Pain in the back of the head on the right: causes, diagnosis and treatment

Causes of pain in the back of the head on the right side of the head

If you have a headache in the back of your head on the right, it is important to find out the exact cause of this symptom. It is worth understanding that it can also manifest itself in a healthy person. Stress, physical and mental fatigue, high air pollution and other factors can provoke ischemia of certain areas of the brain and pain in the occipital part of the head on the right. However, examination may reveal acute and chronic diseases that cause headaches in the back of the head on the right.

Inflammation of the occipital nerve

The greater occipital nerve originates from the second cervical nerve and passes under the base of the skull. It follows to the scalp through the muscles of the neck and back of the head. Neuralgia can be a consequence of inflammation or mechanical damage to nerve fibers. Its causes are injuries and chronic diseases of the cervical spine, constant muscle spasms. The following factors can also trigger the disease:

incorrect posture;
uneven neck position when sitting for a long time;
intense physical activity.

With occipital neuralgia, pain can be constant or paroxysmal. The patient has pain on the right side of the back of the head, discomfort spreads to the front, temple and eyeball. Most often, painful sensations are concentrated only on the left or right side, but they can be symmetrical. Treatment is with anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics and muscle relaxants.

High blood pressure

If the occipital part of the head on the right hurts, you should immediately measure your blood pressure. Many patients have hypertension - an increase in pressure more than 120/80 mm. rt. Art. This is an acute or chronic condition that is dangerous due to the high load on the heart muscle and the gradual weakening of blood vessels. The disease can be caused by chronic arterial diseases, atherosclerosis, and dysregulation of vascular tone. It manifests itself with characteristic symptoms:

pain on the right or left side of the back of the head;
redness of the skin and mucous membranes;
the appearance of small pinpoint hemorrhages under the skin;
dizziness, fainting is possible during an acute attack.

Headaches in the right back of the head can be caused by increased intracranial pressure. This value cannot be measured independently, so the diagnosis is made based on indirect symptoms. It represents the total pressure of blood, cerebrospinal fluid and brain tissue. Its increase causes chronic headaches, dizziness, fainting, and also dangerous ischemia of certain parts of the brain. Treatment is symptomatic and includes medications to reduce blood pressure and remove excess fluid from the body.

Cervical migraine

Pain in the back of the head on the right or left is a characteristic symptom of cervical migraine. The disease is caused by impaired blood flow through the vertebral artery, which may be due to abnormalities in its structure, mechanical compression, or other factors. Its main cause is damage to the roots of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd spinal nerves, which are normally located around the vertebral artery. Cervical migraine can accompany the following diseases:

osteochondrosis is a chronic degenerative disease in which thinning and destruction of intervertebral cartilage and deformation of bone segments occur;
spondylosis – fusion of two adjacent vertebrae, as a result of which the damaged area loses mobility;
injuries of the cervical spine, as well as their consequences (improper fusion of bones, formation of calluses);
lymphadenitis - inflammation of the lymph nodes in the neck;
stenosis (narrowing) of the vertebral artery.

With cervical migraine, the patient has a headache in the back of the head on the right or left. The pain is acute, accompanied by blurred vision, increased heart rate, weakness, and dizziness. They go away if the main cause of the disturbance in blood flow in the vertebral artery is eliminated. Physiotherapy sessions, medications to improve blood supply to the brain, and painkillers are also prescribed.

Myogelosis of the trapezius muscle

Myogelosis is a thickening of muscle tissue. It can occur not only in the trapezius, but also in any other skeletal muscle, often diagnosed in the cervical spine. Its causes are injuries, prolonged exposure to a forced unnatural position, and intense physical activity. It can also occur as a result of osteochondrosis, protrusions and intervertebral hernias.

Pain in the occipital region on the right is a characteristic sign of myogelosis of the trapezius muscle. They are also localized directly at the site of compaction, and the skin over this area may become inflamed and acquire a red tint. The patient is concerned about painful sensations, as well as nausea, dizziness, limited mobility of the neck and shoulder girdle. Treatment is prescribed individually. The regimen may include massage, physiotherapy, muscle relaxants, as well as local medications (ointments, gels) with analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.

Vascular disorders

Spasm of the arteries carrying blood to the brain is one of the common reasons why the right side of the back of the head hurts. The condition is a narrowing of the lumen of the vessel, as a result of which blood does not flow to the tissues in sufficient quantities. Spasm can have two main causes:

neurogenic - a violation of the central regulation of vascular tone caused by pathologies of the nervous system;
mechanical - compression of the vessel or the appearance of obstacles on their inner wall.

