Head & Neck
Occipital Neuralgia
Symptoms, causes, and how Clearway specialists diagnose and treat occipital neuralgia.
Overview
What is Occipital Neuralgia?
Occipital neuralgia is a distinct headache disorder caused by irritation of the occipital nerves, producing sharp, shooting, electric-shock-like pain in the back of the head and scalp.
Common symptoms
Sharp, stabbing pain in the back of the head and neck
Scalp tenderness, sometimes to light touch
Pain triggered by neck movement
Pain behind the eye on one side
What causes it
Irritation or compression of the greater or lesser occipital nerves
Neck injury or muscle tightness
Cervical arthritis
How Clearway can help
Your care begins with a careful evaluation - history, examination, and imaging review - to confirm the source of your pain. From there, your specialist builds a plan that may include targeted interventional procedures, physical therapy, and coordinated medication management.
Botox TherapyFDA-approved preventive treatment for chronic migraine
Selective Nerve Blocktargets irritated cervical nerves
Epidural Steroid Injectionscalms inflamed cervical nerves
Headache Managementa complete program for chronic headache
This page is educational and is not a substitute for medical advice. If your pain is severe, sudden, or accompanied by loss of bladder or bowel control, seek urgent medical care.