If you’ve been experiencing a continuous throbbing headache or shooting pains from the base of your neck up to your head, you may be suffering from occipital headaches. The good news is that a chiropractor can treat this condition. If you live in Carrollton, GA, or surrounding areas, a visit to Dr. Pete Lazarnick’s practice could be your first step toward recovery from this painful condition.
What Is an Occipital Headache?
Not all headaches are the same. There are multiple types of headaches, which all have different causes and require specific treatment. An occipital headache, also known as occipital neuralgia, is caused by injured or inflamed occipital nerves, which are nerves that run from the spine to the scalp.
An occipital headache can be very painful. Sufferers typically experience continuous, throbbing pain that’s aggravated by sudden, piercing pain from the neck toward the top of the head and sometimes as far down as the eyes. This shooting pain may last anything from a few seconds to a few minutes.
Those who suffer from occipital headaches often think they have migraines since many of the symptoms overlap. When you have an occipital headache, you may be sensitive to light and touch, and movement can intensify the pain or cause a bout of pain.
What Causes an Occipital Headache?
Although occipital headaches are often caused by inflamed occipital nerves, there are also other causes, such as:
- Chronic neck tension
- Head or neck injury
- Pinched nerves
- Disc disease
- Tumors
- Diabetes
- Gout
An occipital headache can either be primary or secondary. A primary condition can be caused, for instance, by infection of or trauma to the occipital nerves, while a secondary condition is the result of an underlying disease, such as diabetes or gout.
Diabetes can trigger occipital headaches because the illness causes inflammation of the nerves. Gout also causes inflammation because of uric acid in the joints.
How a Chiropractor Can Help With an Occipital Headache
A chiropractor like Dr. Pete can relieve your pain and can also prevent headaches from reoccurring in the future. As opposed to treating the symptoms with anti-inflammatory medication or muscle relaxants, Dr. Pete addresses the cause of the condition by realigning the spine and reducing inflammation. Treatments may include traction, heat and soft tissue therapy, and spinal adjustments.
Don't allow occipital headaches to interfere with your well-being. Make an appointment by dropping by Dr. Pete's practice in Carrollton, GA, or you can call 770-832-2226.