Back headache: causes, symptoms and how to deal with it

Definition

What are back headaches?

Headache in the back is one type of headache that can be experienced by everyone.

Pain in the back of the skull can be triggered by a number of different causes. Many of the causes can be identified by the additional accompanying symptoms. These symptoms include the type of pain being experienced, and other locations where the pain may be present.

You need further consultation so that the doctor can help diagnose what is the cause of your headache. Then the new doctor can determine the type of treatment that is suitable for dealing with it.

How common are these headaches?

Headache in the back is a fairly common disease and can be experienced by people of all ages, genders, and races.

However, the type of migraine headache in the back is three times more common in women than men. People aged 35-45 years are more prone to this condition than other age groups.

Signs & Symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of back headaches?

The signs and symptoms of back headaches vary widely, and can appear differently between people depending on the cause.

If this type of headache occurs due to tension headaches, symptoms may include:

• The pain is quite disturbing.
• A sensation like the head is being pressed from the front of the head to the sides and back of the head.
• The scalp, neck and shoulder muscles are tender.

If the pain in the back occurs due to a migraine, it will generally be accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Quite intense throbbing feeling in the back of the head.
• Usually, this condition will be accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
• Eyesight a little disturbed.
• The more sensitive you will be to certain lights, sounds, and smells.
• The muscles become soft and the skin becomes more sensitive.
• This condition lasts for several hours to several days.
• The pain you experience may get worse if you do vigorous physical activity.

If the pain in the back is due to a cluster headache, then the symptoms may include:

• The body cannot stay still and keep moving.
• Nausea.
• Shed lots of tears.
• The nose is draining water.
• The eye line is wilted.
• Sensitivity to light and sound exposure increases.

If the pain in the back is due to occipital neuralgia, the following symptoms can occur:

• The head throbbed and didn't stop.
• The head experiences a burning sensation.
• The pain you experience can occur when neck movements occur.
• Your scalp feels soft and you are increasingly sensitive to light exposure.

Usually, back headaches also make pain in other areas of the body.

Cause

What causes back headaches?

Quoted from Healthline, there are several causes that can cause back headaches, including:

1.Tension headaches (tension headache)

Tension headaches are one of the most common conditions that can cause pain in the back of the skull. These headaches can last from 30 minutes to seven days.

Most people experience this condition as a result of stress, while some others experience tension headaches due to the tense muscles in the back of the neck and head.

2. Migraine

Migraine is also a fairly common condition causing pain in the back of the skull.

Migraine attacks usually start from the left side of the headache which then spreads to the back of the head.

In adults, this pain can appear several times a week, especially in women aged 35-45 years. The frequency increases with age.

3. Cluster headaches

Cluster headaches are less common, but they can be very painful.

This type of headache appears at certain times and can occur many times a day. One cluster period can last from weeks to months. However, when you are not in the cluster phase, you will not feel any headaches at all.

This condition can cause intense pain in the back of your head or on one side of your head. This condition may get worse when you lie down.

The cause of cluster headaches is unknown, but is thought to stem from abnormalities in the hypothalamus of the brain. Cluster headache attacks can sometimes be triggered by strong scents, such as perfume, paint or gasoline.

Some cases also appear to run in families, which suggests there may be a genetic link.

4. Occipital neuralgia

Another cause of the appearance of pain in the back of the skull is occipital neuralgia. Occipital neuralgia is a condition that occurs when the nerves that travel from the back of the neck, spine, to the thighs are damaged or irritated.

This condition causes pain in the neck that gradually radiates to the back of the skull and behind the ears. The pain that may appear is usually a sharp pain and throbbing.

5. Arthritis

Pain in the back of the head can also be caused by arthritis, which is a condition caused by inflammation and swelling in the neck and surrounding area. Usually, this pain causes pain in the back and neck.

When you experience pain in the back of your head due to arthritis, the movements you make may make the pain in the back of your head worse. This pain can be caused by rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

6. Bad posture

If you have bad posture, then you may experience pain in the back of your head and neck as well. The reason is, poor posture usually increases the pressure, including on the head on the back, shoulders, and neck.

