of which is often accompanied by pain in the cervical spine. neck. 70% of patients with pain in the cervical spine simultaneously experience headache, but only in 18% of cases is it considered a consequence of neck pain.

In the genesis of headaches in childhood and adolescence, functional disorders in the spinal motion segments of the cervical spine, in particular disorders in the structures of its upper cervical spine, play a significant role.

Types of pain at the base of the skull

Cervicogenic pain is indicated by differential features such as unilateral headache extending from the back of the head to the front, and evidence of involvement of the cervical spine. An attack of pain can be triggered by applying pressure to trigger points in the neck/occipital area or holding the neck in an awkward position. It is important that in some cases such pain has migraine-like features - a number of patients experience photo- and phonophobia, lacrimation, nausea, vomiting, which can sometimes be regarded as a manifestation of migraine.

Pain at the base of the skull is characterized by limited range of motion in the cervical spine, soreness of the neck muscles, changes in muscle tone, or a reaction to passive or active stretching. Usually the pain is combined with a functional block at the upper cervical level.

Injuries to the upper cervical spine due to tumors, fractures, infections, and rheumatoid arthritis can cause headaches that present clinically in the same way as cervicocranialgia. However, a feature of cervicogenic headache is that it is provoked by movements in the cervical spine, and after performing certain warm-up movements in the neck it can stop. Most often, such complaints are not associated with serious pathology, and the patient makes a full recovery.

Possible causes of pain at the base of the skull

Pain at the base of the skull is based on functional and organic changes in various anatomical structures of the cervical spine: joints, ligaments, fascia, muscles, nerves. The leading role is given to degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine. However, there are only isolated indications of the role of functional disorders.

One of the main causes of neck pain is staying in a fixed position for a long time. Other causes of the disease include:

• osteochondrosis, spondyloarthrosis, spondylosis, uncovertebral arthrosis and other changes in the spine;
• neck injuries, injuries;
• sprains;
• intervertebral disc herniation;
• spondyloarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis.

A common cause of cervicogenic pain is inferior oblique muscle syndrome.
A spasmed muscle can compress the neurovascular bundle passing under it (segment of the vertebral artery with the periarterial sympathetic plexus, occipital nerves) - for this condition, the development of paresthesia in the scalp is typical, and sometimes there is pain when combing the hair. It has been observed that stimulation of the cervical structures causes pain, and anesthesia reduces it. Lately, doctors are increasingly talking about “text neck” syndrome, which develops in people who spend a lot of time reading texts from electronic devices (gadgets).

The head of an adult weighs about 5 kg - this is the weight the neck experiences in its normal position. When reading from gadget screens, the head is usually tilted: when tilted just 15°, the load on the spine increases to 12 kg, and when tilted 60° – up to 27 kg. As a result, posture changes, the intervertebral discs of the cervical spine suffer, muscles spasm, and pain occurs at the base of the skull.

The main manifestations of pain at the base of the skull include:

• frequent contraction of the neck muscles, convulsions;
• painful sensations when turning the head;
• noise in the head, sleep disturbance;
• pain in the cervical spine, radiating to the head;
• dizziness;
• constant tension in the neck and back of the head.

The presence of three to four signs should make the patient think about seeking medical help.
Which doctors should you contact if you experience pain at the base of the skull?
To determine the cause of the headache, you should contact a general practitioner or. The doctor will prescribe the necessary examination, determine the cause of the disease and prescribe treatment.

Diagnosis and examinations for pain at the base of the skull

The following diagnostic criteria are used to make a diagnosis:

• The causal relationship of headache with pathology of the cervical region is based on at least one of the following signs:
• clinical signs confirm that the source of pain is located in the neck;
• pain stops after diagnostic blockade of neck structures or nerve formations (with an adequate comparative study with placebo).

Using clinical, laboratory and/or neuroimaging methods, signs of disorder or damage in the cervical spine or soft tissues of the neck that are a reliable or possible cause of headache are determined:

• X-ray of the cervical region in several projections;