Pain in the back of the head at the base of the skull Causes, symptoms and treatment (2023)

Because we are human beings, we live with our mental and physical organs. Sometimes our organs can cause complications, and headaches are the most common problem for many of us. Pain in the back of the head at the base of the skull caused by headaches in the suboccipital muscles. A headache makes you less productive and even leads to zero productivity in your daily life.

In some cases, the cause of headaches can be stress and a poor lifestyle. In addition, if you are dealing with physical problems, you may experience a headache. If you feel pain at the back of the base of the skull, it may be due to tension or migraine headaches. Sitting in the workplace for a long time can cause pain in the back of the head. You can relieve headaches by taking basic care like therapy, rest, and getting enough sleep. But in severe cases, you should see a doctor.

Adults as well as teenagers experience headaches. A small change in your daily lifestyle can significantly ease your headaches. For a better understanding, we will now discuss additional causes, symptoms, and treatments for a headache at the back of the head at the base of the skull.

Causes of pain in the back of the head at the base of the skull.

There are many causes of tension headaches. The most common causes at the base of the skull are:

Tension headache: This type of headache occurs most often with pain at the base of the skull. They can last from 30 minutes to 7 days. Several factors can trigger tension headaches, including stress, lack of sleep, skipping meals, sinus pain, nodrink enough water, arthritis.

Symptoms of pain in the back of the head at the base of the skull.

The pain starts at the base of the head and radiates to the eyes. It can also spread to the neck, back and shoulders. Headaches may be accompanied by symptoms such as;

nausea
vomit
Eye pain when looking at the light.
Pain on one or both sides of the head
Dizziness
Scalp sensitivity
Feeling of tension in the back or head
Vision disorders
worse pain when walking
lasts several days

Different types of headaches

Headache refers to pain "in any area of the head". The cause, duration, and intensity of this pain may vary depending on the type of headache. You need to identify the type of headache you may be experiencing in order to relieve the pain.

Most common primary headache:

A primary headache is not caused by anything your body is dealing with, like an illness or an allergy. These headaches can be episodic or chronic.

episodic headacheit can happen every so often or just once in a while. They can last from a few minutes to several hours.
chronic headachethey occur most days of the month and can last from 60 to 90 days.
Tension headachemay appear with symptoms of a dull pain all over the head. Pain occurs in the neck, forehead, scalp or arm muscles.
A terrible headacheIt can occur with intense burning and shooting pain. They occur around or behind one eye or on one side of the face. There may be swelling, redness, and sweating on the painful side. Watery eyes can also occur with this headache.
Migrainepulsating and usually on one side. This pain can last for several days. A headache can significantly limit your ability to perform daily activities. Migraines are often sensitive to light and sound. With severe pain, nausea and vomiting usually occur. If you experience headaches 6 times a month and they last for several days, you should see a doctor.

The most common secondary headaches:

Secondary headaches are caused by something the body is dealing with, such as a disease or allergy. If the secondary headache trigger is long-term, it may be chronic.

Allergic or sinus headacheIt may occur due to an allergic effect. This pain can occur in the sinus area and in front of the head.
hormonal headacheoften experienced by women. This pain is associated with hormonal fluctuations. Menstruation, the birth control pill, and pregnancy all affect estrogen levels, which can cause headaches. This pain occurs before, during or after menstruation, as well as during ovulation.
Caffeine headaches canare due to too much caffeine. Too much caffeine can affect blood flow to the brain. People who have migraine pain may be at risk for pain from caffeine intake.
hypertensive headachethis is often experienced by people with high blood pressure. This happens when blood pressure rises. Hypertension usually occurs on both sides of the head. It usually gets worse with activity. There may also be changes in vision, nosebleeds, chest pain.
post-traumatic headachecan occur after a head injury. This type of headache can last from 6 to 12 months. These are probably migraines and tension headaches.

Treatment of pain in the back of the head at the base of the skull.

You should worry more about your headache. Ignoring pain can make a big difference to your body. There are many methods of treating a headache. Headache can be treated in primary care. It's best to see a doctor if your headache persists for days or months.

Depending on the type of headache and the intensity of the pain, treatments or medications are available. Taking painkillers such as aspirin or ibuprofen will suffice for a tension headache. Depending on the frequency, relaxation techniques such as physiotherapy can be opted for. For migraine pain, your doctor may prescribe migraine medications called triptans. Taking therapy can reduce the pain. Taking too many medications can sometimes cause pain. In this case, you can change your behavior or lifestyle to ease the pain. For occipital neuralgia, you can take aspirin or paracetamol to reduce pain. In severe cases, you can undergo surgery in consultation with your doctor. Surgical procedures involve placing electrodes under the skin near the occipital nerves, between the spinal cord and the vertebrae. According to studies, 95% of patients feel relief after immediate surgery.

How to get rid of tension headaches?