Vascular spasm caused by neurogenic causes occurs abruptly. Tension of the artery wall causes a narrowing of its lumen, and blood pressure rises. The condition leads to acute headache and dizziness, and is also dangerous for the rupture of an important vessel. During an attack, bed rest and limited physical activity are recommended.

If the patient often has pain in the right occipital part of the head, this may indicate chronic mechanical compression of the vessel. The condition is caused by diseases of the cervical spine, osteochondrosis, spondylosis and other pathologies. If the pressure comes from outside, it is important to eliminate the cause and restore normal blood flow. However, narrowing of the artery lumen can be caused by atherosclerosis, in which deposits and plaques form on the inner wall. In this case, it is necessary to limit exercise, monitor blood pressure, follow a diet and take medications to correct lipid metabolism.

How to treat

The formation of treatment tactics is influenced by the cause of pain in the occipital part on the right. Only by eliminating the source of pain can we hope for a positive treatment result.

The problem should be eliminated at the first stage of the disease, otherwise the intensity of pain in the back of the head will increase. The following types of therapy are mainly prescribed:

Painkillers. If pain in the back of the head on the right is caused by an inflammatory process, then take Diclofenac, Nurofen and Nimesil.
Nootropic drugs. Phenotropil or Piracetam will improve the functioning of the nervous system and restore nerve fibers.
Muscle relaxants. Muscle tone is normalized by Mydocalm and Tizarlud.
Warming agents. They relieve inflammation caused by neuritis or myositis.
Classic massage. It is performed if a headache in the back of the head is caused by cervical osteochondrosis. Since the cervical spine is unstable, only the shoulders are massaged.
Cranial osteopathy. Normalizes the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid during intracranial hypertension, and relieves tension from the walls of blood vessels.
Physiotherapy. The procedures successfully relieve acute inflammation. Modern means are available: electrophoresis, laser and magnetic therapy.
Acupressure. Relieves pain and relaxes muscles in the cervical area.

Complex treatment using these techniques is carried out after a thorough examination. Self-medication will not alleviate the condition, but will significantly increase the risk of the pathology becoming chronic.

Some diseases require surgery. This happens rarely when it is necessary to remove a malignant neoplasm.

Diagnostic methods

Timely diagnosis will allow you to determine the exact cause of pain in the right side of the back of the head and begin treatment. This will require an examination by a therapist, neurologist, traumatologist or other specialists as indicated. Additional examinations are also prescribed that are aimed at detecting or excluding specific diseases:

X-ray of the cervical spine is the main method for diagnosing injuries, fusion of the vertebrae, and their deformation;
MRI, CT of the neck and head are the most accurate, informative methods, thanks to which you can detect diseases of blood vessels and soft tissues, as well as neoplasms, cysts, aneurysms;
blood tests will show the presence of an inflammatory process, and will also indicate diseases of the internal organs;
Dopplerography - examination of blood vessels using ultrasound after adding a contrast agent.

A simple examination will not help determine the reasons why the right back of the head hurts. This will require various instrumental examinations and analyses, the accuracy of which depends on the quality of the equipment and the qualifications of specialists. The Clinical Brain Institute has modern equipment for diagnosing diseases of the neck and head, and also employs doctors with many years of experience. This makes it possible to identify complex diseases in the early stages and successfully treat them without complications.

Folk remedies

If it is not possible to take medicine, then you can resort to traditional methods. With their help, it is quite possible to relieve pain or even completely eliminate pain.

Compresses with cabbage leaves on the back of the head.
Tea with linden or sage.
Rubbing lavender oil onto the right side of the back of the head.
Warm compresses to the earlobes.
St. John's wort decoction.
Infusion of coltsfoot.

It should be clarified that these methods will help if a person has already been diagnosed. But in general, the effectiveness of folk recipes is relatively low. It is unlikely that medicinal herbs will help with meningitis or a migraine attack.

Treatment of pain in the back of the head

Pain in the right occipital part of the head is not a separate disease, but one of the symptoms of a number of pathologies. The set of techniques will include techniques to relieve symptoms and to eliminate the main cause of pain in the back of the head on the right. Most of them are available at home, but are carried out only with a doctor's prescription.

