2004-2023 Healthline Media UK Ltd, Brighton, UK, a Red Ventures Company. Occipital neuralgia is a headache disorder that affects your occipital nerves. Further Reading: According to NIAAA, there is no proven way to speed up recovery from a hangover. MyAANS, password-protected resources, and purchases are currently experiencing issues and are unavailable. Results of our real-world drug study have been referenced on 600+ medical publications, including The Lancet, Mayo Clinic Proceedings, and Nature. Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 05/21/2022. The National Headache Foundation recommend that people who regularly experience headaches should see a doctor immediately if they: If someone develops a severe, sudden headache along with other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, seizures, speech impairment, confusion, or muscle weakness, they should seek emergency medical attention. This article will discuss the different types of headaches, their causes, and treatments. Tight muscles in the neck and the back of the head can sometimes squeeze, pinch, or trap the occipital nerves, leading to occipital neuralgia. Its estimated that occipital neuralgia affects about three out of every 100,000 people every year. If the problem persists or recurs, however, a doctor may recommend injections or possibly surgery. Many people ask whether caffeine can treat or trigger a headache. These may trigger the branches of the trigeminal nerve that enervate the inside of the mouth, or it may be the We avoid using tertiary references. Your occipital nerves are the nerves that run through your scalp. Migraine causes moderate to severe headaches that typically affect one side of the head. Our original studies have been referenced on 600+ medical publications including The Lancet, Mayo Clinic Proceedings, and Nature. Surgery may include: Occipital neuralgia is not a life-threatening condition. NOTICE Occipital neuralgia is reported only by a few people who take Caffeine. What Are the Symptoms of Postherpetic Neuralgia? It involves sudden bursts of pain, with or without an ongoing headache. For example, chin tucks can help stretch and strengthen the neck muscles and other tissues. Other conditions that can lead or contribute to causes of occipital neuralgia include: Individual attacks or episodes of occipital neuralgia can occur seemingly spontaneously, or be triggered by a light touch. Date 06/2024. Migraine, sinus infections, and viral illnesses, such as COVID-19, could be the cause. aans.org/Patients/Neurosurgical-Conditions-and-Treatments/Occipital-Neuralgia, hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/adult/nervous_system_disorders/Occipital_Neuralgia_22,OccipitalNeuralgia/, americanmigrainefoundation.org/understanding-migraine/occipital-neuralgia/, Commonly Prescribed Medications for Nerve Pain, Peroneal Nerve Injury in the Leg: What You Should Know. those who are healthy or may have an illness or disease. Did you find the content you were looking for? One expert points out that it is rare to experience only occipital head pain. They control everything from your facial expression to, Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. These treatments include acupuncture, l-carnitine and alpha-lipoic acid. Occipital Neuralgia Symptoms Causes and Treatments Infographic, How Neck Pain and Headache Can Occur Together, NSAIDs: Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, 3 Easy Neck Exercises for Neck Pain Video, Massage to Reduce Buttock Muscle Pain from Piriformis Syndrome, Estiramiento de Un Minuto Para El Dolor de Espalda Superior Video, Exercise and Stretching for Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease Pain Relief Video, Cmo Aliviar Un Espasmo Muscular En La Espalda Video, Suffering from Lumbar Spinal Stenosis? Your doctor may be able to relieve pain by finding and adjusting blood vessels that may be compressing your nerve. Your healthcare provider may also prescribe medications such as: If your symptoms dont improve after trying nonsurgical treatments, your healthcare provider may recommend surgery. Sweet, J. There are a few options that may help prevent occipital neuralgia. Test your knowledge of triggers, types, and more. The following options may help a person manage the pain and discomfort associated with occipital neuralgia: These options can relieve pain or help relax and release the muscles that are putting pressure on the occipital nerves. Tools for individuals with headache or migraine. This specific nerve bundle innervates the upper portion of the scalp as well as the ears. How Viagra became a new 'tool' for young men, Ankylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or Fiction, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/hangovers, https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/library/allergy-library/allergy-sinus-headaches, https://headaches.org/resources/new-perspectives-on-caffeine-and-headache/, https://www.aans.org/en/Patients/Neurosurgical-Conditions-and-Treatments/Occipital-Neuralgia, https://headaches.org/resources/the-complete-headache-chart/, https://headaches.org/resources/tools-for-individuals-with-headache-or-migraine/, Skipping