INFORMATION ON OCCIPITAL NEURALGIA

Occipital neuralgia may be defined as a chronic pain disorder which is a result of irritation or injury to the occipital nerve located in the back of the scalp. Subjects with the occipital neuralgia disorder may experience pain whose epicenter is the nape of the neck.

CAUSES OF OCCIPITAL NEURALGIA

The consequences which leads to the development of Occipital neuralgia are:-

1. Physical stress.
2. Trauma to brain.
3. Repeated contraction to brain.
4. Systemic disease.
5. Inflammation.
6. Infection.

SYMPTOMS OF OCCIPITAL NEURALGIA

1. Back pain.
2. Neck pain.
3. Severe headache.
4. Pain behind ears.

DIAGNOSIS OF OCCIPITAL NEURALGIA

Clinically occipital neuralgia can be identified by following test/examination:-

1. X-ray of neck.
2. Nerve MRI.
3. Physical examination followed by various movements of neck and back.
4. Structural lesion.
5. Roentgenography.
6. CT scan.

TREATMENT OF OCCIPITAL NEURALGIA

Treatment of occipital neuralgia is based on symptoms and causes. A subject suffering from occipital neuralgia can be treated by oral medications that are designed to reduce inflammation and spasms, localized therapeutic injections, physical therapy, massage, and heat.