In the 1970s Jes Olesen of Denmark found that 6% of people with acute migraine took pain in the back of the head. Many people with Migraine will describe pains in the back of the head. Migraine Migraine is not, in my experience, a common diagnosis in people who ask me for advice about their “headache back of head”.If you think you have Occipital Neuralgia then book to see a physiotherapist before you spend money on injections or expensive investigations.
Most people who have this label will actually have abnormal neck examinations, and the term Cervicogenic Headache is probably more appropriate. This another severe, sharp “headache back of head” that spreads up to the top of head or into the eye on the same side. Neck problems are a ‘modifiable’ risk factor for headaches. For this reason, anyone who has recurrent or persistent headaches – even if they sound like Migraine or Tension-Type Headache – should see a physiotherapist or osteopath. It is also very common to see people with neck related headaches describe symptoms that sound more like Migraine (feeling sick or not liking light when the head is sore), or symptoms like tension-type headache (pressure or weight or band-like feelings) on or around the head.
Fortunately physiotherapy alone can be effective, and this is the most common headache that might respond to physical treatment, without resorting to medication. Cervicogenic Headache is very common – as many as 4% of adults will have this pain at some point in their lives. The test performed to identify abnormal neck movements is called the Flexion-Rotation Test. In these older people there are restricted neck movements due to abnormal function of the joints of the upper spine (facet joints). In my experience, most middle-aged/older people referred to me with a severe one-sided headache that’s been going on for months will have Cervicogenic Headache. Other people will have had minor injuries (often forgotten) or adopt postures or habits that contribute to poor posture, which can predispose to pain. Most people who get concussion or severe head injury will have also had trauma to the neck. Most people with Cervicogenic Headache will have previously injured their neck (a whiplash injury is typical), or have had a head injury. Cervicogenic Headache can spread up the back of the head, round the side towards the ear or over the top into the forehead. Usually Cervicogenic Headache causes pain in the back of the head – on one side only. The strange thing is that neck pain is often absent – the pain signal is sent up and forward into the head. This is called Cervicogenic Headache (cervic = neck, genic = caused by). Cervicogenic Headache This is pain that originates in joints and muscles of the neck.1: Common Causes of “Headache Back of Head” In most people with pain in the back of the head, the pain comes from the upper part of the neck – called cervicogenic headache – or is due to Chronic Migraine. The best way to feel safe is to see your own doctor, or if you prefer consider seeing a neurologist. If you struggle with headaches your first step is to feel safe. Here’s 38 causes – common, rare or serious. 5000 people like you search “headache back of head” each month.