Nerve pain in the head can stem from inflammation or injury to various cranial nerves. One common example is occipital neuralgia, a headache disorder affecting the occipital nerves running through the scalp. This results in pain at the back of the head, potentially radiating to the scalp or feeling like a throbbing behind the eye. Other conditions, such as trigeminal neuralgia, involve different cranial nerves and manifest differently.
Types of Nerve Pain in the Head:
- Occipital Neuralgia: This condition, caused by inflamed occipital nerves, presents as shooting, shocking, throbbing, burning, or aching pain in the back of the head. The pain is often described as stabbing or electric shock-like. The pain typically runs along the scalp. [Source: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), Cleveland Clinic]
- Trigeminal Neuralgia: This involves the trigeminal nerve, causing intense, sharp pain in the face, often triggered by simple actions like chewing or talking. [Source: NHS, Cedars-Sinai]
Understanding the Causes:
The underlying causes vary depending on the affected nerve. In occipital neuralgia, inflammation is the primary factor. In trigeminal neuralgia, compression of the trigeminal nerve near the brainstem is a common cause. [Source: NHS]
Symptoms and Characteristics:
Symptoms can significantly differ. Occipital neuralgia often presents as a dull ache or throbbing sensation localized to the back of the head. In contrast, trigeminal neuralgia manifests as sudden, intense, and sharp bursts of pain.
Key Differences Between Nerve Pain and Headaches:
While symptoms may overlap, nerve pain, such as occipital neuralgia, has a distinct neurological origin, unlike typical tension or migraine headaches. Occipital neuralgia mimics headache symptoms but is caused by inflamed occipital nerves. [Source: Keck Medicine of USC]
