Occipital neuralgia and migraine headaches are often confused with each other because of similar symptoms. But treatment options vary, so receiving a proper diagnosis is important for pursuing the best course of action.
Occipital neuralgia is a painful nerve condition affecting the occipital nerves that run from the top of the spinal cord through the scalp. When they become inflamed or injured, the result may be throbbing, piercing even shock-like pain. Patients are often sensitive to light, have tender scalps, and experience increased pain when they move their necks.
No one test can definitively diagnose occipital neuralgia. A physical exam is the primary diagnostic tool where the physician presses firmly around the back of the neck to see if the pain can be replicated. A nerve block may be administered to see if there is any pain relief. If there is, occipital neuralgia is likely the cause. Some conditions can be linked, including:
- Injury or trauma to the back of the head
- Neck tension
- Osteoarthritis
- Neck tumors
- Cervical disc disease
- Infection
- Gout
- Diabetes
- Blood vessel inflammation
Different treatment options exist to help patients cope with occipital neuralgia, from medications, stretching exercises, and physical therapy. Piedmont Interventional Pain Care offers diagnostic services and nerve block injections when appropriate. Nerve blocks can provide patients with relief for weeks to months at a time. Injections, combined with other techniques, can help keep flare-ups minimized.
If you suffer from occipital neuralgia, schedule an appointment with Piedmont Interventional Pain to discuss treatment options.
View the original post on the Piedmont Interventional Pain Care website.
