What are the symptoms of occipital neuralgia?

Symptoms of OCCIPITAL NEURALGIA are: (1) Headache. (2) Pain over the back of my head. (3) Headache affecting one side of my head. (4) Pain over the temples. (5) Headache with sharp, electric shock-like pain. (6) Tingling or prickling sensation of the skin. (7) Numbness or abnormal sensation. (8) Throbbing headache. (9) Pain in the whole head and neck. (10) Headache worsens when I shake my head quickly

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Learn more about Occipital neuralgia

Content updated on Sep 20, 2022

What is occipital neuralgia?

Occipital neuralgia is a type of headache characterized by intense pain, throbbing, or electric-shock-like pain in the upper neck, back of the head, behind the ears and usually on one side of the head. It could be a result of a pinched nerve root in the neck due to tight muscles, arthritis, injury or surgery to the headl.

Symptoms of occipital neuralgia

Headache
Pain over the back of my head
Headache affecting one side of my head
Pain over the temples
Headache with sharp, electric shock-like pain
Tingling or prickling sensation of the skin
Numbness or abnormal sensation
Throbbing headache

Questions your doctor may ask to check for occipital neuralgia

Your doctor may ask these questions to diagnose occipital neuralgia

Do you have headaches or does your head feel heavy?
Do you have pain behind your head?
Do you have pain on only one side of you head?
Do you have pain around your temples?
Does your headache feel a sharp pain like an electric shock?

Treatment for occipital neuralgia

Treatment options include rest, applying heat/ ice to the neck, massage and pain killers.

View the symptoms of Occipital neuralgia

Diseases related to Occipital neuralgia

References

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https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11916-021-00972-1
Barmherzig R, Kingston W. Occipital Neuralgia and Cervicogenic Headache: Diagnosis and Management. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2019 Mar 19;19(5):20. doi: 10.1007/s11910-019-0937-8. PMID: 30888540.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11910-019-0937-8
Choi I, Jeon SR. Neuralgias of the Head: Occipital Neuralgia. J Korean Med Sci. 2016 Apr;31(4):479-88. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2016.31.4.479. Epub 2016 Mar 9. PMID: 27051229; PMCID: PMC4810328.
https://jkms.org/DOIx.php?id=10.3346/jkms.2016.31.4.479
Wamsley CE, Chung M, Amirlak B. Occipital Neuralgia: Advances in the Operative Management. Neurol India. 2021 Mar-Apr;69(Supplement):S219-S227. doi: 10.4103/0028-3886.315980. PMID: 34003169.
https://www.neurologyindia.com/article.asp?issn=0028-3886;year=2021;volume=69;issue=7;spage=219;epage=227;aulast=Wamsley
Dougherty C. Occipital neuralgia. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2014 May;18(5):411. doi: 10.1007/s11916-014-0411-x. PMID: 24737457.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11916-014-0411-x