The area at the base of your skull or at the back of your head is referred to as the occipital region. Every year, 30% of the population experiences pain at the base of the skull. The base of your skull is very notably significant because of its proximity to the brain. Therefore, pain in this region should be considered a serious problem. Nevertheless, half of those who suffer from pain are completely relieved. But treatments for this condition depend on pain severity and may vary from person to person.

Reasons Behind Pain At The Base of The Skull

There are many reasons for pain at the base of skull and you should know for proper treatment. Some of them are below.

  • Muscle Tension Or Strain

Near the base of the skull are a group of muscles called the suboccipital muscles. The suboccipital muscles are present in the area surrounding the base of the skull. These muscles can become tender to the touch and tense because of many factors like wearing new eyeglasses, eye strain, poor posture, poor ergonomics at a computer workstation, or trauma. These can also be overstressed to compensate for ligament instability/injury.

  • Nerve Irritation

Three occipital brain nerves, the larger, lesser, and the third originate in the upper cervical area and move to the skull base. Unluckily, these nerves can be pressed by tight neck muscles and lead to pain at the base of the skull by exhibiting different symptoms like neck pain and headaches.

  • Medication overuse

People may feel rebound headaches, that can lead to base of skull pain, when they take pain relievers for more than days Doctors have no idea how pain relieving tablets can result in pain at the base of skull, but it is true that any pain relieving medication has the potential to trigger medication overuse headache.

  • Occipital Neuralgia 

Occipital neuralgia occurs when the occipital nerve is damaged, irritated or pinched. Symptoms of occipital neuralgia include sharp, throbbing, or electric-like pain at the base of your neck.The pain may move to one side of your scalp.

  • Rheumatoid or Osteoarthritis 

When the cartilage between joints deteriorates, it increases the likelihood of arthritis. This degradation can lead to bones in the joints to press against each other and result in both dull and sharp pain. Importantly, arthritis can occur in C1 and C2 vertebrae. Finally, the pain at the base of skull may be related to arthritis-related inflammation. 

When To See A Doctor

If you suffer from headaches frequently four or more days a month or the symptoms interfere with your quality of life. In order to get rid of this pain, you should see a doctor. For a healthy lifestyle, your doctor may prescribe pain reliever medication, diet, or diet changes.

If you are suffering from the following symptoms, you must consult your doctor

  • Vomiting
  • Nausea
  • Pain behind  eyes
  • Tingling or Numbness in your arms
  • Sharp pains that begins at the base of the skull and go to the scalp

Diagnosis

The doctor will perform different tasks to reach the exact cause of pain behind your

  • Physical Exam

Cleburne pain management doctor will ask you few questions about your previous medical history and any injury suffering. To check pain recurrence, he will press around the back of your head.

  • Local Anesthetic

Alternatively, he may inject a local anesthetic. If the patient gets relief immediately, then occipital neuralgia is likely to be present.

  • MRI

He may also suggest MRI or blood tests for a complete diagnosis. In order to get the right treatment, you need to make an accurate diagnosis. Like, if you are taking medicine for migraines but suffering from occipital neuralgia. You might never relief.

Tips To Get Rid Of Pain At The Base of Skull

Here are effective tips to get rid of pain at the base of skull.

  • Try to visit a doctor regularly to have your eyes examined, as it may be the cause.
  • Maintain your right posture. Try not to burden your neck and head by leaning forward in an unnatural way.
  • Take breaks regularly as this motivates you to move your spine and head naturally. This also stops muscle tightening.
  • Meditation and yoga can help relieve pain at the base of the skull due to stress.
  • You can also improve your quality of life by adopting a healthy lifestyle.

Among them are

  • Regular exercise,
  • Stop smoking,
  • Getting plenty Of Sleep,
  • Maintaining a balanced And healthy Diet.
  • Limit your Caffeine, alcohol, 
  • Reduce sugar Intake. 
  • Intake plenty Of Water

Summary

Headaches are common as they can affect a person's quality of life and ability to perform everyday tasks. Many headaches go away without treatment, but some have more serious causes. Anyone worried about back pain should seek medical advice. If there is an underlying cause that needs addressing, it is better to do so as soon as possible. Pain at the base of the skull can impact a person's ability to perform daily tasks. Generally, without treatment, pain may go away but if a person feels extreme pain, they should consult a doctor at Premier pain clinic. Doctors will diagnose the underlying cause of the problem.