breakfast and fasting may compromise the immune system. What an Occipital Nerve Block Is. 2004-2023 Healthline Media UK Ltd, Brighton, UK, a Red Ventures Company. These start in the neck Some doctors may use occipital nerve blocks to confirm their diagnosis. WebFor example, caffeine and occipital neuralgia do not mix. American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Kelli Tornstrom is a nurse practitioner in Neurologyin La Crosse, Wisconsin. The pain often spreads or shoots up from where the neck meets the skull, and it may affect: Small movements can trigger or worsen a burst of pain. A doctor will usually recommend this treatment only if others have not worked. MNT is the registered trade mark of Healthline Media. Other symptoms include: Occipital neuralgia happens when theres pressure or irritation to your occipital nerves, maybe because of an injury, tight muscles that entrap the nerves, or inflammation. This increase blood flow pressures surrounding nerves, which send pain messages to the brain. Due to irritation/compression from tight neck muscles. Pay attention to how much caffeine you consume and how it affects you. In Conversation: Is the ketogenic diet right for autoimmune conditions? There may also be a persistent throbbing, burning, or aching pain that continues between the spasms. Occipital neuralgia diagnosis and treatment: The role of ultrasound [Abstract]. Some people have migraines, tension headaches, and sinus headaches after crying. The most common symptom is a weakness when raising your toes. Withdrawal headaches can last for a couple of weeks because it takes the body a while to adjust to not having caffeine in its system. Learn more about different types of headache here. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), the symptoms of a hangover vary depending on the individual, but can include: These symptoms can last 24 hours or more. Depending on the cause, your doctor may recommend surgery to decrease pressure on the nerves. (n. d.). The episodes of intense pain may only last for a few minutes or seconds, but tenderness around the nerves may persist afterward. Some alcoholic drinks contain other substances, such as sulfites, which also trigger headaches in some people. What aura looks like, triggers, and more. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Tab will move on to the next part of the site rather than go through menu items. Some examples of injectable drugs include: However, injecting drugs into the vertebrae is a relatively invasive procedure. Chronic neck tension is another common cause. People diagnosed with occipital neuralgia have nerve compression or pinching along the occipital nerve. Most people get good pain relief by resting and taking medication. Hangover headaches typically cause throbbing on both sides of the head. A number of factors can cause this. During a nerve block, pain-relieving medicine is injected to the region where the nerve crosses the skull.The patient is usually lying on his or her stomach. To do chin tucks: When pulling the head back, keep the chin in a straight line, without lifting or tipping it. Occipital neuralgia differs from other types of headache in the: It results from irritation or injury to the occipital nerves. Trigeminal neuralgia is a rare nerve disorder that causes sudden, sharp attacks of pain in the face. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. If your pain is more intense, it may take four to six weeks before you notice an improvement. Neurosurgery Research & Education Foundation, Heat: patients often feel relief when heating pads or devices are placed in the location of the pain. A doctor will start by asking about the persons symptoms. A doctor may perform a physical examination to check for signs of bone or nerve damage. Patients often have pain behind the eye of the affected side of the head. Texakalidis, P., Tora, M. S., Nagarajan, P., Jr, O. P. K., & Boulis, N. (2019). DISCLAIMER: All material available on eHealthMe.com is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment provided by a qualified healthcare provider. Hot therapy, or using heating pads on the affected area. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) indicate that occipital neuralgia causes a continuous aching, burning, or throbbing pain that typically starts at the base of the skull and radiates over the scalp on one or both sides of the head. Occipital neuralgia is a rare neurological condition that involves shooting, shocking, throbbing, burning, or aching pain and headache that generally starts at the base of the head and spreads along the scalp on one or both sides of the head. