Health Information
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Understanding This Symptom
Medical Definition
Subject Matter Expert Verified
Occipital neuralgia is a chronic pain disorder characterized by piercing, throbbing, or electric shock-like pain originating from the occipital nerves at the base of the skull.
Pain typically radiates from the upper neck through the back of the head to the scalp, often affecting one or both sides.
The condition results from irritation, inflammation, or compression of the greater, lesser, or third occipital nerves, which emerge from the cervical spine and provide sensory innervation to the posterior scalp.
Unlike primary headache disorders, occipital neuralgia involves direct nerve pathology and often responds to targeted nerve blocks.
Quick Facts
What Optimal Health Looks Like
Understanding how your body functions when healthy helps identify dysfunction
In a healthy individual, the occipital nerves (greater, lesser, and third occipital nerves) emerge from the cervical spine (C2-C3 nerve roots) and course through the suboccipital muscles to provide sensory innervation to the posterior scalp.
These nerves conduct normal sensation without spontaneous activation or compression.
The cervical spine maintains proper alignment with healthy intervertebral discs, and the suboccipital muscles (rectus capitis posterior major/minor, obliquus capitis superior/inferior) remain relaxed and flexible.
The occipital nerves pass freely through the semispinalis capitis and trapezius muscles without entrapment.
Healthy Function
Your body is designed to maintain balance and self-regulate
How This Develops
Nerve Entrapment - the greater occipital nerve becomes compressed as it passes through the semispinalis capitis and trapezius muscles, particularly at the inferior oblique muscle; (
Cervical Spine Pathology - degenerative changes including cervical spondylosis, disc herniation (C
Traumatic Injury - whiplash, direct trauma, or repetitive strain cause inflammation and fibrosis around the occipital nerves; (
Myofascial Trigger Points - hyperirritable nodules in the suboccipital and upper trapezius muscles compress the nerves; (
Vascular Compression - occipital artery pulsation against the greater occipital nerve causes mechanical irritation; (
Demyelination - focal demyelination at compression sites leads to ectopic impulse generation and ephaptic transmission; (
Central Sensitization - prolonged peripheral nociception causes hyperexcitability in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis and upper cervical dorsal horn, amplifying pain signals and causing allodynia; (
Inflammatory Mediators - local release of substance P, CGRP, and inflammatory cytokines sensitizes nociceptors and perpetuates neurogenic inflammation
Understanding the mechanism helps us target the root cause rather than just treating symptoms.
What Happens If Left Untreated
Understanding the consequences helps you make informed decisions about your health
Short-Term Consequences
Days to weeks
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Time Matters
Don't wait for symptoms to worsen. Early intervention leads to better outcomes.