Unbearable pain in the back of the head. Headache in the back of the head

Date: 19.10.2019

Today's topic: a sharp headache in the back of the head. Causes of severe pain in the back of the head. What are the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis? What are cluster and asymmetric pains? All this in order. Go!

Hello friends! Vitya, a good friend of mine, shared his problem with me. The fact is that he connected his life with a "steering wheel" and cannot imagine his existence without a car, and recently "there are terrible pains in the back of the head, it is already getting dark in the eyes." So I decided today to talk about such a nuisance as a sharp headache in the back of the head, about the causes of this symptomatology and the consequences.

Many of us have thoroughly studied the pharmacological market and know better than any doctor the excellent pain relievers for any ailments. Pharmaceutical manufacturers also do not mind to earn extra money on our "headache".

However, if it is reckless to self-medicate and sit on painkillers, then, in the end, the effect can be like a guillotine, or in another way, "an ax in the neck" - efficiently and quickly.

A sharp headache in the back of the head: where does that come from or how does everything secret come true

The head is also an organ that can hurt and hurt in different ways. Someone has colitis, and someone is knocking, for some the pain is pressing or aching, for others it is sharp and sharp. And localization is like "on the globe": now the right hemisphere, now the left, now, then the back of the head presses ... And all due to the fact that the reasons are different.

A sharp headache in the back of the head occurs as a result of:

Neuralgia of the nerve fibers of the occiput
heads
Degenerations in the musculoskeletal system of the cervical spine
Stress, especially chronic
Long stay in an uncomfortable and unnatural position
Muscular hypertonia due to excessive physical exertion
Disturbed bite
Deformations temporomandibular joints

Thus, if the head "cracks", and this is not due to a blow with a "blunt object" on it, then there is some kind of pathology:

Aching and persistent pain in the back of the head and at the base of the skull

It is accompanied by nausea, dizziness and even impaired coordination - most likely these are manifestations

Everything is simple here, there are discs between the vertebrae that are responsible for the mobility of each vertebra, and if for some reason these discs are deformed, then the movements are difficult, and the head begins to ache, and the veil is in front of the eyes. In general, a person becomes like an "old cart" - creaks and does not go ...

Chronic pain that gets worse when turning, rotating, or tilting the head

In another way - cervical spondylosis syndrome. Such a pathology is characterized by ossification of the ligaments attached to the vertebrae, and therefore the mobility of the neck is useless, the movements of the head are constrained and painful. And the reason is banal - lack of movement.

If there is a throbbing and very severe pain in the back of the head, in combination with increased, and there may be nausea, then this is a clear sign of hypertension.

"Shooting" pain

It can manifest itself in paroxysms - neuralgia of the occipital nerves. There is a burning soreness at the moments of movement, during exertion, as well as sneezing, etc. extending to the neck, back and even the lower jaw
During physical exertion, there is a feeling of "creeping" on the head, accompanied by pain in the back of the head - a symptom of a spasm of the great vessels.

In general, any problems with the vessels, such as narrowing, brittleness, etc. can lead to pain, this is a kind of SOS signal, because all this can lead to serious problems, including disability or death.

Asymmetric pain

If the pain is asymmetric and localized to the left or right, intensifies when turning and tilting, then there is cervical myositis. That is, the cervical muscles become inflamed as a result of hypothermia, being in a draft, or injury. Muscles can become inflamed even after being in an uncomfortable and unnatural position for a long time, for example, in the “SJ” position.

Occupational illnesses, such as drivers or office workers, also often suffer from headaches in the back of the head, and this is all because they have to spend most of their life in one sitting position, in connection with which muscles atrophy, blood vessels lose elasticity, and blood supply to the brain deteriorates ...

Cluster headache

There are a lot of ailments accompanied by a headache in the back of the head, so only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis after carrying out a whole set of examinations.

A sharp headache in the back of the head: squirrel in the wheel or what provokes exacerbations

You can live for many years with any deviations in health and not know about it, but then one day a moment comes, bam, and a terrible pain in the head knocks down, you don't know what to do and how to get rid of this torment. What happened? Simply, without thinking about health, we regularly provoke an exacerbation of something with our bad habits, various actions or ill-considered actions.

What I mean?

Hypodynamia and unjustified physical activity in life and in training. Of course, a child's head can also hurt due to any congenital abnormalities or intracranial pressure, and you can react to the weather with a headache ...

But still we must face the truth: excess weight increases blood pressure, smoking has a negative effect on blood vessels and not only, alcohol from our blood makes "jelly", which moves poorly along the bloodstream and especially small capillaries of the brain and how can the head fail get sick ...

A sharp headache in the back of the head: a way out of this situation

There is always a way out, the main thing is to make a choice: the guillotine and the head will never hurt again or the rejection of bad habits and prevention:

Exercise or moderate exercise
Proper nutrition
Walks in the open air
Good vacation

What to do if the head already hurts?

You can also make the base of the skull, relax, taking a comfortable position and placing a roller under the neck to relax the muscles, as well as remove the load from the vertebrae, and obligatorily, but consult a doctor about further actions and methods of treatment.

That's all for today.
Thank you for reading my post to the end. Share this article with your friends. Subscribe to my blog. And they drove on.

Pain in the back of the head on the left is the main symptomatology of diseases of the spine and blood vessels, hypertension, neuralgia. Even if a sedentary lifestyle and stressful situations provoke spasms, it is necessary to establish the underlying causes of the pain syndrome, especially if the intensity of the attacks gradually increases. Any delay can only aggravate the course of the pathology and worsen the general condition of the patient.

Specialists identify the main types of pathological conditions:

primary - not related to other diseases (about 90%);
secondary condition - accompanied by inflammatory processes (up to 10%)

But, only about 4 percent of pain in the back of the head is a sign of a serious illness that threatens not only the health, but also the life of the patient.

Various parts of the head are susceptible to pain syndrome: temporal, frontal, occipital and parietal.

Spasms in the back of the head on the left: views

Painful syndrome can appear with a little movement. Some patients believe that it is not their head that hurts them, but their neck after prolonged work at the computer, due to overexertion.

There are several types of this syndrome:

Acute pain: depression, negative emotions, stress.
Dumb. Differs in unpleasant discomfort. It is impossible to touch the problem area. Similar symptoms are observed in people suffering from osteochondrosis, arthritis.
Aching. The pathological condition occurs due to spasms of the shoulder and neck muscles. It is very often observed with increased intellectual workload.
Pulsating pain is a consequence of high blood pressure, more often occurs after waking up in the morning. Accompanied by "white spots" in front of the eyes and extraneous sounds in the ears.

