Neck & Head
Occipital Neuralgia
Also called: Skull-base nerve pain
Irritation of the occipital nerves as they pass from the upper neck through dense muscles to the scalp. Produces electric, shooting pains up the back of the head, often with scalp tenderness. Frequently caused by muscle entrapment and upper-neck joint dysfunction — mechanically treatable causes.
Common signs
- Sharp, electric, shooting pain from the skull base up the back of the head
- Scalp tenderness — even brushing hair can hurt
- Pain often one-sided, in bursts
- Tenderness where the nerve exits at the skull base
Seek help now if
- Neurological deficits accompanying the pain
- New pattern after trauma
- Fever, weight loss, or night sweats with headache
Any of these: call 911 or get to an emergency room first. Everything else can wait.
What to do first
- An exam distinguishes this from cervicogenic headache and migraine — treatment differs
- Reduce compressive habits: tight ponytails, hats, hoodies, and looking-down time
- Gentle heat and suboccipital stretching often start relief
If it's become chronic
- Persistent cases respond to sustained upper cervical care plus posture and deep flexor work
- If truly refractory, nerve blocks can confirm the diagnosis and provide a treatment window — conservative care continues alongside
Natural healing options we use
- Upper cervical adjusting and suboccipital release
- Manual therapy along the nerve's course
- Attended e-stim and PEMF
- Postural retraining to unload the skull base
- B-vitamin and omega-3 nerve support
About imaging
Usually clinical. Imaging reserved for atypical features or trauma.
Daily self-care
- Loose hairstyles; nothing compressing the skull base
- Chin tucks and gentle upper-neck stretches daily
- Limit prolonged looking-down positions
More in Neck & Head
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Please read: this page is education, not a diagnosis. A proper examination is how a condition gets confirmed and a plan gets built. See our medical disclaimer.