Pain in the Back of the Head - What is the Cause?

What to do with pain in the back of the head?for many people. Chronic pain sufferers will
Pain located in the back of the head, neck, andfrequently go from specialist to specialist seeking
shoulders is very common. There can be manyout a diagnosis. Many people do get diagnosis
causes of pain located in the back of the headranging anywhere from occipital neuralgia,
and neck. Pain can originate from tensioncervicogenic headache, to TMJ disorders.
headaches and migraines, as well as physicalUnfortunately, treatment for these conditions can
conditions brought on by stress, poor posture,sometimes have no effect on their pain.
injury, inflammation, pinched nerves, and otherWhy is this? Essentially, many of these people are
problems of the spine and neck.suffering from migraines that have never been
Is it Tension Headache or Migraine?correctly diagnosed. Too frequently people believe
Many people with pain in the back of their head,that migraines only cause single sided, throbbing,
neck, and shoulders do not stop to consider thatsevere headaches accompanied by nausea, light
the source of their pain could be migraines.sensitivity, and visual disturbances. In fact, as
Instead, we assume that the source of our painmany as 60% of all migraine sufferers report
must be due to a physical problem such asneck pain (sometimes throbbing,) stiffness, or
chronic forward head posture, a "stiff neck" fromtightness, at some point during their migraine
too much computer use, or other muscleattack. The reason for this is simple - migraine
stiffness and cramps. At this point many of uscauses blood vessel and surrounding tissue
take over-the-counter pain killers, rearrange ourinflammation anywhere in the head, neck, and
desks to meet ergonomic standards, join a gym,shoulders.
start practicing yoga, and seek treatment fromConclusion
chiropractors and massage therapists to relieveIf all the other treatments you have tried for
our pain. Unfortunately for many of us, the reliefyour head and neck pain have been unsuccessful
brought on by these treatments or lifestyle- please consider that you may have migraines
changes is fleeting at best.and may respond better to treatments which
The lack of response to common pain treatmentaddress the cause of your pain, not just the
for head and neck pain can be very frustratingsymptoms.