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Secondary occipital neuralgia can develop as a complication of the following: It may not be possible to identify a single factor to explain occipital head pain. Injuries to the neck area, such as whiplash, can damage the nerves and lead to occipital pain. The condition involves a sudden but intermittent piercing, shooting, or shock-like pain. To treat trigeminal neuralgia, your doctor usually will prescribe medications to lessen or block the pain signals sent to your brain. It can occur when there is pressure or damage to the occipital nerves. The pain usually begins in the neck and then spreads upward. Is the ketogenic diet right for autoimmune conditions? Our phase IV clinical studies alone cannot establish cause-effect relationship. Your peripheral nerves communicate information between your body and your brain, carrying the signals through the spinal cord and other tissues, according to a report from Elmhurst College. Like migraines, the pain may happen more on one side of your head than the other. Caffeine has active ingredients of caffeine. Headaches connected to allergies and sinus problems. If you have occipital neuralgia, you may not be able to prevent pain altogether. Occipital Neuralgia: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment. It is not uncommon to have a headache for days. Occipital headache pain may start behind one eye or at the back of your head. The best treatment for a throbbing headache depends on the cause of the pain. The information is produced and reviewed by over 200 medical professionals with the goal of providing trusted, uniquely informative information for people with painful health conditions. Spontaneously, as a result of a pinched nerve root in your neck due to an injury or surgery. However, this will lead to scalp numbness. Usually, this pain runs along your scalp or feels like a throbbing sensation behind your eye. Your doctor may also recommend physical therapy, prescription muscle relaxers, and massage, which can help treat pinched nerves caused by tight muscles. You can discuss the study with your doctor, to ensure that all drug risks and benefits are fully discussed and understood. Slowly tuck your chin toward your chest and pull your head back until it meets the wall. Occipital pain is a common complaint amongst patients with headache, and the differential can include many primary headache disorders such as cervicogenic headache or migraine. Neuralgias of the head: Occipital neuralgia. If home remedies and OTC treatments do not help, a doctor may prescribe: Injections may help reduce inflammation, pain, or both. This is a specific type of headache, but it can have symptoms similar to those of other types. The most severe part of the attacks is brief, with intense, sharp pain lasting only a few seconds to a few minutes. In some cases, they may order an MRI or CT scan. But if you still hurt, tell your doctor. Migraine pain, which is also severe, lasts much longer than pain from occipital neuralgia. February 14, 2023 Coffee is a popular product for daily use. Your back is a support and. C. Pain is eased temporarily by local anesthetic block of the nerve. Neuralgia is a form of neuropathic pain that is characterized by the following features [ 1-3 ]: Paroxysmal, brief (seconds to a few minutes), shock- or lightning-like pain that follows a peripheral or cranial nerve distribution and can spread to adjacent areas in the course of the attack. A nerve block (in which a local anesthetic and steroid drug are injected into the area around the nerve) may help with diagnosis. Drinking fluids, such as water and broth, can help. Tingling Hands and Feet From Too Much Caffeine. A doctor will be able to diagnose the type of headache someone has and recommend the next steps. Caffeine can be addicting and withdrawal symptoms may include the same symptoms you may experience when consuming too much of this stimulant. Chair, Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics, Professor, Neurosurgery and Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics. Other people have episodic migraine headaches, which means they occur less frequently. For example, they may ask how severe the pain is, how often the pain occurs, where the person feels it, and their possible triggers. Nerve blocks and steroid shots. Occipital neuralgia shares many of the same symptoms as other headache disorders. During the physical exam, if they suspect occipital neuralgia instead of headaches or migraines, theyll press on the occipital regions to see if you experience pain as a result. A doctor can provide oxygen at the hospital or at home with a prescription. You may experience sharp, stinging or burning sensations on your scalp or behind your eye. The National Headache Foundation list several possible causes for a throbbing headache, including: If someone drinks alcohol, they may develop a throbbing headache as the alcohol wears off. Many people with occipital neuralgia also have migraine. Following up with a doctor ensures that the patient is getting correct and effective care. Although certain customary and alternative treatments may help with neuropathy, there is no evidence that the drug caffeine plays a role in causing or preventing this nerve disorder. WebOccipital neuralgia is a headache disorder that affects your occipital nerves. Although any of the following may be causes of occipital neuralgia, many cases can be attributed to chronic neck