Occipital neuralgia is a type of headache disorder. The condition occurs when your occipital nerves become inflamed. Your occipital nerves carry messages from your brain through your scalp. Nerve inflammation is irritation or swelling around your nerve.
Who might get occipital neuralgia?
Occipital neuralgia can affect anyone. You may be more likely to suffer from occipital neuralgia if you have:
- Degenerative disk disease.
- Diabetes.
- Gout.
- Osteoarthritis of your upper spine.
- Vasculitis (blood vessel inflammation).
How long does a bout of occipital neuralgia last?
Occipital neuralgia pain may last for only a few seconds or may affect you for hours. For most people, symptoms decrease with noninvasive treatments. Typically, the pain goes away when the nerve damage heals or decreases.
What causes occipital neuralgia?
The most common cause of occipital neuralgia is pinched nerves or muscle tightness. You may also develop occipital neuralgia after a head or neck injury.
What are the symptoms of occipital neuralgia?
Occipital neuralgia symptoms affect your head and neck. If you have occipital neuralgia, your symptoms may occur only briefly. Sometimes, symptoms are chronic (long-lasting).
Occipital headache pain may start behind one eye or at the back of your head. The pain may feel like:
- Aching.
- Burning.
- Electric shock.
- Sudden, sharp or piercing.
- Throbbing.