Drug treatment is the main stage. The patient is prescribed muscle relaxants, drugs to correct blood pressure, substances to improve blood supply and nutrition to the brain. Additionally, medications may be prescribed to improve lipid metabolism and remove bad cholesterol, and medications to nourish intervertebral cartilage.
Massage and physical therapy are an important step for neck diseases, spinal curvatures, and osteochondrosis. You can do it yourself, at home, but massage is only effective if performed by a specialist.
Diet is necessary for atherosclerosis, osteochondrosis and other diseases. The patient's diet should contain a large amount of fiber and vitamins. You should avoid spicy, fatty foods, and excess animal products.
Physiotherapy is effective for muscle and vascular spasms, chronic diseases of the cervical spine. The procedures are carried out in a course, with an interval of several days. Exposure to heat, laser, ultrasound, electric current or magnetic radiation stimulates blood circulation and regeneration processes.

In most cases, treatment is carried out with medications that the patient must take at home. However, in case of exacerbation of diseases, suspicion of the development of complications, as well as for additional diagnostics, the Clinical Institute of the Brain has the possibility of inpatient treatment and examination. This allows you to be under the supervision of qualified doctors and staff around the clock and accurately track the dynamics of disease development.

Types of pain

Experts distinguish several types of headaches on the left side of the head. Let's divide them into four categories.

Acute and sharp pain in the back of the head on the left, as a rule, occurs in this place due to strong negative emotions, depressive states, and sudden frustration. In a situation when some kind of misfortune or nuisance befalls a person at once.
Dull pain in the back of the head on the left is one of the most common types, causing maximum discomfort to patients. Any touch to the location becomes painful. Such symptoms are observed in patients suffering from osteochondrosis or arthritis.
Aching pain inside the head is in most cases caused by spasms of the neck or shoulders. It often manifests itself as a result of prolonged intellectual stress.
Throbbing pain in the back of the head on the left is a special type of ailment caused by high blood pressure. That's why it appears in the morning.

Ways to prevent headaches

Pain in the right occipital part of the head can be prevented at home. To do this, you should follow several rules recommended by doctors:

monitor your posture while walking and working in a sitting position;
devote time to physical activity every day, carry out moderate loads;
get rid of excess weight - it becomes a source of problems with joints, blood vessels, and metabolic disorders;
Maintain a healthy diet with sufficient vitamins and minerals.

Pain in the back of the head on the right is a symptom that is important to pay attention to in time. Doctors at the Clinical Institute of the Brain recommend contacting for diagnosis at the initial stages. Most diseases that cause headaches can progress and lead to dangerous consequences. However, this can be prevented if the cause is addressed in the early stages.

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Symptoms

If you have a headache on the right side of the back of the head, this should alert you; symptoms associated with the disease may appear. Basically, they are typical for pathologies that are accompanied by headaches:

darkening in the eyes, roaring in the ears;
nausea leading to vomiting;
limbs begin to go numb;
I feel dizzy and lose coordination in space.

All these signs can be harbingers of an impending cerebral hemorrhage.

When there is a headache in the back of the head, this condition also differs in the form of its occurrence. Pain happens:

paroxysmal;
pulsating;
increasing with changes in head position.

But usually right-sided pain in the back of the head is characterized by pressing sensations. Depending on the reason that determines why the back of the head on the right side hurts, the doctor prescribes treatment.

Causes

Let us immediately note that there are a huge number of causes of pain in the back of the head on the left. In this article we will analyze only the most common ones. Severe pain in this part of the head may be accompanied by damage to the nerve fibers of the cervical plexus. In this case, the sensations become so intense that the patient feels as if the back of his head is on fire. This is accompanied by a state of pulsation and lumbago. Unpleasant sensations radiate to the lower jaw, eyes, and the area behind the ear.

In some cases, there may be a loss of skin sensitivity in the affected area. The patient's hands and fingers constantly go numb, and the skin itself becomes painful and pale. In this case, the back of the head on the left side hurts with such force that the patient becomes afraid to simply move. Laughter, any head turns, sneezing, coughing increase discomfort.

In this case, the cause of pain in the back of the head on the left is a pathology of connective tissue, spinal injury, neoplasms or infectious diseases. The diagnosis should be made based on the overall clinical picture. During treatment, the irritating factor should be eliminated, as well as symptomatic therapy. As pain decreases, conservative treatment can be supplemented with physical therapy or massage.

