If you are experiencing intense pain stemming from the back or sides of your scalp, you might not have a regular headache or migraine, but something called occipital neuralgia. It manifests as bouts of pain that have a zapping or tingling edge. For some people it might feel like numbness, and in some cases it’s a shooting pain behind the eye.
At University Pain and Spine Center, New Jersey, we specialize in pain management and treatment, and we are familiar with a wide array of rare and not so rare conditions, including several types of neuralgias. Our healthcare providers are highly qualified and experienced with administering all kinds of treatments, including cutting edge and non-invasive options.
Our pain management experts in Somerset, Monroe, Ewing, Englewood Cliffs, Jersey City, Hoboken, Bloomfield, Freehold, Clark, and Elizabeth, New Jersey; and Bayridge, Manhattan, The Bronx, Brooklyn, and Hempstead, New York, are committed to helping patients find relief and regain control of their everyday lives.
Occipital neuralgia is a condition that happens when the occipital nerves become compressed or inflamed. They go from between the vertebrae in your neck, all the way around your scalp, and stop before they reach your face. They are in charge of supplying all the information of that area of your body into your brain.
Reasons for occipital neuralgia are varied. It can be the result of direct trauma or an after effect of a surgery. People with arthritis can also develop it if the nerve at the root of the neck is pinched. It can even be the result of tight muscles surrounding the area, or a side effect of other spine conditions such as a cervical rib. In some cases, occipital neuralgia is spontaneous and has no clear reason.
Learn more: Occipital Nerve Block
Thanks to our experience working with all sorts of pain and spine related conditions, our medical center in New Jersey offers several treatment options for occipital neuralgia.
The starting point for many is physical therapy, but when that doesn’t work, we can provide non-invasive options for temporary or long-term pain relief, like occipital nerve blocks, or a stimulation device.
Dr. Demesmin, Dr. O’Donovan and Dr. Dedvukaj are all specialized in pain treatment and management, and the several surgical and non-surgical solutions that can help you feel better.
Don’t hesitate to contact us and begin your journey towards a better and pain-less life.