Regardless of the type of syndrome, pain in the back of the head causes a lot of inconvenience, does not allow you to concentrate on performing daily duties. Therefore, if the attacks are systematic, it is recommended to undergo an examination.

The origin of the painful syndrome: types of diseases

The causes of the pathological condition can be different:

diseases of the cervical region of the spinal column: spondylitis, osteochondrosis, migraine, spondylosis, etc.);
neurosis of the occipital nerve endings;
diseases of the cervical muscles: myogelosis, myositis;
hypertension, intracranial pressure;
overstrain of the vessels of the brain;
prolonged stay in the wrong posture;
overexertion of muscles during exercise;
pathology of the maxillofacial joints;
stress and depression.

Despite the underlying causes of headaches, they cannot be ignored, since they can significantly worsen the quality of life, as a result, a person becomes irritable, nervous, indifferent to problems.

A disease of the spine, in which there is a rapid destruction of the vertebrae of the neck and intervertebral capsules. The pathological process can simultaneously capture several different parts of the spinal column at once.

The main causes of osteochondrosis:

Sedentary (office) work.
Sedentary lifestyle.
Alcohol abuse, smoking.
Overweight.
Poor posture and body position during rest.
Hereditary predisposition.

The first signs of the disease are a headache in the back of the head, some patients believe that they are simply overworked. Untimely provision of medical care can lead to irreversible processes in the body.

Disease of the spinal column, resulting from the degeneration of ligament cells into bone tissue. Growths are formed, the mobility of the neck decreases, patients note stiffness when bending the head. There are constant throbbing headaches from behind, passing to the eyes, ears (with movement, they intensify).

Spondylosis develops in older people and in those whose activities are associated with sedentary work.

Cervical myositis

An inflammatory process in skeletal muscle tissue. It immediately affects several groups of bone tissue. In addition to internal problems, the patient may have changes in the skin.

Myositis reasons:

pathologies of an infectious nature;
systematic hypothermia of the body;
trauma, sprains and muscle cramps.

The disease is accompanied by dull pain in the neck, gradually spreading to the back of the head. An x-ray is done to make a diagnosis.

At the initial stages, the treatment of pathology is carried out with the help of anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics and anthelmintic drugs. Physiotherapy and massage are indicated. With advanced forms of myositis, surgery is required.

Hypertension and neuralgia

High pressure almost always "coexists" with bursting, throbbing pains in the left or right side of the occiput. Often, the patient feels unpleasant discomfort upon awakening. Headaches can be accompanied by heaviness, dizziness, tachycardia, and general malaise. With movement, the intensity of the spasms increases. Often, after vomiting, the symptoms of a migraine disappear.

The inflammatory process of the occipital nerve is the main companion of osteochondrosis, as well as other diseases of the cervical spine. Neuralgia can occur due to hypothermia.

The disease makes itself felt with burning, severe paroxysmal spasms in the back of the head, passing to the neck, ears, back and jaw. Any movement, coughing, sneezing, contributes to increased discomfort. At rest, pressing, dull pain persists.

Intracranial pressure

In the presence of this pathology, the head hurts constantly. Attacks become more frequent at night and in the morning, accompanied by a feeling of nausea, vomiting. Patients have unstable pressure, fainting.

Professional pain and stress

Such discomfort can disturb people who are forced to spend a lot of time at work in one position, in which the neck muscles are constantly in tension. Very often office workers and drivers have a headache from behind. The nature of the sensations is prolonged, dull seizures that decrease with rubbing of the back of the head, neck and head turns.

Under stress, the internal systems of the body work under tension, the blood pulsates, and can increase blood pressure. All this can cause unpleasant, throbbing pain in the back of the head.

Cervical migraine

The most common disease in which the patient complains of the following symptoms:

Pain in the forehead, temples, occiput.
Fog before eyes.
Extraneous sounds in the ears.
Lack of attention.

The pain increases with pressure on the vertebral artery. Only a specialist can make an accurate diagnosis.

To determine why the head hurts, a thorough, complete examination will help. Based on its results, the doctor will prescribe the appropriate treatment.

Diagnostics of the painful syndrome

The examination begins with a consultation with a specialist and receiving an appropriate referral for diagnostics. The following methods will allow you to determine an accurate diagnosis:

MRI of the head, cervical spine;
Ultrasound of soft tissues, vessels of the neck and head, thyroid gland;
electroencephalogram;
X-ray examination;
neuromyography and the like.

At the first symptomatology of migraine, you should seek help from a neurologist, who will not only prescribe a comprehensive examination, but also the correct treatment or recommend the patient to consult a specialist with narrow qualifications.

When the back of the head hurts on the left or right side of the head, this is not a reason to urgently take antispasmodics. Mild seizures are easy to eliminate by following simple guidelines:

Full rest for about 8 hours.
The use of vegetable, dairy products.
In case of migraine attacks, it is recommended to darken the room.
Walking, free access to fresh air.
Humidify the room systematically.
Limit the amount of alcohol, stop smoking.
Compress from the leaves of young cabbage.
Physical activity.
Control over emotions, psychological state.

Attacks are easily eliminated by massage of the neck and nape, the main task of which is to relax the muscles of the neck-collar zone and head as much as possible.

To restore the psychological state, small courses of therapeutic and prophylactic herbal therapy are shown:

valerian and mint;
oregano, motherwort;
yarrow.

Essential oils perfectly relieve pain: rosemary, lavender, lemon, fragrant orange, eucalyptus leaves. They can be mixed with massage cream, simply applied to the problem area, used as one of the components of inhalations and compresses. Effectively help to cope with spasms - cool water procedures.

Medical treatment of painful syndrome

Therapy for headaches depends on the immediate cause of the attacks. If spasms are observed against the background of a migraine, then the doctor may recommend the following drugs to the patient:

"Pentalgin".
The medicine "Aspirin".
Solpadein.
Sumatriptan.

For the treatment of migraine headaches, antidepressants and anticonvulsants are prescribed as adjunctive therapy. Acupuncture, massage, cold compresses help to eliminate severe spasms.

In case of hypertension, the patient is recommended to ensure complete rest, prescribe antihypertensive drugs: Captopril, the drug Nifedipine. In case of severe attacks, the drug "Lasix" is indicated. The convulsive state requires a more radical intervention - the use of "Seduxen". The pressure must be reduced gradually.