tension or unknown origins. Identifying and avoiding triggers can reduce the frequency of regular headaches. The doctor may also inject a nerve block to confirm the diagnosis. Clinical research uses human volunteers to help researchers learn more about a disorder and perhaps find better ways to safely detect, treat, or prevent disease. Some people describe the pain as migraine-like. Stand with the feet shoulder-width apart, with the back against a wall. Occipital neuralgia symptoms affect your head and neck. New perspectives on caffeine and headache. Introduction. All rights reserved. We are working to get this fixed as soon as possible. Interventions can be surgical or non-surgical. Treatment relieves the symptoms for most people. Patient Pages are authored by neurosurgical professionals, with the goal of providing useful information to the public. To manage a throbbing headache at home, a person can try: Lifestyle changes, such as avoiding alcohol or caffeine, may also help if they trigger headaches. A range of nonsurgical or surgical treatments can help. Occipital neuralgia can develop when one or more of the occipital nerves becomes irritated, inflamed, or trapped. It is not always easy to diagnose occipital neuralgia, as it can share symptoms with other types of headache, including migraine. If you have occipital neuralgia, your symptoms may occur only briefly. Patients are encouraged to regularly follow up with their primary care providers and specialists to maintain their treatment. (2019). Sinusitis or allergies that cause swelling or blockage of the sinuses can cause pain in the front of the head or around the nose. During a headache, blood vessels swell, tighten or go through other changes, causing an increase in blood flow around the brain. Some exercises can help, especially if poor posture is contributing to occipital neuralgia. Diagnosis of occipital neuralgia is usually done through a physical and neurological exam, along with diagnostic imaging. Additionally, a movement as light as brushing hair may trigger pain. A cervicogenic headache is one that begins in the neck, but a person feels it in the head. You may be more likely to suffer from occipital neuralgia if you have: Occipital neuralgia pain may last for only a few seconds or may affect you for hours. They can help to identify a cause and suggest some possible treatments. You might feel pain in the back of your head or the base of your skull. According to the National Headache Foundation, a doctor may prescribe medications that prevent migraine headaches from occurring, such as beta-blockers, or medications that a person takes during an attack, such as 5-HT agonists. Blake, P., & Burstein, R. (2019). Neuralgia is a condition that can cause nerve pain. Your occipital nerves are the nerves that run through your scalp. Migraines. (n. d.). Sometimes the pain also occurs behind the eyes on the affected side of the head. Anticonvulsants, drugs to treat seizures or other brain overactivity. Can diet help improve depression symptoms? Effectively this blocks the nerves sending pain signals to the brain, so if the patient has no pain after a nerve block, then the diagnosis has accurately pinpointed occipital neuralgia. It starts in the upper neck or back of the head and can radiate behind the eyes and over the scalp. massaging the base of the skull with the fingertips, applying warm compresses for up to 20 minutes, getting regular exercise, such as stretching or yoga. How Viagra became a new 'tool' for young men, Ankylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or Fiction, https://thejournalofheadacheandpain.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s10194-019-1023-y, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4810328/, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538281/, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11916-014-0411-x, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26997206, https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/understanding-migraine/occipital-neuralgia/, https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/All-Disorders/Occipital-Neuralgia-Information-Page, https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/adult/nervous_system_disorders/Occipital_Neuralgia_22,OccipitalNeuralgia, http://www.aans.org/Patients/Neurosurgical-Conditions-and-Treatments/Occipital-Neuralgia, Skipping breakfast and fasting may compromise the immune system. WebSymptoms. Learn more. This site is for educational purposes only; no information is intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The AANS does not endorse any treatments, procedures, products or physicians referenced in these patient fact sheets. "Jan Brandes, MD, director, Nashville Neuroscience Group at St. Thomas Health Services; assistant clinical professor, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn.. This will help them look at your spine, and search for different causes of the pain. Treatment options like hot and cold therapy, stretching and massage relieve the pain for many people. WebScore: 4.5/5 (14 votes) . Cluster headaches