Overview

Pain in the back of your head may be the result of a primary tension-type headache, which are common headaches that are not particularly dangerous to your health. It could also occur as a symptom of a pathological condition. 

You can get rid of headaches or prevent them by adjusting your lifestyle, taking prescribed or OTC meds, or trying natural remedies. 

In this article, we’ll look at the different causes of pain in the back of the head, including health conditions relating to back-of-the-head pains, symptoms and treatment. 

7 Causes of Pain in the Back of the Head

1. Tension-Type Headache

The most common type of headache is Tension-type headache (TTH), making it one of the common causes of pain in the back of the head. TTH causes tightness and gripping pain in the neck and at the back and right side of the head. The pain is usually unlike occipital neuralgia, which causes sharp and throbbing pain. 

The cause of TTH is not precisely known, but situations like stress, dehydration, hunger and lack of sleep can trigger it. Asides from the dull and constricting pain, other symptoms of TTH include:

• sensitivity to either light or sound, not both
• loss of appetite
• lack of focus and short attention span
• stiffness in the shoulder and upper back

2. Migraines

According to the American Migraine Foundation, “A migraine is a disabling neurological disease with different symptoms and treatment approaches compared to other headache disorders.” Migraines are known to cause pain in some parts or a part of your head, which could also be the back of your head, making them much more intense!

Alongside the intense pain, migraines also come with other symptoms including,

• nausea
• vomiting
• neck pain
• dizziness
• nasal congestion

3. Occipital Neuralgia

Occipital neuralgia is a condition that occurs as a result of irritation or inflammation of the nerves - greater and occipital nerves - that supply the skin over the sides of the scalp. It is a condition common in people suffering from migraines, and it causes sharp and throbbing pain that begins at the neck and spreads from the base of the head through the scalp.

Other symptoms of occipital neuralgia include:

• eye pain, especially behind the eyes
• tinnitus
• light sensitivity
• pain associated with moving your neck
• sharp pain coursing through your neck and the back of your head

You may also notice changes in your vision and a stuffy nose.

4. Poor Posture

One of the many disadvantages of poor posture is muscle strain. Examples of poor posture that could cause pain in the back of the head are:

• keeping your head in one position for a long, 
• sleeping with your neck bent or with a pillow that doesn’t properly support your head

Wrong postures like this can cause strain in the muscles of your neck and the back of your head. And the result will be a sharp pain in those areas, alongside stiffness in your shoulders and neck.

5. Cluster Headaches

Cluster headaches are extremely painful headaches occurring in “clusters” or patterns. This series of headache attacks may last for weeks or months. The symptoms of cluster headaches are mainly pain in the back or sides of the head which becomes worse when you lie. Other symptoms associated with cluster headaches are:

• sharp and throbbing pain
• restlessness
• nausea
• blocked nose
• facial sweating
• excessive tearing

You may also feel pain and notice redness in one eye, sensitivity to light and sound and episodes of pain occurring 1 to 8 times a day.

6. Cervicogenic Headaches

Cervicogenic headaches are a bit similar to migraine headaches. The main difference is migraines stem from the brain, while cervicogenic headaches come from the spinal cord and are most times referred-pain from other locations in the body. They occur as a result of problems related to the nerves, bones, muscles, or soft tissues in the neck. 

If you have cervicogenic headaches, you may likely feel a slight-to-intense pain that begins in the neck and spreads to the back of your head and temples. Because the pain worsens when you lie down (like a weight on your head), it can even disrupt your sleep.

Other symptoms of cervicogenic headaches are:

• pain in the shoulders and upper arms
• pain worsens when you move your head or neck

Cervicogenic headaches are secondary headaches, meaning they do not occur on their own but as a symptom of another medical condition.

7. Low-Pressure Headaches

Low-pressure headache is the common name for Spontaneous Intracranial hypotension (SIH) or just Intracranial hypotension. SIH happens when the spinal fluid around the brain leaks out and begins to reduce. It could be spontaneous or occur after a surgical procedure like a spinal tap.

