Occipital Neuralgia is a medical condition characterized by chronic pain in the upper neck, back of the head, and behind the ears. These areas correspond to the locations of the lesser and greater occipital nerves. Occipital neuralgia is caused by damage to these nerves. Ways in which they can be damaged include trauma (usually concussive), physical stress on the nerve, repetitious neck contraction, and as a result of medical complications (such as osteochondroma, a benign tumour of the bone). Chronic pain is medically defined as pain that has lasted 6 months or longer. ... The lesser occipital nerve is a spinal nerve arising between the first and second cervical vertebrae, along with the greater occipital nerve. ... The greater occipital nerve is a spinal nerve arising between the first and second cervical vertebrae, along with the lesser occipital nerve. ...
The only direct symptom of this condition is essentially a chronic headache. Because chronic headaches are a common symptom for many, many conditions, occipital neuralgia is often misdiagnosed at first. Once diagnosed, occipital neuralgia can be treated in several ways. These include nerve blocks, peripheral nerve stimulation, steroids, and even antidepressants and surgical neurolysis. A headache is a condition of mild to severe pain in the head; sometimes upper back or neck pain may also be interpreted as a headache. ... In chemistry and biology, Steroids are a type of lipid, characterized by a carbon skeleton with four fused rings. ... An antidepressant is a medication used primarily in the treatment of clinical depression. ...
Occipital neuralgia is not a life-threatening or otherwise health-threatening condition.
Occipitalneuralgia is a term used to describe a cycle of pain-spasm-pain originating from the suboccipital area (base) of the skull that often radiates to the back, front, and side of the head, as well as behind the eyes.
The occipital nerves are two pairs of nerves that originate in the area of the second and third vertebrae of the neck.
Treatment of occipitalneuralgia may involve oral medications that are designed to reduce inflammation and spasms, localized therapeutic injections, physical therapy, massage, and heat.
The IHS description of occipitalneuralgia is the following: occipitalneuralgia is a paroxysmal jabbing pain in the distribution of the greater or lesseroccipital nerves, accompanied by diminished sensation or dysaesthesiae in the affected area.
Correct diagnosis of occipitalneuralgia therefore requires roentgenographic examination of the cervical spine, including lateral views in extreme extension, flexion, and neutral position, and open-mouthed and lateral views of the odontoid in extreme flexion and extension.
The presumed mechanism of this pain is inflammation involving the greater occipital nerve as it pierces the tendinous insertion of the splenius capitus at the base of the skull.
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