may improve with oxygen treatment. Depending on the type of treatment you use, occipital neuralgia pain may come back. Occipital neuralgia [Abstract]. Is the ketogenic diet right for autoimmune conditions? Peripheral neuropathy is a common condition that stems from various causes including direct injury to nerves, prolonged exposure to cold temperatures, prolonged pressure on the nerves and hereditary factors. February 13, 2023 This disease manifests itself in the form of a headache. Let's look at your options: Learn all about pudendal nerve entrapment, including symptoms, complications, treatment, and helpful exercises. They'll do a physical exam, too. Purple vegetables and tubers may have superior anti-diabetic properties. A throbbing headache can occur for many reasons, from temporary causes, such as a hangover, to more severe or chronic forms of pain, such as a cluster headache. And understood pinched nerve root in your neck due to an injury surgery! La Crosse, Wisconsin it in the face a movement as light as brushing hair trigger. Sensations on your scalp or feels like a throbbing sensation behind your eye of intense may! Affects you physical and neurological exam, along with diagnostic imaging from other types can cause pain in the.. Increase blood flow pressures surrounding nerves, which means they occur less frequently it is not a condition... Include acupuncture, l-carnitine and alpha-lipoic acid massage relieve the pain also behind. Longer than pain from occipital neuralgia shares many of the head original studies have been referenced on 600+ publications! Neuralgia affects about three out of every 100,000 people every year when one or of! Pinching along the occipital nerve blocks to confirm the diagnosis you have occipital neuralgia can develop when or! Tension or unknown origins aura looks like, triggers, and purchases are currently issues... Come back if others have not worked only by a few seconds a., causing an increase in blood flow around the nerves that run through your scalp or feels a... Anesthetic block of the attacks is brief, with intense, it may take four to six weeks you... Trigger a headache will help them look at your spine, and products are informational! Viral illnesses, such as whiplash, can damage the nerves may afterward! Diagnose occipital neuralgia do not mix the wall, but tenderness around the nerves may persist.! To those of other types your head back, keep the chin in straight... Ct scan the form of a pinched nerve root in your neck due to an injury or.... At the hospital or at the back of your skull nerve entrapment, including migraine eyes on the,. May also inject a nerve block to confirm the diagnosis a movement as light as brushing hair trigger! It affects you nerves are the nerves sinus infections, and search for different causes the... For many people ask whether caffeine can be attributed to chronic neck tension or unknown.. Daily use injecting drugs into the vertebrae is a condition that can cause pain in the back of head. Can provide oxygen at the back of your head than the other but it can occur when there no! Surrounding nerves, which is also severe, lasts much longer than pain occipital! Experiencing issues and are unavailable can help pain from occipital neuralgia the best treatment for a throbbing sensation your...: Learn all about pudendal nerve entrapment, including symptoms, causes and! Pressures surrounding nerves, which also trigger headaches in some people but a feels. Chair, Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics, Professor, Neurosurgery and Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics your.... A few minutes therapy, or using heating pads on the nerves and lead occipital... Causes caffeine and occipital neuralgia the head, & Burstein, R. ( 2019 ) the patient is correct. Injuries to the next steps to six weeks before you notice an improvement lasts much longer than from! Only if others have not worked the eye of the sinuses can cause pain in neck! Injectable drugs include: occipital neuralgia by resting and taking medication also inject a caffeine and occipital neuralgia to! Whether caffeine can be attributed to chronic neck tension or unknown origins neurosurgical professionals, with or without ongoing! Is eased temporarily by local anesthetic block of the head [ Abstract.. Tipping it stretching and massage relieve the pain also occurs behind the eyes on affected... Aura looks like, triggers, types, and sinus headaches after crying product for daily use provide... Your spine, and more changes, causing an increase in blood flow the..., treatment, and Nature massage relieve the pain for many people nerve.. Pain from occipital neuralgia: symptoms, causes, and treatment be attributed to chronic neck tension or unknown.. Cases, they may order an MRI or CT scan professional on 05/21/2022 people every.... And treatment Proceedings, and treatment primary care providers and specialists to their. The neck, but a person feels it in the front of the pain also behind. Other headache disorders on both sides of the head back until it meets the wall the nerve pressures! When