The main symptom of SIH is severe pain in the back of the head and neck, which worsens when you stand or sit. However, after lying for 20 to 30 minutes, the pain eases. Sometimes, you might wake up with a mild headache which lasts throughout the day. 

Other symptoms include:

• stiff neck
• ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• blur vision
• sleepy eyes

Arthritis is another cause of pain in the back of the head, especially when it affects the bones associated with the back of the head (the cervical vertebrae). You can also feel pain in the back of your head as a result of overusing medications. These headaches are called rebound headaches. Trigeminal neuralgia which is often described as “the most unbearably painful human condition,” causes pain in the back of the head alongside pain in the jaw, cheek, lips, gums, and neck.

How to Treat Pain in the Back of the Head

It is advisable to check the drugs with your doctor before starting. However, there are also home remedies and natural methods you can adopt. 

Treatment for Tension-Type Headaches

You can treat tension headaches with OTC meds (pain relievers) and NSAIDs. If the headaches become intense or long-lasting, it is best to visit your doctor for a prescription, mostly preventive meds like antidepressants and muscle relaxers.

Treatment for Occipital Neuralgia

The exact cause of occipital neuralgia is unknown, which is why there are several treatment options, depending mainly on how intense it is.

Medical treatments

1. Neurontin
2. Prescribed NSAIDs
3. Prescription muscle relaxers
4. Prescribed antidepressants or antiepileptic drugs
5. For severe cases, botox injections can also be used.
6. Surgical release of the occipital nerve, although it is usually the last option if other methods are abortive.

Other Treatment Options

If you aren’t going ‘medical’, you can try physical therapy, which includes warm compresses, massages, ice therapy, and stretching exercises. 

Treatment for Poor Posture

Taking care of headaches caused by bad posture doesn’t require a lot. Changing your posture is the best preventive treatment. You can also try stretching or doing posture exercises to correct your posture. 

But for immediate relief, taking acetaminophen will help.

Treatment for Cluster Headaches

Cluster headaches occur in cycles and series of attacks, so its treatment focuses on preventing further attacks and reducing the frequency and severity of headaches. 

How to Treat

Treatment for short-term relief includes:

1. triptans (also used for migraine conditions)
2. anaesthetic injection treatment
3. steroids

Preventive treatments include:

1. calcium channel blockers
2. melatonin
3. nerve blockers
4. corticosteroids

In really severe cases, there may be surgical intervention.

Treatment for Cervicogenic Headache

Because cervicogenic headaches are secondary, the treatment will depend on the underlying condition. 

How to Treat 

1. Physical therapy involving cervical spine mobilization. It is usually the first line of action when treating cervicogenic headaches.
2. Ice or heat therapy 
3. Stretching
4. Corticosteroid injection into the neck.
5. Maintain good posture

Treatment for Migraines

The treatment of migraine could be short-term or preventive. Short-term treatments include OTC pain relievers like aspirin, ibuprofen and other prescribed medications.

Preventive treatment may be medical or non-medical. Medical preventive methods could be procedures or daily medications aimed at preventing migraines. The non-medical preventive treatment for migraines involves behavioural therapy and physical therapy.

Other practices you can adopt:

• drink more water
• exercise
• reduce alcohol intake
• reduce stress
• avoid strong smells and other things that trigger your migraines
• sleep well
• cold compresses
• try replacing histamine-rich foods like cheese, wine, beer and smoked fish with vitamin B-rich diets.

Treatment for Low-Pressure Headaches

Most times, regular headache treatments do not ease SIH. So, if you think you have SIH, it is best to visit your doctor for the correct diagnosis and treatment. 

How to Treat

• Most SIH patients take caffeine, water and rest to manage the headaches. 
• The Epidural blood patch is another common treatment which works instantly. For this procedure, the doctor draws blood from your arm and injects it into the epidural space in your lower spine. However, the side effect of this process is lower back pain which may last for up to a week or longer in severe cases

See a Doctor Now!

If you notice any abnormalities associated the headaches or pain in the back of your head, you need to see a doctor or medical professional. You also need to seek medical attention if

• the headache persists and begins to interfere with your daily life
• you are pregnant or have a cancer history, 
• sneezing, coughing or exercising triggers your headaches.

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