If spasms occur as a result of fatigue, it is recommended to restore sleep, protect yourself from stress, and try to work less time at the computer. With osteochondrosis, a long course of chondroprotectors is prescribed. Drugs of the NSAID group will help to quickly relieve pain: "Ibuprofen", the drug "Diclofenac".

Almost all headaches are due to mental and emotional stress. Therefore, patients are advised to avoid stress, not to fall into a state of depression. Medicinal herbs, which, when used in moderation, are completely safe for the patient, will help restore the nervous system.

Headaches themselves are a real stress for the human body, which often becomes the cause of mental disorders. Therefore, if painful sensations in the back of the head on the left side occur quite often, it is recommended to urgently seek help from a doctor.

Update: October 2018

When a person can definitely remember that yesterday he was sitting in a draft, and the wind blew his neck, or that he had to work a day ago with his head tilted, then a headache in the back of the head is a natural consequence of these situations.

If this symptom appeared for no apparent reason, if it is accompanied by other subjective manifestations, then it is imperative to look for the cause of this condition and eliminate it. Perhaps, of course, it is quite commonplace - overwork associated with an overload of the organ of vision. But it can also happen that the causes of pain lie in insufficient blood flow to the brain, and the symptom is.

Understanding the factors that caused the disease means eliminating it. The problem of occipital headache is dealt with by neuropathologists who work in polyclinics, hospitals and conduct private appointments. The purpose of this publication is to consider the main diseases that cause this symptom, as well as the algorithm with which effective first aid can be provided.

What can hurt?

The occipital region of the head is closely connected on the one hand, with the temporoparietal regions, and on the other hand, with the neck, so the pain that occurs here is not always easy to localize: whether it hurts in the back of the head or radiates to this area, or maybe the neck hurts. The anatomy of this department is as follows:

Occipital bones

They form a bed for the occipital lobe of the brain, which is responsible for processing information coming from the eyes (it is in the brain that the image is formed). The brain itself does not hurt, but with inflammation or a tumor in this area, the membranes of the brain will react to an increase in the intracranial volume. With such pathologies, visual symptoms are also observed.

Deep in the brain lies the pons of the brain

This is a formation of white matter interspersed with gray. It did not fuse with the occipital lobe, but is the second conditional continuation of the spinal cord into the cranial cavity (the first continuation that directly passes into the spinal structures is the medulla oblongata). The cranial nerves that carry commands to the face (trigeminal, facial and abducens) depart from the pons varoli, as well as the nerve that carries information from the vestibular apparatus and the inner ear. With the pathology of this area, there will be a headache from behind, and hearing impairment simultaneously with balance.

The cerebellum, the organ responsible for balance, muscle tone and coordination of movements, departs from the pons, not down, but sideways, under the cerebral hemispheres. It consists of two hemispheres and a small area in the middle - the cerebellar worm. With inflammation or swelling in this area, the head will hurt from behind, and there will be a lack of coordination and muscle tone.

The Varoliev bridge passes into the medulla oblongata

Here are the starting points of the four cranial nerves, which carry commands to the muscles of the pharynx, mouth and neck, which coordinate the work of the heart, bronchi, lungs and intestines. On the surface of the medulla oblongata, the main pathway is also located, along which the cerebrospinal fluid - the fluid that supports metabolic and nutritional processes between all parts of the brain and the blood - passes from the cranial cavity to the spinal canal of the spine. If this road is blocked, the cerebrospinal fluid will begin to accumulate in the cranial cavity and compress the brain. The first symptoms will be: headache in the back of the head, nausea, drowsiness and vomiting that does not bring relief.

The medulla oblongata passes into the spinal cord, and the spinal nerves branch off from the latter

This brain exits the cranial cavity through a circular opening. Next to it, all the cranial nerves formed in the area of the bridge and above come out. There are also vessels: arteries that bring blood to the occipital lobe of the brain and its trunk (this includes the bridge, cerebellum, midbrain), veins and lymphatic vessels. If these structures are compressed from the outside or outside (bones, soft tissues, tumors), then the head also begins to hurt from behind, in the back of the head.

Spinal cord

It is located inside a special channel in the spine, its membranes are located around it (the same ones surround the brain), and cerebrospinal fluid circulates between them. Compression of the spinal cord or nerves extending from it by bony structures can cause pain in the back of the head and cervical region. Basically, the symptom is accompanied by infringement or inflammation of the occipital nerve, which, formed from the fibers of several pairs of spinal nerves, provides skin sensitivity from the back of the head to the area behind the ears.

The neck contains a lot of muscles

They can become inflamed and impaired by the bony structures of the spine. This is also accompanied by a headache.

Ligamentous apparatus

The spine is held in the required position with the help of the ligamentous apparatus. It is especially developed in the cervical region, where the first two vertebrae are connected to each other and to the occipital bone by an extremely unstable joint.

The head and neck are covered with soft tissues: skin and subcutaneous tissue. Inflammation can also develop here, and this will cause pain.

Diseases accompanied by a headache in the back

Above, we examined which structures can hurt. Now let's name the reasons why the head hurts from behind, in the back of the head. These are the following diseases and conditions:

Cervical spine pathologies: spondylosis, spondylitis, fractures or dislocations of the cervical vertebrae. They cause a violation of the sympathetic regulation of the vascular tone of the neck, and this leads to a condition called. If the bone structures squeeze the vessels passing in the neck region that feed the occipital lobes and the brain stem, a pathology called vertebro-basilar insufficiency develops.
Diseases of the kidneys, brain, adrenal glands, as well as a condition, the cause of which is unclear (hypertension), accompanied by an increase in blood pressure.
Pathologies accompanied by- concussion or contusion of the brain, subarachnoid hemorrhage, decompensation of hydrocephalus.
Diseases of the muscles of the neck (, myogelosis) or their overstrain in such professional activities, when you have to tilt your head for a long time or often turn your neck. This can also include situations of overwork or stress, which led to the fact that a person slept in a position with an unnaturally twisted neck.
Pathology of regulation of vascular tone- vegetative-vascular or neurocirculatory dystonia, when the vessels passing in the neck area spasm.
Vascular pathology feeding the occipital lobes of the brain, its trunk and soft tissues of the neck and occipital region of the head:
- developmental anomalies;
- blockage by thrombotic masses;
- a decrease in diameter due to overgrowth with lipid deposits in atherosclerosis;
- changes in the vascular wall with long-term arterial hypertension;
- compression of blood vessels by the scalene muscles of the neck.
Physical and mental stress leading to the appearance of a pathology called "tension headache".
Migraine is a pathological regulation of the vascular tone of the cranial cavity, leading to migraine - with or without an aura.
Arthrosis, arthritis- diseases of the temporomandibular joints arising from malocclusion, bruxism.
Hormonal dysregulation vascular tone of the head. It occurs in sharply grown adolescents, pregnant women and women in time.
Poor posture.
A sharp change in the climate of residence to the opposite of the usual.
Calcification of the ligaments that fix the cervical spine.
Constant tension on the skin of the back of the head by pulling the hair into a ponytail or braid, leading to irritation of the occipital nerve.

