Occipital Neuralgia Quiz
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Reviewed By:
Shohei Harase, MD (Neurology)
Dr. Harase spent his junior and senior high school years in Finland and the U.S. After graduating from the University of Washington (Bachelor of Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology), he worked for Apple Japan Inc. before entering the University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital, where he received the Best Resident Award in 2016 and 2017. In 2021, he joined the Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, specializing in hyperacute stroke.
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People with these symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
There is discomfort in the head
Exacerbation of a baseline headache with horizontal rotation of the neck
The first symptom was pain around the ears or at the back of my head
Couldn't pronounce words properly just before the headache started
Everyday activities such as walking does not worsen headaches
Headache with intense pain that feels like an electric shock
Prickling sensation on the skin before the headache started
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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
Headache affecting one side of my head
Pain over the back of my head
Tingling or prickling sensation of the skin
Pain over the temples
Pain in the whole head and neck
Throbbing headache
Ear pain
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 on only one side of you head?
Do you have pain behind your head?
Do you feel tingling without your skin being touched?
Do you have pain around your temples?
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
Pan W, Peng J, Elmofty D. Occipital Neuralgia. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2021 Jul 21;25(9):61. doi: 10.1007/s11916-021-00972-1. PMID: 34287719.
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
Reviewed By:
Shohei Harase, MD (Neurology)
Dr. Harase spent his junior and senior high school years in Finland and the U.S. After graduating from the University of Washington (Bachelor of Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology), he worked for Apple Japan Inc. before entering the University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital, where he received the Best Resident Award in 2016 and 2017. In 2021, he joined the Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, specializing in hyperacute stroke.
Just 3 minutes.
Developed by doctors.
Ubie is supervised by 50+ medical experts worldwide
Seiji Kanazawa, MD, PHD
Obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN)
National Center for Child Health and Development, Japan