Why does the back of your head hurt?

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When it comes to headaches in the back of the neck, many people use over-the-counter pain relievers. But for a long-term fix, you need to find the root of the problem. The back of the head can be painful due to poor posture or some specific headache conditions.

1. Tension headaches

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache, occurring when the muscles in the scalp and neck tense up. This condition causes pain on the sides and back of the head. Usually a dull, non-throbbing pain.
Tension headaches are not a sign of another medical problem. However, the person may experience pain and feel like someone is squeezing his or her head. There are two types of tension headaches:
Intermittent: Occurs when you are stressed, anxious, hungry, angry, depressed, or tired. Chronic: This type of headache occurs more than 15 times/month and lasts for at least 3 months. The pain almost never goes away and can only change in intensity over the course of a day. You may also feel some nausea along with it. Most tension headaches can be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe an antidepressant, which can also act as a pain reliever.

2. Wrong posture

If you have a habit of bending down when sitting or standing instead of straightening your neck. This pose puts a strain on the muscles in the back of the head, upper back, neck, and jaw, as well as puts pressure on the nerves in these areas. Therefore, wrong posture can cause headaches in the back of the neck.
Standing or sitting upright can help relieve headaches caused by bad posture. Over-the-counter pain relievers may also help. In some cases, you may need physical therapy.

3. Arthritis headache

The main symptom of an arthritis headache is a pain in the back of your head that gets worse when you move. This may be the result of arthritis in the first, second, or third vertebrae of the spine. Changes in the bone structure in the neck or inflamed blood vessels in the head can also be to blame.
Consult your doctor about treatments. Usually, you can treat arthritis headaches with anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, or both.

4. Headache caused by low blood pressure

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is commonly referred to as low blood pressure headache. This condition occurs when there is a leak of spinal fluid in the neck or back. This leak causes the cushioning of spinal fluid around the brain to decrease.
Symptoms of SIH include:
Severe pain in the back of the head and neck Pain that increases when standing or sitting Pain that subsides after you lie down to rest for half an hour. Some people with SIH wake up with a mild headache that gets worse during the day. If you think you have this condition, see your doctor so diagnostic tests can be performed.
Most patients with headaches due to low blood pressure find that conventional headache treatments are not effective. Instead, they will apply the method of combining caffeine, supplementing with water and resting.
Have an outpatient procedure in which the doctor draws blood from your arm and injects it into the lower spine. The headache goes away almost immediately, however you may have low back pain for up to a week or even longer (rare cases).

5. Occipital neuralgia

This type of headache is quite rare, and is associated with pain in the occipital nerves that run from the spinal cord to the scalp. When these nerves are damaged or inflamed, you may feel pain in the back of your head or behind your ears.
Some people describe this pain as stabbing and very intense, like a shock. The pain can last from a few seconds to a few minutes. Then you may feel a dull ache.
Doctors don't know what causes occipital neuralgia. Headaches can occur when you do normal activities, such as combing your hair or lying on a pillow. People with neck injuries or tumors may experience this type of headache as a side effect.
Treatment usually includes warm compresses and gentle massage. Anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants may also be helpful. If you experience frequent headaches, your doctor may prescribe antidepressants or anti-seizure medications to ease the pain.

6. Herniated disc

Herniated discs in the cervical spine can cause neck pain and strain. The pain often originates in the back of the head, as well as in the temples or behind the eyes. Other symptoms may include back and shoulder migraines, or upper arm discomfort.
Headaches from herniated discs may increase when you are lying down. Some patients even wake up in the middle of the night because the pain disrupts sleep. When you lie down, you may also feel a pressure on the top of your head like a weight.

7. Migraines

Migraines can appear anywhere, but many sufferers have headaches on the right or left side of the neck as well as in the back of the head. Migraines can cause:
Severe, stabbing pain Dizziness, glare, Nausea Vomiting Vomiting Watering of eyes Sensitivity to light or sound Migraines in the back and shoulders of the neck can start on the left side of the head, then move from the temples to the back of the head.
In short, there are many causes of back and neck pain, however, in order to determine the condition of the pain and the direction of treatment, customers need to be examined at quality medical facilities. good expertise.
Department of Neurology - Vinmec International General Hospital belongs to the clinical medicine block, holding specialized functions in the examination and treatment of diseases related to the central nervous system (cranial, meningeal, brain) brain, blood vessels, nerves in the skull, pituitary gland, spine, discs, spinal cord) and peripheral nervous system (nerves and ganglia outside the brain and spinal cord). Therefore, the department always receives and handles all problems related to headaches in particular and neurological diseases in general.
Medical quality and patient care services at the hospital are always appreciated when converging a team of experienced doctors and experts from many major hospitals across the country. Medical equipment is of high quality and meets professional standards. Therefore, customers can feel secure when choosing to visit and treat at Vinmec.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

Reference source: webmd.com - healthline.com