Details about the pathologies causing pain

Let's consider the most common diseases.

Arterial hypertension

This is the most common cause of this symptom. It can be suspected on the following grounds:

it hurts mainly the back of the head and temples, the neck does not hurt;
a little nauseous;
it is not painful to press on the vertebrae of the neck;
there may be "flies before the eyes";
a feeling of heat in the face (while it often turns red);
left chest pain.

First of all, you should think about increasing blood pressure:

if the person is over 45 years old,
or if it is complete,
likes to drink alcohol,
in cases when he suffers from diseases of the kidneys, heart, diabetes mellitus,
notes swelling on the face or legs
if the nature of urination or the type (color, smell) of urine has changed,
has suffered or a stroke.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

This is the second most common cause of headache in the back, in the back of the head. It is characterized by a violation of the normal nutrition of the disc between the vertebrae, as a result, it is erased, its central shock-absorbing part is displaced and can flow into the spinal canal. In place of the thinned disc, to compensate for the decrease in the volume of this "layer", bone "thorns" grow. They can damage or infringe on the spinal nerves that go nearby, as well as, in this section, the vessels that feed the tissues of the head, neck and cranial cavity.

Cervical osteochondrosis is a common cause of conditions such as cervical migraine and vertebrobasilar syndrome.

Cervical migraine

It occurs when the vertebrae compress the nerves around the vertebral artery. Signs of this pathology are manifested by periodically arising severe pain on one side - on the right or on the left - in the back of the head. It can give off to the forehead and eye sockets and is sharply increased when a person begins to perform any work. At rest, especially when lying down, the pain calms down a little.

If you tilt your head back, there will be darkening in the eyes, severe dizziness, possibly fainting. In addition to these symptoms, there is nausea, a sharp "shutdown" of hearing and vision for a short period, the appearance of "flies" before the eyes. At the same time, blood pressure is not changed or slightly increased.

If the disease is not treated for a long time, migraine attacks become more frequent, signs of personality change are added: irritability, nervousness, depression and even aggression.

Syndrome of defeat of the vertebrobasilar system of arteries

Here, in addition to headache, there will be disturbances from those structures (and this is the brain and cranial nerves), which, as a result of clamping by the altered osteochondrosis by the spine, have ceased to receive the normal amount of oxygen. These are the following symptoms:

loss of visual fields;
the appearance of "flies", "lights" in front of the eyes or a feeling of fog that interferes with vision;
strabismus;
asymmetry of the face;
dizziness, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, profuse sweating, changes in blood pressure;
violation of coordination of movements;
difficulty swallowing;
feeling of a lump in the throat;
hoarseness of voice.

Cervical spondylosis

Spondylosis is the process of thinning and fragility in the anterior and lateral regions of the intervertebral disc. As a result, the jelly-like center of the disc "pushes" the thin substance outward, and bony growths appear on the contacting edges of the vertebrae. In addition, the long ligament, which runs along the anterior edge of the vertebral bodies, acquires bone hardness due to deposits of calcium salts (lime) here.

The disease manifests itself:

severe pain in the back of the head to the ears, shoulders, sometimes eyes;
the pain does not go away at rest;
interferes with finding a sleeping position at night;
it is painful and difficult to move the neck;
the pain is worse when the head is thrown back.

Cervical spondylitis

Spondylitis is a disease in which the vertebral bodies are destroyed as a result of microbial (mainly tuberculous) inflammation. The spine is deformed and compresses the neurovascular bundle. The disease manifests itself:

pain in the neck and back of the head;
numbness of the skin in the same area;
an increase in temperature;
weakness;
stoop;
Difficulty moving the neck.

Myositis (inflammation) of the neck muscles

The muscles become inflamed due to hypothermia, sitting in a draft, in the case of a long stay with a tilted or twisted neck.

Usually muscles are inflamed on one side, less often myositis is bilateral. The following symptom speaks about myositis: when an inflamed muscle participates in the movement of the neck, pain occurs in the neck region. Then it spreads to the back of the head, the area between the shoulder blades and the shoulders. At rest, neither the neck nor the back of the head hurt.

Myogelosis

The causes of this disease are practically the same as in myositis, but their list is slightly wider. These are drafts, being in an uncomfortable position, overexertion due to stress, prolonged sitting at the computer, exercise, which can lead to impaired blood circulation in the cervical muscles. Unlike myositis, here the muscles do not just swell - they thicken. The disease develops more often in women. It is accompanied by pain in the neck and back of the head, as well as other symptoms:

the shoulders also hurt, it becomes difficult to move them;
dizziness attacks often occur.

Occipital neuralgia

This pathology occurs when there is compression, inflammation, or irritation of the occipital nerve. This is due to the following reasons:

tension of the cervical muscles;
osteoarthritis;
neck injury;
swelling of the neck;
inflammatory diseases (carbuncle) of the soft tissues of the head and neck;
pathology of the intervertebral discs of the cervical spine;
diabetes.

There is intense pain in the back of the head. It is so sharp that it resembles a lumbago with an electric current, which reaches the neck or gives it to the eye (eyes), lower jaw, ears and neck. It is also described as intense, throbbing pain that shooting or burning. It can occur on the right or left, it can spread to 2 sides at once. Strengthen her neck movements.

The skin of the occipital region becomes more sensitive to touch and temperature changes.

Vascular spasm of the cranial cavity

The condition caused by vasospasm of the arterial bed is accompanied by:

pain in the back of the head;
soon the pain captures the forehead;
it increases with movement;
decreases at rest.

