Causes of Occipital Neuralgia
Few investigators would attribute such a headache disorder to a single cause. People commonly ascribed occipital neuralgia to pinched nerves in the root of a person’s neck. Tight muscles or injuries in people’s necks and heads can also lead to this condition. Chronic neck tension is another common trigger of occipital neuralgia.
Other conditions that might potentially cause the occipital neuralgia are:
- Tumors affecting nerve roots
- Osteoarthritis
- Blood vessel inflammation
- Gout
- Infection
Diagnosis of Occipital Neuralgia
When you go to see your doctor, they’ll ask something like, ‘what is your medical history, and ‘how long you’ve experienced certain symptoms’ to review your medical history. After asking questions to check out underlying conditions, the doctor will usually conduct a physical exam. If doctors suspect you have occipital neuralgia instead of migraines or headaches, they’ll press on the occipital regions to see if you experience pain. Your doctor may recommend you additional imaging tests like an MRI or a CT scan to check your spine and look for possible causes of the pain.
