Experiencing Pain in Back of Head? Know What It Means

We all have headaches at some point and they are annoying and sometimes may even make you feel helpless. The pain can be intense and occur in different areas of the head. If you have pain in the back of the head, then it can be due to various reasons. The treatment for such kinds of headaches depends on the accompanying symptoms, which you must take note of.

Sometimes, these headaches are mild and often fade away with proper rest or OTC medicines. They may become so unbearable that you start feeling restless throughout the headache period. There can be many reasons for that piercing back of skull pain. You should never ignore symptoms that follow such headaches and should always seek proper treatment. 

What is Pain in the Back of the Head?

Pain in the back of the head is when you feel a stinging ache or thumping sensation that causes discomfort or head pain in back of head. Given below are the symptoms to look out for while experiencing backside headache.

Precisely, discomfort or ache in the back of the head is known as pain in the posterior region or back of the skull. The pain you feel can be mild or severe and may also have other symptoms like:

• Discomfort or limited movement in their neck area
• Bright lights or loud noises can worsen headaches
• You may also feel like vomiting or experience nausea
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Visual disturbances, such as seeing aura, blurred vision, or flashing lights
• Scalp tenderness 
• Difficulties with concentration, memory, or thinking clearly
• Sleep disturbances

Pain in the Back of the Head Treatments

Here are the different ways in which you can treat the problem of pain in the back of your head:

1. Take OTC medicines such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve). These medicines reduce inflammation and pain.
2. Visit a healthcare professional for prescription drugs. They may give you beta-blockers, anticonvulsants for migraines, and muscle relaxants for tension headaches.
3. If your headache is caused by muscle tension, then you may be asked by the healthcare professional to go to a physical therapist. These therapists provide exercises, stretches, and manual therapy techniques to relieve muscle tension. They also improve your posture and strengthen the neck and upper back muscles.
4. To deal with chronic headaches, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or biofeedback techniques are used. These methods help determine what makes the headaches start, manage stress, and change how people think and act when they have pain.
5. If your pain in the back of your head is due to neck, sinus, or jaw problems, then you need to treat the cause. You might need medicine, physical therapy, or dental treatment.

Pain in the Back of the Head Causes

There can be many known and unknown causes for the pain in back of skull. The possible causes of this pain could be as follows:

1. Tension Headaches

Headaches that cause a dull, aching pain at the back of the head are the most common type. They often happen due to stress, anxiety, or muscle tension.

2. Migraines

Pain on the right side of the back of the head could be a migraine attack. You may also feel nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and visual disturbances.

3. Cervicogenic Headaches

These headaches are caused by joint problems, muscle tension, or herniated discs in the neck.

4. Occipital Neuralgia

It is a condition in which some nerves in the upper neck get inflamed. You may feel a sharp shooting pain.

5. Low-pressure Headache

It is also known as intracranial hypotension. In this, spinal fluid leaks from the spin that causes pain. It can happen by itself or due to procedures such as a spinal tap.

Lifestyle Changes 

Here are some of  the best changes that you can make: 

• Sleep for at least 7-8 hours to minimise headaches.
• Do deep breathing exercises, meditate, or engage in hobbies and activities to reduce stress.
• Work out daily for half an hour to reduce tension and improve your body and brain circulation. You can take daily walks, swim, do yoga, cycle, etc. 
• Dehydration is also one of the reasons for a severe headache. So, drink around 8 cups of water daily.
• Eat a good diet of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats. Avoid processed and sugar foods.
• Too much alcohol and caffeine can trigger headaches. Consume these in moderation.

Conclusion

In conclusion, pain in the back of the head could be caused by various reasons such as tension, migraines, problems with your neck, and posture issues. It is essential to find out what’s causing it. Consulting a doctor can help you figure this out. They can give you medicine or other treatments to help reduce your pain. It would help if you also changed your lifestyle by eating a good diet and regular workouts.