When a problem occurs in the venous bed, and the outflow of blood from the cavity is difficult, the following symptoms appear:

pain appears in the back of the head;
"Spreads" to the temples and further - over the entire head;
character - dull, bursting, can be described as a "feeling of heaviness";
it intensifies if the head is lowered;
pain becomes more intense when coughing and lying down;
may be accompanied by swelling of the lower eyelids.

Tension headache

The basis of the pathology is overstrain of the muscles of the neck, occiput, eyes, tendon that forms the covering of the head from the forehead to the occiput. Changes in weather conditions, overwork, alcohol intake, being in a stuffy room, working at night can provoke pain here.

A tension headache can last from 30 minutes to a week and is an episodic pain. It is not too intense, accompanied by anxiety, but not complemented by nausea or vomiting. It is monotonous, covers the head like a hoop, does not have a pulsating character; occurs after overexertion or stress.

If the head hurts monotonously for more than 2 weeks a month, it is a chronic tension headache. It does not stop, and its character does not change under stress. It is able to change a person's personality: he becomes withdrawn, depression develops, social activity is disrupted.

The diagnosis of tension headache is made if there is tension in the trapezius muscle and neck muscles, pain when pressing on the points corresponding to the transverse processes of the vertebrae of the neck and chest. At the same time, there is no asymmetry of the face, no "goose bumps", no disturbances in the sensitivity or motor activity of the muscles of the face, neck, limbs. MRI of the brain, its trunk with the capture of the cervical spine and spinal cord does not show any pathology.

Intracranial hypertension

With a long stay in conditions of a small amount of oxygen, with craniocerebral trauma, impaired venous outflow from the cranial cavity, low blood pressure, meningitis, decompensation of hydrocephalus or subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracranial pressure increases.

This dangerous condition is accompanied by the following symptoms:

severe headache;
worse at night and before getting up;
accompanied by nausea;
there may be vomiting (one or more times), spontaneous, not bringing relief;
sweating;
pain in the eyes when looking at the light;
pain increases with loud sounds;
sensitivity to changes in weather conditions;
feeling of heartbeat;
fast fatiguability;
increased nervousness.

If intracranial hypertension is due to meningitis, intracranial tumor, encephalitis, or hemorrhage in the cranial cavity, the person's condition progressively worsens. Drowsiness grows, he is periodically agitated, can express delusional ideas, stops complaining of headaches. If you do not provide help, a coma may occur, accompanied by impaired breathing and swallowing.

Diseases of the temporomandibular joint

These pathologies (arthrosis, arthritis) can also be accompanied by pain in the back of the head. Such pains are usually one-sided, spread to the ear and crown, begin in the afternoon, intensify in the evening. At the same time, soreness is noted in the joint area (in front of the ear), a crunch or clicking sound can be felt.

Reason depending on the location of the pain

If it hurts in the back of the head and temples, this may indicate:

increased blood pressure, which is also accompanied by the appearance of "flies" or obstacles in front of the eyes, chest pain on the left, dizziness;
cervical migraine - the most common complication of cervical osteochondrosis. Here, any more or less sharp throwing back of the head leads to darkening in the eyes, dizziness, nausea, and sometimes loss of consciousness;
Cervical osteochondrosis, not complicated by infringement of the vertebral artery, is manifested by pain in the occipital part of the head and temples, as well as in the neck. Here, neck movements can be accompanied by a crunch, and painful sensations - by dizziness, hearing impairment, the appearance of a "veil" in front of the eyes, double vision;
meningitis is also manifested by pain in the temples and the back of the head. In addition, there will be nausea, vomiting, body temperature rises, photophobia is noted.

Pain in the neck and back of the head is typical:

for cervical osteochondrosis (it is described in the previous paragraph);
for cervical spondylosis. The latter is manifested by severe pain, which may not even stop. Such pain intensifies with any turning or tilting of the head. It takes a lot of effort to find a position in which to fall asleep;
for inflammatory diseases of the occiput and neck: carbuncle, boil. At the same time, when examining the disturbing localizations, you can see redness and swelling, which will be very painful and from where (when they mature) pus will be released.

Pain in the back of the head, spreading to the region of the temples, crown and forehead at once, speak of:

tension headaches: then they appear after overexertion, squeeze with a "hoop", without nausea and vomiting;
increased intracranial pressure: appear for no apparent reason, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, photophobia, drowsiness;
spasm of the vessels of the cranial cavity: accompanied by a feeling of heaviness in the head, aggravated by tilting the head, has a dull, bursting character;
increased blood pressure. There will be one or more additional symptoms: pain in the heart, weakness, "flies" before the eyes, nausea.

If the pain radiates to the back of the head, and its "center" is the neck or shoulders, this indicates the pathology of the neck muscles:

myositis: the pain is usually one-sided, occurs when the neck moves sideways, spreads to the shoulders and interscapular region. This pain is provoked by physical exercises in which the neck is involved, drafts and hypothermia;
myogelosis: pain not only in the neck and back of the head, but also in the shoulders, while the latter are difficult to move, and when probing all these muscles - neck, shoulders, shoulder blades - are compacted. It occurs after stress, physical exertion, and a long time in an uncomfortable position.

Other

Pain radiating to the back of the head, accompanied by a violation of chewing, opening the mouth, crunching in the area in front of the ear, when this painful area can be found, speaks of the pathology of the temporomandibular joint.
Severe throbbing pain from the neck, radiating to the back of the head, accompanied by numbness, "goose bumps" or increased sensitivity of the skin of the neck and occiput indicates neuralgia of the occipital nerve. It is usually one-sided, aggravated by neck movements.

Unilateral pains - in the left occiput or right, are characteristic of:

cervical osteochondrosis;
cervical migraine on the left;
myohylosis of the right trapezius or sternocleidomastoid muscle on the left;
neuralgia of the left occipital nerve;
spondylitis;
injuries to the left occipital region;
irritation of the sympathetic nerve nodes on the left;
development of purulent-inflammatory diseases of soft tissues on the left side of the occiput.

There are no definite diagnoses when pain in the right occiput occurs, just like for the left one. Above we have listed those diseases in which the occipital pain will be one-sided.

Possible cause depending on the characteristics of the pain

Throbbing pain is typical for:

increased blood pressure;
neuralgia of the occipital nerve;
hormonal changes during pregnancy, menopause, as well as in adolescents.