Tension headaches can be relieved with a few simple measures such as;

Check your workstation:Your workplace can be the cause of your headache. Sitting in a chair for a long time can cause headaches in the back of the head. So you have to worry about the height of your chair. Your feet should be flat on the floor.
Sleeping positions and pillow:Too high pillows cause muscle strain. Too much tension in these muscles can lead to neck and headache pain. Poor posture when sitting, driving or sleeping can cause headaches. Therefore, it is better to lie on your back with a pillow that is not too high.
Keep your neck and head as mobile as possible:Headaches occur with tense muscles. Try to keep your neck and head moving as much as possible. Prevents muscle spasms or stiffening.
Yoga or Meditation:A small change in your daily lifestyle can ease tension headaches. Yoga or meditation can inhibit the nerves that cause stress. And stress and tension are the main cause of headaches. Yoga can reduce stress levels.

Frequently asked questions - Frequently asked questions

How long do tension headaches last?

Tension headaches are the most common form of headache in humans. Especially in adults and older adolescents. In the United States, approximately 30-80% of the adult population suffers from tension headaches. Women suffer a little more than men. About 3% of people suffer from chronic daily stress. Episodic tension headaches may occur less than 15 days a month and may last from 30 minutes to several days. Most chronic tension headaches can occur more than 15 days a month and last more than 60 to 90 days.

How do I know if I have neuralgia?

Neuralgia is a condition where you may feel severe pain due to nerve irritation or damage. You may feel pain in the back of your head or at the base of your skull. Because the symptoms of neuralgia and migraine or other types of headaches are the same, people are confused. Typical neuralgia can last from a few minutes to two hours. Trigeminal neuralgia occurs as a result of aging. Occurs with nerve damage or due to a tumor compressing the trigeminal nerve. With neuralgia, you may feel severe pain in the back of your head or neck. Here are other symptoms that can tell you if it's neuralgia or not.

You feel constant pain and burning pain.
Pain behind the eyes.
You may feel pain on one or both sides of your head.
You may feel pain when moving your neck.
Sensitivity in the scalp.
Light sensitivity.
This may take several minutes.

Will ibuprofen help with a tension headache?

Tension headaches are becoming a common occurrence in everyday life. The good news is that you can relieve tension headaches with painkillers. Many painkillers are used to treat headaches. Paracetamol, aspirin, ibuprofen are recommendedpainkillersfor a tension headache. When a headache can occur, the pain often lasts for hours. Ibuprofen is a commonly used painkiller around the world. The usual dose for tension headaches is 400 mg. Ibuprofen generally works best for tension headaches. In a global rating, the experience with ibuprofen was excellent according to 40% of people.

Does water help with tension headaches?

Chronic dehydration can cause tension headaches. Most of the time, dehydration occurs when you do strenuous exercise and lose water through sweating. You can lose a significant amount of water through sweat. Increasing your water intake can protect you from dehydration and headaches. Drinking water is the most cost-effective and non-invasive way to reduce or prevent headaches. A few glasses of water, for example 6 glasses of water (1.5 liters), can immediately reduce headaches.

What is a natural way to relieve tension headaches?

There are different types of headaches as well as different types of medications. While many medications are purported to relieve headaches, there are also many effective natural treatments available. They are described below.

Dehydration can cause tension headaches. Drinking the right amount of water is the easiest and most cost-effective way to treat a headache. Drink plenty of water and eat water-rich fruits to avoid dehydration.
Magnesium is considered a safe and effective remedy for headaches. A lack of magnesium can promote migraines. According to research, taking 600 mg of magnesium can reduce the frequency and severity of migraines.
Alcohol causes migraines. It causes tension and cluster headaches. It also acts as a diuretic which causes the body to lose fluid when urinating. Avoiding alcohol can reduce the frequency of headaches.
Lack of sleep is another cause of tension headaches. If you want to get rid of a headache, getting enough sleep is very important.
A caffeine-containing beverage, such as tea or coffee, can provide relief from a headache. It can also improve the mood, add freshness.
Ginger contains some beneficial elements that are too healthy for our body. Drinking ginger tea effectively reduces headaches. Ginger is also beneficial in reducing nausea and vomiting associated with severe headaches.

last summary

Headaches are too common in our daily lives. About 60% of adults suffer from chronic headaches. The headache is removed in the first line. Tension headaches can result from tight muscles in the neck and scalp. Most often, tension headaches are caused by stress from work, school, family, friends, and other relationships. Daily stress can lead to chronic headaches. Pain relief treatment should be suggested. As long as you sleep long enough, drink plenty of water, caffeinated beverages are an effective way to relieve a headache, but to get the most benefit you should see your doctor.

Ignoring pain can cause significant damage to the scalp and scalp tissues. Therefore, it is better to go for treatment. If you suffer from prolonged headaches, you should seek medical attention to return to your normal activities without hindrance.