What causes pain in the back of the head?
Disease description:
I often experience mild pain on the right side of the back of my head. The pain is not severe, but each episode lasts a long time, approximately half a day. It is not scalp pain; rather, it feels like the pain is inside the head. I would like to know, what could be the cause of pain in the back of the head?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Lv Zhiqin
Causes of occipital headaches may include:
1. Intracranial lesions: Issues such as tumors, ruptured aneurysms, or cerebral infarction affecting the cerebellum, brainstem, or blood vessels may compress or affect related nerves, leading to occipital pain.
2. Cervical spine disorders: Cervical spondylosis can cause spasms and contractions of the occipital and neck muscles, resulting in occipital headaches. Particularly, upper cervical spine disorders may compress the spinal cord, nerve roots, or affect cerebral blood supply, thereby causing pain.
3. Vascular diseases: Conditions such as cerebral vasospasm or insufficient cerebral blood supply may also lead to occipital headaches. These conditions can be triggered by various factors, such as hypertension or arteriosclerosis.
4. Infectious diseases: Intracranial infections, often accompanied by fever and meningeal irritation signs, can also cause occipital pain.
If occipital headaches persist or are accompanied by other symptoms, prompt medical attention is recommended.