Severe pain is typical for:

increased intracranial pressure;
spasm of arterial vessels;
cervical spondylosis;
neuralgia of the occipital nerve;

If the pain is described as sharp, the examination will most likely reveal either a complicated cervical osteochondrosis, or myogelosis of the cervical spine, or neuralgia of the occipital nerve, or a cervical migraine.

Diagnostics

If you have a headache, you need to establish the cause. To do this, they turn to a therapist, and he refers either to a cardiologist or to a neurologist. If there was a head injury, you need to visit a traumatologist, and if a painful formation is determined on the skin, then you should visit a surgeon.

During the examination, narrow specialists use the following diagnostic methods:

Doppler ultrasonography of the vessels supplying the neck and brain;
MRI of the head and neck;
X-ray of the cranial cavity;
X-ray of the temporomandibular joint.

Algorithm of the first self - or mutual help

Measure blood pressure, if higher than 140/99 - drink an ambulance drug - Kaptopres (1/2 tablet), the next day contact a therapist for the selection of therapy.
You can take a pill or other pain reliever to which you are not allergic.
Massage - only the shoulders and only an assistant: the neck cannot be touched, since the pain can be caused by pathologies in which the cervical spine is unstable (poorly fixed). In this case, hand movements can lead to an even greater disruption of the balance of bone structures, as a result, important structures can be impaired and lead to such dangerous disorders as a violation of the rhythm of breathing, the tone of all vessels of the body and normal heartbeat.

If, in addition to pain in the head in the back of the head, a crunch is heard when turning the neck, or the pain syndrome appears after an injury (especially in a car or public transport), when the head is "dangling", you need to either call an ambulance. Or, if there is no dizziness, no nausea, no loss of consciousness, first ask a family member to buy a Shants collar or another orthosis at the pharmacy for a similar case, and only then contact a neurologist. During the time when the neck brace has not yet been purchased, it is necessary, while in a sitting position with support on the back, not to move the neck. You cannot go to bed before fixing the cervical spine and consulting a specialist.

In cases where the pain is shooting, aggravated by tilting the head and moving the neck, apply dry heat to the neck, rest in a quiet room, ask a family member to massage your neck muscles.

The same can be done in case of pain that squeezes the head with a "hoop".

If you don't hear a crunch when moving your neck, the pressure is normal, you can do the following exercises to relieve pain:

Starting position	The exercise
Sitting on a chair with a straight back	Let the head bend under its own weight, stay in this position for 20 seconds, return to the starting position for 20 seconds
Sitting on a chair, raise your hands up, clasp your head so that your thumbs are on your cheekbones, and the rest are on the back of your head.	Inhale - throw your head back, resisting your fingers on the back of your head. Hold this position for 10 seconds while looking up. Exhale (7-8 seconds) - maximum tilt of the head, without muscle tension. Look down. Repeat 3-6 times.
Sitting on a chair	Feel on the back of the head for a point between the skull and 1 cervical vertebra, along the midline. With two thumbs, massage the point in a circular motion clockwise - 15 times. Then just press on this point for 90 seconds. Rest for 2 minutes. Do it all over again

What doctors prescribe

It depends on the identified pathology. So, with osteochondrosis, spondylosis and neuralgia of the occipital nerve, the following medications are prescribed:

pain relievers:, Ibuprofen, Rofika;
muscle-relaxing drugs:, Sirdalud, Baclofen;
a complex of B vitamins:, Neurorubin;
drugs that eliminate dizziness: Betaserc, Vestibo, Betagistin.

Novocaine blockades can be performed, as well as - with instability of the spine and the threat of pinching the spinal cord, as well as with severe neuralgia that cannot be controlled by drugs - various types of surgical interventions can be performed. Physiotherapy is also prescribed here: treatment with ultrasounds.

If the back of the head hurt due to myositis or myogelosis, pain relievers and decongestants are prescribed, a course of massage and physiotherapy:,.

Vascular pain requires treatment with drugs that eliminate arterial spasm and improve venous outflow from the cranial cavity.

Treatment of meningitis, encephalitis and hemorrhage in the cranial cavity is carried out only in a hospital. It includes the appointment of antibiotics, hemostatic drugs, drugs that improve communication between the affected areas of the brain, oxygen therapy.

Suppurative soft tissue diseases are treated surgically.

With neuralgia of the occipital nerve, tension headache and cervical osteochondrosis, in addition to medication, doctors can also prescribe a course of acupuncture.

Headache prevention

If the back of the head hurt at least 1 time, it means that the body signals that it is necessary to take measures to improve the saturation of the brain with oxygen. For this:

Try to sleep on an orthopedic pillow.
Do not overcool your neck and back of your head.
Try to move more, do morning exercises.
Take 10 minute breaks every hour you work at the computer.
Learn to meditate to help you cope with stressful situations.
Monitor your blood pressure.
When working, the computer should be at eye height.
Self-massage your neck and shoulder muscles every day using gentle pressure or a variety of assistive devices.

Headache is a very common and unpleasant signal about dysfunctions in the work of the whole body. The pain can be different in its symptoms, even in one person. This will depend on the reasons and circumstances that caused it. During the localization of pain in the back of the head, you need to be on the lookout, since not all the time this is the result after sedentary work.

This discomfort is a manifestation of a serious illness or a simultaneous combination of several diseases.

Causes of back pain

Back pain caused by diseases of the spine

To this the group of diseases includes osteochondrosis and cervical spondylosis. In the latter case, we are talking about a violation of the bone tissue of the cervical spine. Over time, growths develop on it, which make it difficult to turn the head in any direction.

This the disease is typical for people who suffer from physical inactivity, and are in old age. Most often, discomfort appears in the neck when they are in one position for a long time. The pain is especially strong at night, in a relaxed state. After a certain time, the unpleasant symptom passes to the ears and eyes.

With osteochondrosis, inflammation of the cartilage and bone tissue of the intervertebral discs and vertebrae can be considered. Intervertebral discs gradually sag and collapse, complicating human movements.

Disease due to genetic disposition and manifests itself in those people who are forced to be in the same position due to their lifestyle or professional activity. Osteochondrosis is directly complicated by regular overeating of food with a large amount of carbohydrates and fats.

The following people fall into the risk group:

alcohol abusers;
for a long time with a bent back in one position;
smokers;
sleeping on a high pillow and a very soft bed;
obese at any stage.

Often data states are accepted as a manifestation of fatigue... But the pain in the back of the head keeps getting worse and worse. The result can be serious consequences that will complicate the life of a person in the future.

