Occipital Neuralgia???

By SimplyJessica Tuesday, October 16, 2007

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The last time I went on Hospital homebound, my doctor wrote on my paperwork under diagnosis : Occipital Neuralgia. I don't really know a whole lot about what that condition is exactly. I read a few pages about it on this site though. But I kept reading about pain mainly on one side of the body/face.. and my pain is pretty much even on both sides. I do get severe facial pain, pain on the back of my head, temples, and neck. So my question is: Does occipital neuralgia mainly affect one side of the body more than the other, or can the pain be even? Thank you.

Jessica

MY UPDATE: HEADACHES BEEN GETTING WORSE

Comments (3) | Add comment

klkelly

10/22/07 10:45pm

I just started reading up on this myself. I don't have a diagnosis myself though - just seems that a lot of the symptoms fit my situation.

I came across this article today:

http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:s09JTZlTU10J:painmanagementrounds.org/crus/painmgt_07.pdf+lesser+occipital+neuralgia+trigger&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5

It states that the pain can be lateral and bilateral (less common).

Is this something that hits you out of the blue and does it stay for short or long periods of time?

Karrie

SimplyJessica

11/ 1/07 10:48pm

yeah it does come out of the blue and it stays for long periods of time.. I have a migraine about 16-20 hrs a day.. and even when I don't have a migraine it's like "lingering" in the back of my head, that's the only way I can really describe it. Apparently there are different forms of the neuralgia? My scalp hurts, like if someone rubs my neck or head (scalp) it causes an instant migraine.

-Jessica

tshiel

1/17/08 4:29pm

Hi Jessica -

I've also been diagnosed w occipital neuralgia, after going to many different neuros over the years. My neuro believes that mine is connected to a car accident I was in, when I had severe whiplash.Since I'm also a migraineur, it just magnifies everything.

I've researched it since being diagnosed, and it seems a few things can help. A heating pad on the back of the neck when you first get the pain can help enormously. Don't massage your neck when it starts to hurt or it will make the pain intensify. You can ask for a prescription for pain patches for the back of your neck and in severe cases, surgery may help.

Definitely keep researching and discussing this with a neuro, and hopefully you can find some treatment that will help.

Occipital Neuralgia???

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