The pressure is what may cause pain in the back of the skull. When experiencing this headache, you may feel pain and throbbing in the skull. Therefore, try to practice good posture.

7. Pinched nerve

The pinched nerve in the spine can cause pain and pressure in the neck. This can cause a headache which is called cervicoogenic.

Usually the pain starts in the back of the head, and then spreads to the back of the eye. Another symptom you may experience is discomfort in the shoulders and upper arms.

The pain you feel in the back of the skull may increase when you lie down. You may also wake up because the pain you feel is interfering with your sleep.

In fact, when lying down you may also feel a pressure such as a heavy weight hit the top of your head.

Risk factors

What increases my risk for back pain headaches?

Back headaches can be experienced by anyone. However, the risk factors that certain people have may increase their potential for this condition.

1. Gender

Everyone has the same opportunity to experience this type of headache. However, women are at higher risk of experiencing back headaches due to migraines. Meanwhile, men are more likely to experience pain in the back of the skull due to cluster headaches.

2. Age

Although this type of headache may be experienced by anyone of any age, there are several causes of this condition that certain age groups tend to experience.

For example, migraines that can cause back pain are more prone to occur in women aged 35 to 45. Meanwhile, people in the 20 to 50 year age class are more prone to experiencing cluster headaches.

3. Genetic

Genetic factors can also be a risk factor for some of these headaches. For example, if one or both of your parents have migraines, you have a higher potential than people who don't have a family history of migraine sufferers.

4. Certain medical conditions

Another risk factor that can cause headaches in the back is certain health conditions.

People who are depressed and often feel anxious have a greater potential for tension headaches and migraines. Both types of headaches can cause pain behind the skull.

People who have had head injuries or have had head surgery may experience cluster headaches.

People with osteoarthritis are also more prone to experiencing pain in the back of the skull.

5. Lifestyle

Certain lifestyle increases your risk factors for headaches in this area. For example, those of you who are used to smoking are more prone to cluster headaches and tension headaches.

People who overexert themselves to the point of feeling too tired are more likely to experience tension headaches and migraines. As you already know, both types of headaches can cause pain in the back of the head.

The habit of consuming alcohol is also thought to increase your potential for migraines. Therefore, practice a healthy lifestyle and reduce habits that increase your potential for experiencing this condition.

Diagnosis & Treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What are the tests that are usually done to make a diagnosis?

To find out the cause of back pain headaches, there are a number of things you can do.

1. Consultation with a doctor

Generally, doctors will immediately know your health condition from the symptoms you feel. Moreover, the health condition that causes the pain in the back has different symptoms.

This also makes it easier for your doctor to diagnose what is causing your back pain.

2. Nerve examination (neurological examination)

If the doctor is still not sure about your condition, the doctor may do a nerve examination to confirm the diagnosis of this back headache condition. By doing a nerve examination, it will be easier for your doctor to detect signals from any neurological disorders you may be experiencing.

Usually, this examination includes an assessment of brain function, tests of your senses, reflexes, and nerves.

3. CT-scan and MRI

Another way that doctors will probably do is to do Computerized tomography (CT) scan or Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). If a CT scan is a set of X-rays to produce images cross-sectional from your brain, an MRI uses magnetic forces and radio waves to produce detailed images of your brain and blood vessels.

Both tests are used to determine if you have another problem with your brain that is causing pain, such as an anumerism or a brain tumor.

What are my treatment options to overcome it?

You can treat back headaches by using drugs. Usually, the drugs used to treat headaches can be adjusted according to the cause of the pain.

1. Medication for tension headaches (tension headache)

Headaches caused by the back tension headache can be treated by using headache relievers. For example, aspirin and acetaminophen.

However, if you experience chronic headaches, your doctor will prescribe other medications that you can use.

There are also other drugs that can be used to prevent headaches. Some of these include antidepressants, muscle relaxants (to help your muscles relax), to medications that can reduce the appearance of pain in the future.

2. Anti-migraine drugs

Migraine headaches are a type of headache that may be the cause of back pain headaches.