Muscle problems as a cause of pain in the back of the head

The most common reasons for head starts to hurt(its occipital part), there are problems with the muscular apparatus of the shoulder and cervical spine. Pain is expressed by myositis and myogelosis. The latter condition is manifested by the compaction of muscle tissue in this part, which occurs under the influence of such factors:

If a person suffers from myogelosis, then the neck and shoulder area hurts and the back of the head. At the same time, it becomes difficult for a person to bend or turn, as movements in this area of the spine become limited. Dizziness can often occur.

If strong in the back of the head, the head hurts, then, most likely, we are talking about a disease of cervical myositis, which is defined as inflammation of muscle tissue in a given area. And the discomfort is caused by her swelling, and this brings the person a headache.

The disease develops under the influence of the following factors:

To identify an accurate diagnosis need to do an x-ray, according to its results, the subsequent treatment strategy will be determined. It should be borne in mind that the disease can be combined with rashes on the skin, which aggravate the situation, and require the use of antibacterial drugs.

Problems with nerves and blood vessels as causes of pain in the back of the head

Vascular disease- one of the most common in the world. And it is quite logical that they can provoke this discomfort and interfere with a full-fledged human life.

Hypertensive syndrome appears due to increased vascular tone. As a rule, this disease is hereditary and needs to be monitored from childhood.

A pressure surge can trigger weakness feeling tired and dizzy. The reason for the development of the disease may be:

If the back of the head begins to hurt, then you must immediately check your condition with a tonometer.

During increased intracranial pressure a person often begins to experience pain, especially in the morning and at night, during an increased formation of cerebrospinal fluid. Discomfort cannot be quickly relieved. The symptom recurs regularly, accompanied by vomiting, nausea and dizziness. Changes in blood pressure are also characteristic.

Cervical migraine is also one of the factors, which provokes pain in the back of the head. Migraines can spread to the eyes and ears, causing noise and visual disturbances. The ability to work is significantly reduced: a person cannot concentrate, productively and quickly fulfill his professional duties.

Nerve neuralgia in the back of the head can be as an independent disease, and in combination with spondylosis, osteochondrosis of this area of the spine. It is often confused with migraine, as certain symptoms are quite similar:

localization of pain on one side of the head. It extends to the area of the ears, eyes. Sometimes the disease is characterized by pinching of both nerves at once;
photophobia;
discomfort during head turn;
vomiting, nausea.

To determine the diagnosis, it is necessary to conduct a more detailed study.

Other causes of pain in the back of the head

Quite common causes of occipital pain are:

Malocclusion. If the bite is not corrected in a timely manner, then the load on the muscles during the process of talking and chewing will be incorrect. Over time, the likelihood of developing various unpleasant symptoms increases.
Stress. Under the influence of emotions, pressure begins to "jump", this is caused by a spasm of blood vessels in the neck.
A specific profession, which implies an incorrect distribution of the load on the muscular and bone apparatus.

How can I relieve pain in the back of my head?

Before prescribing pain medications for yourself, or taking medications that are clearly indicated for a specific disease, you need to consult a therapist... Especially when the pain bothers often and strongly. The therapist will prescribe an X-ray of the cervical spine, according to its results, it will be determined whether it is necessary to visit other doctors: a neuropathologist, a traumatologist. Often you need the help of an exercise therapy doctor, chiropractor, massage therapist.

Their methods of treatment suitable for many of the above diseases. The only difference is in the specifics of the application: the number of procedures per session, the duration of the procedure, the set of techniques and the intensity of action on a specific area.

At home you can use self-massage... First, you need to study the specifics of the chosen technique and see how the specialist uses it. It is best that the familiarization process is carried out by him for the first time to explain the nuances and answers to the questions that arise.

Usually, Exercise therapy is prescribed simultaneously with the course of massage... The combination of these procedures significantly improves the patient's condition. The set of exercises can also be done at home. The most important thing is not to be lazy. If the problem is associated with an incorrect bite, then you need to contact an orthodontist, since physical activity will not be able to eliminate it.

Physiotherapy also plays an important role. It is determined by the following procedures:

Ultrasound.
Amplipulse.
Electrophoresis.
Laser.
Magnetotherapy, etc.

With these procedures reduced vascular and muscle tone of the head, neck, nerve entrapment is eliminated, blood flow is normalized. A couple of minutes of quiet lying or sitting under the apparatus will only benefit the patient.

What to do when the back of your head hurts?

Healing movements

There are special movements to relieve pain in the back of the head:

Sit on a chair, align the torso, and let the head bend forward under the force of its gravity. Sit in this position for about half a minute (count to yourself to 30). Straighten your head, rest for half a minute and repeat the movement. In total, it is desirable to do 12-17 repetitions.
During this movement, you can stand or sit. Raise your hands to the top, put your thumbs on the upper edges of the cheekbones, and the other fingers on the back of the head. While inhaling, try to throw your head back, while creating resistance with your fingers to this movement, which are located at the back of the head. The gaze must be directed to the top. Count slowly to 15. Then exhale for 5-6 seconds with the head tilted down, but with relaxed muscles. The gaze is also directed downward. It takes 4-5 repetitions.
With your fingers, feel the painful place at the bottom of the occipital part, between the 1st vertebra of the neck and the beginning of the skull. Place both thumbs at this point and use the pads to rotate 20 times. After for a minute, just press your fingers on the painful place. Then rest for a few minutes. You need to do 4-5 repetitions.

Alternative methods of treatment (for mild pain in the back of the head)

With mild pain in the back of the head, alternative methods of treatment can help:

In addition to the advice of doctors to reduce pain in the back of the head, you need to reconsider your lifestyle:

Reduce your daily intake of caffeinated beverages and drink clean water. The same applies to cigarettes and liquor. Which you can perfectly do without.
Take breaks at work, at least 10 minutes every hour. And you need to get up from your place, put aside all the papers, cases, and just walk around. Walking promotes efficient muscle function and normal blood circulation.
Drink a course of soothing teas or their analogues if you notice constant tension, irritability and irascibility.
Organize sleep on a comfortable bed, in a ventilated and cool place. Sleep duration is at least 6-9 hours.

Treatment of many diseases which cause pain in the back of the head, require a professional and serious approach. The complex of required activities includes a large number of actions and processes. Therefore, actions aimed at preventing the development of diseases are fundamental for every person. This position will allow you to fully enjoy life, as well as save money and time.

