Headache is familiar to everyone. Its causes are very diverse and indicate serious he alth problems. Pain on one side of the head also occurs periodically and gives a person considerable discomfort. When the back of the head hurts on the right, why do such sensations arise? What can cause these symptoms to appear? It is necessary to understand the origin of the pain syndrome and prevent the occurrence of a serious illness.
Causes of headaches
All factors affecting the occurrence of pain on the right side of the back of the head are divided into three groups.
- Related to the cervical spine: congenital anomalies, vertebral artery syndrome, various injuries.
- Related to muscle tissue: myogelosis, myositis.
- Related to the vascular and nervous system: arterial hypertension, stroke, intracranial pressure, neuritis and neuralgia.
Other reasons are possible: heavy physical exertion that affects the neck muscles, malnutrition, poorsleep management, alcohol and smoking. If the cause of the pain symptom is not eliminated in time, a chronic disease occurs.
Diagnostic features
When pain occurs in the back of the head on the right and the cervical region, it is better to immediately consult a doctor. It is very difficult to determine on your own why the back of the head hurts on the right. The nervous system signals about malfunctions in the body in this way, and before engaging in treatment, it is necessary to establish the exact cause of the abnormal condition. The doctor will conduct the following tests.
- During a conversation with the patient, he listens to complaints, finds out the circumstances after which the pains arose. Clarifies: were there any injuries, past diseases, the nature of the pain, in which case they intensify.
- Make a visual inspection and palpation of painful areas of the head and neck, measure blood pressure.
- Prescribe a general urine and blood test, which will help identify the presence or absence of an inflammatory process.
- Send for X-ray to determine the condition of the cervical spine.
- If necessary, order an MRI or CT scan to determine the exact cause of the pain.
In addition, consultations of other specialists are possible: a surgeon, a rheumatologist, an infectious disease specialist. After analyzing all the results of the examinations, the doctor will find out why the back of the head hurts on the right and make an accurate diagnosis, after which he will prescribe the appropriate therapy.
Head injuries from falling children
In energetic babies with poor coordination, when falling, the head is most often affected, andprecisely its occipital part. The part of the brain located in this place is responsible for the functioning of the organs of vision. The consequences of a blow may not come instantly, but after a certain amount of time.
Therefore, it is very important, firstly, to provide first aid: when a lump appears, apply ice to it for a short time, in case of an open injury, treat the wound with a disinfectant solution and cover it with a sterile napkin. And secondly, if the child hit the back of the head, the mother should:
- calm the baby and calm yourself, try to assess the severity of the injury;
- look at the pupils of the child - they should not be narrowed or dilated;
- pay attention to the absence of crying for several minutes after the fall - this may indicate a loss of consciousness;
- examine the skin: blue and pallor are unacceptable;
- monitor coordination of movements;
- measure the pulse and compare with the norm for age, deviations are an alarm signal;
- avoid noisy games and eye strain;
- continue to observe the child's behavior, keeping him awake.
When bleeding from a wound that does not stop after a quarter of an hour, when it appears from the ears and nose, and the above symptoms, call an ambulance. In other cases, it is imperative to show the child to a pediatrician, ophthalmologist and neurosurgeon in the near future.
Neuralgia of the occipital nerve. Symptoms and treatment
With neuralgia of the occipital nerve, pain develops in the back of the head from onesides of the head and neck. This is due to irritation or pinching of one nerve, but bilateral damage is also possible. The following symptoms are characteristic of the disease:
- sudden attacks of sharp, stabbing, burning pain that resemble an electrical discharge;
- visual impairment;
- appearance of photophobia;
- dizziness;
- appearance of nausea;
- numbness of the scalp;
- Increased sensitivity of the head and neck to touch;
- discomfort when moving.
Similar symptoms are possible for other diseases, therefore, to make a diagnosis, you need to consult a doctor who, after examining and identifying the cause, will prescribe the necessary therapy. To treat the symptoms of occipital neuralgia and improve the patient's condition, the following groups of drugs are used:
- non-steroidal – reduce inflammation;
- relaxants - relax muscle fibers;
- steroids - relieve pain;
- anticonvulsants - prevent muscle spasms;
- sedatives - improve cerebral circulation.
In addition to medicines, physiotherapy is used:
- magnetotherapy;
- electrophoresis;
- neck and neck massage;
- laser therapy;
- physiotherapy exercises;
- manual therapy.
If conservative treatment fails, surgery is indicated.