You can use drugs that are tailored to the severity of the attack to treat migraine headaches. For example, using pain relievers such as aspirin, paracetamol, and ibuprofen. In fact, there are also drugs that contain caffeine in them.

However, if the migraine condition is quite serious, you can use other medicines prescribed by a doctor, such as triptans. This medication can be available in pill form as well as a nasal spray.

These headache relievers can relieve a variety of migraine symptoms that may be annoying. However, the use of this drug should only be used if a doctor has prescribed it, because this drug may have the potential to cause strokes and heart attacks in certain people.

There is also a migraine drug available in nasal sprays or injection drugs, namely dihydroergotamine. This drug is most effective when used right at the time of the migraine just felt.

You can also use this medication if the migraine headaches start attacking the back of the head. The reason is, the effects of using this drug can last up to more than 24 hours.

It's just that this drug may have unfavorable side effects such as migraine conditions that are actually getting worse and are accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. This drug is not recommended for use by people with coronary arteries, high blood pressure, or liver and kidney problems.

Not only that, there are also other tablet drugs such as lasmiditan that can be used to treat migraines with or without aura. Medicines that can be used to treat back headaches can reduce nausea and pain as well as sensitivity to light and sound in migraine sufferers.

3. Medication to overcome cluster headache

Treatment to treat back headaches due to cluster headache it is usually used to shorten the period the headache appears, reduce its severity and prevent future headache attacks.

Usually, the drugs used to treat acute cluster headaches are triptans which can also be used to treat migraines. In addition, the drug octreotide can also be used. This drug is an injection drug that contains the artificial hormone somatostatin.

Meanwhile, drugs used to prevent are drugs such as corticosteroids, calcium channel blockers , melatonin, and nerve blockers . If it has reached a point that is classified as very severe, sufferers cluster headache may require surgery.

4. Medication for occipital neuralgia

The treatment used to treat this condition that can cause headaches is the use of drugs non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs.

In addition, there are also physical therapy, massage, and muscle relaxants that you can choose to help relieve pain in the back of the head.

In cases that are severe enough, the doctor may give local anesthesia in the occipital area to provide immediate treatment.

Strong pain relievers such as the opioid class that contain codeine can also be used to treat back headaches. This drug is addictive, so it should only be used if other medicines are not working to treat the problem you are experiencing.

Home remedies

What lifestyle changes or home remedies can I make?

Apart from using drugs, you can also do several other ways at home independently to deal with pain in the back of the head.

1. Massage

If you feel less good at massaging, you can ask family members who are more skilled at doing it.

But if you don't have one, you can also call a masseuse who is more professional and more qualified in massaging parts of the body including the back of your head to deal with pain.

2. Get enough sleep

Enough sleep. Lack of sleep can be one of the causes of headaches in the back. Therefore, getting enough rest may be able to reduce the pain you experience. Go to sleep on time and stay up less late.

3. Reduce smoking and alcohol consumption

Reduce smoking and alcohol consumption. Smoking habits can even increase your risk factors for tension headaches and cluster headaches.

4. Avoid stress triggers

Avoid activities that have the potential to increase stress. You can also plan your future activities so that you have space and time to relax and enjoy the day more.

If you start to feel tired, try to get some rest. Too much self-exertion is also not good for health.

In addition, in order to reduce headache pain, you can also do the following things.

• Compress with hot or cold water the sore muscles to reduce headache pain in the back.
• Practice good posture. For example, don't slouch too much, especially if you have to sit for long periods of time. Stand up and sit up straight. Pain in the back of the head can be caused by bad posture.
• Increase consumption of mineral water. In general, if you can keep your body hydrated, you will probably feel better.

Prevention

How to prevent back pain?

So that the back pain does not keep coming back, you can take precautions. Here are some ways to prevent back headaches that can be done:

• Maintain adequate sleep. Improve your sleep pattern so you get enough sleep, which is 8 hours.
• Also, keep your water intake to prevent dehydration. This is because dehydration can cause headaches.
• Avoid things that can stress you out.
• Exercise regularly so that the body becomes more relaxed.
• Maintain good posture. Make sure your neck is not stiff and stretch when you sit too much.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.