With localization in the back of the head, it often bothers people, and, for some, this symptom appears extremely rarely and for a short time, and some people suffer for years. Most believe that a headache in the back of the head is just pain that can be relieved with a Citramon tablet, but doctors say that pain in the back of the head may indicate the development of some pathological process.

Table of contents:

Causes and characteristics of occipital pain

A sharp headache is never unreasonable. The causes of the appearance of the condition under consideration can be disorders in the vascular, nervous system and diseases of the spine. Depending on the reason for the pain in the back of the head, the features of the phenomenon will also vary. If the headache in the back of the head is one-time, then this is most likely due to a long stay in a forced or uncomfortable position, hunger, sleeping on a too hard surface, smoking and eating too much. Such manifestations of occipital pain should not become a cause for concern, but in all other cases, a person should seek qualified medical help.

Perhaps this is the most common cause of headaches in the back of the head. This disease will be characterized by the destruction of the intervertebral discs of the cervical vertebrae. Pain in the back of the head with cervical osteochondrosis is constantly present, it can be localized in the neck or temporal region. The phenomenon under consideration acquires great intensity when the head bends, turns and, in general, any movements.

If vertebrobasilar syndrome develops against the background of cervical osteochondrosis, then pain in the back of the head will be accompanied by hearing loss, coordination disorders, etc. The patient may complain of visual disturbances - double vision, veil and fog. Occipital pain in cervical osteochondrosis in almost every case is accompanied by dizziness, and if a person suddenly throws his head back, he may fall, become immobilized for a while, but without.

The disease under consideration is characterized by the so-called cervical migraine - pain that begins suddenly and has only one-sided localization. Simultaneously with an acute attack of pain, severe dizziness, tinnitus and episodes of darkening in the eyes appear.

The increase in blood pressure is accompanied by a headache in the back of the head, which has the character of "bursting", pulsating. Such pains appear when a person wakes up from sleep and accompanies him throughout the day, if you do not take antihypertensive drugs. Against the background of high blood pressure, occipital pains are accompanied by dizziness and a feeling of "heaviness" in the head, in some cases there is general weakness and palpitations. The pain in the back of the head becomes much more intense if the person begins to actively move their head.

Note:sudden vomiting often occurs against the background of high blood pressure. Just after such an attack, the headache in the back of the head disappears. .

Cervical spondylosis

This disease is characterized by the degeneration of the connective tissue of the vertebral ligaments into bone. That is, growths form on the vertebrae, which impair the mobility of the neck and cause stiffness when turning / tilting the head.

The head hurts in the back of the head against the background of cervical spondylosis constantly, often the pain spreads to the ears and eyes. With any turning / tilting of the head, the pain becomes more intense, but even if the person is at rest, the headache persists.

Cervical spondylosis is a typical disease for the elderly, as well as for those who have to spend a long time in one position (for example, due to the peculiarities of work).

This is an inflammatory process that occurs in the muscle tissues of the neck. The reason for the development of this disease can be trauma and simply an uncomfortable position of the neck. Pain in the back of the head with cervical myositis occurs only when the head moves, it starts from the neck and only then spreads to the back of the head and other areas of the shoulder girdle.

The nature of pain in such a pathological condition will be pressing and bursting, localization can be concentrated only in the back of the head, or "spread" over the entire head. For high intracranial pressure, vomiting is characteristic, after an attack of which the headache in the back of the head does not become easier.

Often, with increased intracranial pressure, pain in the eyeballs and heaviness in the head join the pain in the back of the head.

Myogelosis of the cervical spine

Myogelosis of the cervical spine is a violation of muscle circulation. This is what leads to the formation of painful seals in the neck. Pain in the back of the head appears almost from the first days of the disease and is accompanied by pronounced dizziness and stiffness of the muscles of the shoulders and neck.

Vascular pain

If there is a spasm of the arteries that are located on the surface or inside the skull, then the person has a sharp, throbbing pain in the back of the head. This pain is very fast, almost impetuous,. Any movement of the head makes the pain more intense, but if a person is at rest, then the unpleasant sensation is practically not detected.

If there is a difficulty in the outflow of venous blood from the head, then the occipital pain will have a dull and bursting character, the patient will definitely note a feeling of heaviness in the head. Often, such pains begin in the morning, continue all day and are accompanied by edema of the lower eyelids.

Occipital neuralgia

This type, as a rule, develops against the background of cervical osteochondrosis and other pathologies of the cervical spine. Even prolonged exposure to cold air, that is, banal hypothermia, can become the cause of occipital nerve neuralgia.

The pain in the back of the head in this case will be very strong, characterized as "burning and shooting", the course is paroxysmal.

In addition to the above reasons for the appearance of occipital pain, doctors indicate some provoking factors:

Pain during orgasm... It has a vascular origin, since orgasm is always accompanied by a sharp increase in blood pressure. Often, people with diagnosed pain experience similar occipital pain.
Occupational pain... If a person is forced to be in the same position for a long time, accompanied by tension of the neck muscles, then the occurrence of headaches in the back of the head cannot be avoided. Such professional pains can be experienced by drivers, watchmakers, programmers, jewelers. The pain in this case will be long and dull, but they always disappear after the massage.
Pain with... Such occipital pains are most often observed in women, the nature and duration of these unpleasant sensations vary and depend only on the psychological state. As soon as the psycho-emotional background normalizes, the headache in the back of the head will disappear.

A headache in the back of the head: what to do

Before proceeding with the treatment of occipital pain, you need to find out the true cause of their occurrence. It is worth contacting a therapist who will conduct the initial diagnosis and refer the patient to narrow specialists ... If the causes of pain in the back of the head are arterial hypertension and increased intracranial pressure, then this condition requires immediate qualified medical care. If pain in the back of the head is not a sign of pathology, then the following procedures will help get rid of them:

The normalization of rest and wakefulness and a healthy lifestyle are very important. Often, only these two parameters allow you to get rid of a headache in the back of the head. Moreover, the normalization and stabilization of the rhythm of life will be needed for pain in the back of the head of any origin.

Traditional medicine in the treatment of occipital pain

If the phenomenon under consideration is associated with stress and fatigue, then you can use some of the tools from the category of "traditional medicine". The most effective will be:

Well, and, perhaps, the strangest method of getting rid of a headache in the back of the head is to apply a copper coin to the source of the pain and after 20 minutes the unpleasant sensation will disappear.