Arterial pressure

Cephalgia practically accompanies blood pressure readings going beyond the physiological norm. The structural features of the human vascular network are such that they are concentrated and originate in the occipital part of the head. As a result, the patient experiences a feeling of fullness of the blood channels, as well as the diameter of their lumen, this increases the blood pressure on the walls themselves. This unpleasant symptomatology is characteristic not only of hypertensive patients, but also of patients with extremely low blood pressure.

In hypertension, the features and types of headaches are characterized by the following points:

The pain is complemented by a feeling of heaviness in the head due to impaired blood flow as a result of vasoconstriction. As a result, pulsating sensations appear, radiating to the temple, which intensify when sneezing, coughing, or moving the head.
The pain increases with muscle tension, complemented by dizziness and nausea. The patient feels as if the base of the skull is being compressed on both sides or only on one. Such conditions are usually formed as a result of stress caused by spasms of the blood channels.
Against the background of changes in blood pressure, liquor pain may occur. They intensify with physical activity.
Dull or aching cephalalgia appears due to spasm in the arteries. This condition is complemented by disorientation, dizziness, and nausea.
Neuralgic pain occurs suddenly and is extremely intense. They radiate to almost all parts of the skull, as well as to the upper back and neck. They appear as a result of increased intracranial pressure, stress, and compression of the trigeminal nerve.

Pulsating pain in the occipital region on the left is also characteristic of hypotension. As vascular tone decreases, blood begins to flow into the skull. In this case, painful sensations appear in the back of the head, which radiate to the temporal and parietal regions. This type of pain manifests itself in the morning, gradually disappearing during the day due to the person’s physical activity. In a horizontal position of the body, unpleasant sensations and discomfort intensify, as well as when the neck muscles are tense and the head is tilted forward.

Migraine

Systematic pain in the neck and back of the head on the left is characteristic of this neurological disease. Moreover, as a rule, one hemisphere is affected, and its symmetrical manifestation is extremely rare. As a result, unpleasant sensations originate in the back of the head or frontal area, spreading to the temple, and as a result cover almost half of the skull. At its core, the pain becomes persistent, throbbing and intrusive. Migraine attacks can recur from several times a day to once or twice throughout the year. It is worth noting that the more often they develop, the more the intensity of cephalgia decreases.

There are several causes of pain in the back of the head on the left, which significantly increase the risk of such a disease. Among them, the following factors should be highlighted:

refusal of healthy food in favor of fast food, semi-finished products, products with harmful chemical additives;
physical and nervous tension, regular stress;
alcohol abuse and smoking;
excess or deficiency of sleep;
taking folk remedies or pharmaceutical drugs without the consent of a doctor; oral contraceptives may also be to blame;
sudden change in climate and weather.

During a migraine, the patient experiences pain suddenly. In some cases, they may appear after warning signs in the form of an aura. At the same time, they are accompanied by increased sensitivity to sounds, light, smells, as well as muscle weakness, dizziness, and causeless anxiety.

During a migraine, the patient is unable to do anything until the attack weakens or goes away altogether. At the peak of the pain, he becomes nauseous. If everything ends with vomiting, the patient receives relief, after which, as a rule, he falls asleep.

Treatment of migraine in our time is aimed exclusively at trying to relieve pain by any possible means, preventing exacerbations, and also eliminating other symptoms. For these purposes, various medications can be used, including physiotherapeutic procedures, grandmother's recipes, and reflexology methods. With age, the disease may weaken; at some point in life, attacks may stop altogether, and then return again. It is still not possible to establish the exact nature of migraine. Some believe it has a genetic basis.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

This is another common cause of headache on the left side of the head. In certain cases, this condition occurs as a result of a failure of the blood circulation process in the tissues, which occurs against the background of spasm in the blood vessels. The reason for this lies in changes in the structure of the cartilage of the intervertebral discs, as well as a decrease in the functionality of the canal in which the vessels and nerves themselves are located.

Currently, this disease regularly occurs in young people leading a sedentary lifestyle. They constantly experience severe pain in the back of the head on the left. Also at risk are patients with injuries and curvature of the spine, obesity, after excessive emotional and physical stress, and with disruptions in metabolic processes.

With osteochondrosis, the patient suffers from dull or shooting pains in the back of the head on the left, which can radiate to the shoulder or arm. Also possible are surges in blood pressure, muscle weakness and decreased sensitivity, stiffness of movement, poor coordination, double vision, hearing impairment, and in some cases, cervical migraine.

This pathology can be counteracted with the help of muscle relaxants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, vitamins, and chondroprotectors. Physiotherapy, exercise therapy, and massage also have an effect.