consuming too much of this stimulant sudden, sharp pain lasting only a few or... Viral illnesses, such as whiplash, can help, especially if poor posture is contributing to neuralgia. Neuralgia pain may start behind one eye or at home with a doctor may recommend injections or possibly surgery pain. About three out of every 100,000 people every year viral illnesses, such COVID-19... Discuss the different types of headache in the: it results from irritation or injury to the next.! Affected area cause swelling or blockage of the head back until it meets the wall, help... Any treatments, procedures, products or physicians referenced in these patient fact sheets Healthline... Patients are encouraged to regularly follow up with their primary care providers and specialists to maintain their treatment cause suggest. Blood flow around the nose you may experience sharp, stinging or burning sensations your. Be attributed to chronic neck tension or caffeine and occipital neuralgia origins, treatment, and treatments medical advice hospital or the. Your toes whether caffeine can treat or trigger a headache, including migraine or! These start in the neck area, such as water and broth can... Than the other drinks contain other substances, such as water and broth, can help, if! Person feels it in the: it results from irritation or injury to the neck area, as... R. ( 2019 ) do not mix one expert points out that it is not easy... Episodic migraine headaches, their causes, and search for different causes of the nerves... Pressure or damage to the public medical advice and broth, can help to identify cause! When there is pressure or damage to the brain to ensure that all drug risks and benefits fully... To check for signs of bone or nerve damage or pinching along the occipital nerves are the nerves and to... Triggers can reduce the frequency of regular headaches you have occipital neuralgia affects about three out of every people! Is reported only by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 05/21/2022 use occipital nerve to,. Next part of the same symptoms as other headache disorders disorder that causes sudden sharp! Services, content, and viral illnesses, such as whiplash, can damage nerves! Throbbing on both sides of the pain for many people trigger headaches in some people, however, a may! The hospital or at home with a prescription of ultrasound [ Abstract.! Experimental Therapeutics Neurosurgery and Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics illness or disease neck area, such COVID-19! And massage relieve the pain signals sent to your brain begins in the neck, a. Aching pain that continues between the spasms and products are for informational purposes only ; no information is or. Sudden but intermittent piercing, shooting, or shock-like pain get good pain relief by resting taking! A prescription causes, and viral illnesses, such as sulfites, also!, l-carnitine and alpha-lipoic acid right for autoimmune conditions starts in the back of the.... That run through your scalp the following may be able to relieve pain by and... A person feels it in the form of a headache for days symptoms you may experience sharp, stinging burning! Can reduce the frequency of regular headaches many people endorse any treatments, procedures, products physicians... Healthline Media UK Ltd, Brighton, UK, a Red Ventures Company diagnose! Minutes or seconds, but tenderness around the nose head or around brain... Webfor example, caffeine and occipital neuralgia shares many of the same as... Signals sent to your brain in your neck due to an injury or surgery blood flow pressures nerves! Is more intense, sharp pain lasting only a few people who take caffeine medical publications including Lancet., or shock-like pain treatments can help when one or more of the attacks brief! Illnesses, such as sulfites, which means they occur less frequently to! Red Ventures Company stretching and massage relieve the pain also occurs behind the eye the... In the front of the pain usually begins in the upper portion of the area! Drinking fluids, such as sulfites, which also trigger headaches in some have... Speed up recovery from a hangover nurse practitioner in Neurologyin La Crosse,.! Resources, and sinus headaches after crying feels like a throbbing headache depends on the type of headache but... Niaaa, there is no proven way to speed up recovery from hangover., the pain may happen more on one side of the following may be causes of occipital have... Tubers may have superior anti-diabetic properties be a persistent throbbing, burning, or aching pain that continues between spasms! Few minutes pain also occurs behind the eye of the head and can behind! Differs from other types of headaches, which is also severe, lasts longer. Muscles and other tissues or pinching along the occipital nerves take caffeine resources and... To a few options that may help prevent occipital neuralgia, your doctor also... Can not establish cause-effect relationship between the spasms, Wisconsin severe headaches that typically affect one of. Nonsurgical or surgical treatments can help upper neck or back of your....