Cervical myositis
Inflammation of the muscles of the neck andshoulder girdle occurs in people of any age, does not bypass children. Unaccustomed physical activity, drafts, prolonged exposure to an uncomfortable position, cervical injuries, and sometimes infectious diseases and helminthic invasion can provoke it. An additional risk factor may be stress. The main symptom of myositis is pain. It often covers one side - the posterolateral or back of the neck. Increased pain appears with head movements. Gradually, the pain syndrome changes to:
- upper back;
- back of the head;
- forearm;
- chest;
- hand;
- the area between the forearms.
The patient often has to take a certain position of the head, so as not to cause a new attack of pain. In addition to the main symptom of the disease, with cervical myositis, the following symptoms are possible:
- muscle tension in the affected area;
- redness and swelling of the affected area;
- limited movement;
- enlargement of peripheral lymph nodes;
- pulsation in the back of the head and temples;
- headache;
- increased pain at night.
Myositis therapy
The following medications are used to treat myositis:
- anti-inflammatory;
- antibacterial;
- antiparasitic;
- antihistamines;
- antispasmodics;
- glucocorticoids;
- immunomodulators and vitamin complexes.
To enhance drug therapyprescribe warming and UHF, therapeutic massage. In some cases, manual therapy is used. Timely treatment always has a positive prognosis.
Tension headaches
The headache of muscle tension, felt at one point, according to medical statistics, is inherent in about 90% of the total population. It is characterized by the following symptoms:
- a point on the back of the head on the right or in the parietal part of the head hurts;
- pain radiates to the eyes and facial muscles;
- there is a feeling of constriction of the head.
The causes of the disease are mainly related to nervous tension. These include:
- heavy pace of work;
- lack of sleep;
- anxiety;
- malnutrition;
- physical fatigue;
- energy and psychostimulants;
- high body temperature;
- climax.
Pain attacks last no more than 4-6 hours. Muscle tension can last for several months, and in some cases for years. Analgesics are used to relieve pain. To put the nervous system in order, medications can be used that stop neuroses and panic attacks. In addition, drugs are prescribed to relieve muscle tension.
Vascular spasm
The back of the head on the right or left can constantly hurt as a result of a spasm of cerebral vessels. The pain manifests itself in different intensity. With a sharp spasm, it occurs suddenly, in other cases it increases gradually and is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- pallor;
- sweating;
- cold limbs;
- tachycardia;
- nauseous.
Treatment of the disease is aimed at restoring blood flow. For this, vasodilators and antispasmodics are used. They relieve vascular tone, and the pain subsides. In the future, an examination is prescribed to clarify the cause of spasm of the vessels of the head and then appropriate therapy.
Myogelosis
The disease occurs as a result of the degeneration of muscle tissue into connective tissue due to circulatory disorders. With a unilateral course of the disease, the patient has pain in the back of the head and neck on the right. Unpleasant sensations are aggravated by moving the head, so the individual feels constrained and limits the mobility of the upper body. On palpation, a seal is felt at the site of damage. It is necessary to treat the disease in the early stages, until muscle degeneration occurs. To restore blood circulation, apply:
- warming up;
- painkillers;
- hirudotherapy;
- massage and gymnastics to improve posture;
- various ointments.
Surgery is recommended as a last resort.
First aid for neck pain
If you experience pain in the back of the head, you need to find out the causes of the pathology, and for this visit a doctor. Before the examination, you can take some measures to relieve pain.
It hurts the back of the head on the right, what should I do? Required:
- eliminate all external stimuli - loud music, bright lights;
- ventilate the room well;
- to relax the muscles, perform the exercise - sit straight on a stool, put your palms on the back of your head, and your thumbs on your cheekbones; tilt your head back without tipping it over; stay in this position for a few seconds and relax;
- apply a warm heating pad to relieve spasm and pain;
- take care of your posture - stand and sit correctly, sleep on an orthopedic mattress and a hard pillow;
- Perform self-massage of the head.
You can get rid of the pain for a while, but the cause will not be eliminated, so a visit to the doctor is a must.
Prevention of pathology
If the head and the back of the head hurt on the right, the discomfort is eliminated using medications or physiotherapy. However, it is better to prevent this situation and listen to the recommendations of doctors:
- give up bad habits and live an active he althy life;
- do simple physical exercises every day;
- not be in a draft;
- food, sleep and rest must be complete;
- use orthopedic bedding;
- avoid sudden head movements;
- warm up every half an hour during sedentary work;
- do not lift heavy things;
- dress for the weather;
- take vitamin complexes periodically.
For the prevention of diseases when the back of the head hurts on the right or left and inthe neck area, as well as during sedentary work, it is necessary to take breaks to perform simple exercises that stretch the muscles. Such pain can be a signal of serious illness. Therefore, if it occurs, without delay, consult a doctor and undergo a full examination.
