Table of Contents
What is Occipital Neuralgia?
Is there any treatment?
What is the prognosis?
What research is being done?
Organizations
What is Occipital Neuralgia?
Occipital
neuralgia is a chronic pain disorder caused by irritation or injury
to the occipital nerve located in the back of the scalp. Individuals
with the disorder experience pain originating at the nape of the
neck. The pain, often described as throbbing and migraine-like,
spreads up and around the forehead and scalp. Occipital neuralgia
can result from physical stress, trauma, or repeated contraction of
the muscles of the neck.
Is there any treatment?
Treatment is generally
symptomatic and includes massage and rest. In some cases,
antidepressants may be used when the pain is particularly severe.
Other treatments may include local nerve blocks and injections of
steroids directly into the affected area.
What is the prognosis?
For most individuals with
occipital neuralgia, the pain is eliminated or reduced with
treatment and does not interfere with daily activities.
What research is being done?
Within the NINDS research
programs, occipital neuralgia is addressed primarily through studies
on pain. NINDS vigorously pursues a research program that seeks to
find new treatments for pain and nerve damage and to understand the
underlying biological processes associated with pain.
Organizations
American Chronic Pain Association
(ACPA)
P.O. Box 850
Rocklin, CA
95677-0850
ACPA@pacbell.net
http://www.theacpa.org/
Tel:
916-632-0922 800-533-3231
Fax: 916-632-3208
National Chronic Pain Outreach Association
(NCPOA)
P.O. Box 274
Millboro, VA 24460
ncpoa@cfw.com
http://www.chronicpain.org/
Tel:
540-862-9437
Fax: 540-862-9485
National Headache Foundation
820 N.
Orleans
Suite 217
Chicago, IL 60610-3132
info@headaches.org
http://www.headaches.org/
Tel:
773-388-6399 888-NHF-5552 (643-5552)
Fax:
773-525-7357
Prepared by:
Office of Communications and Public
Liaison
National Institute of Neurological Disorders
and Stroke
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD 20892
NINDS health-related material is provided for information purposes only and does not necessarily represent endorsement by or an official position of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke or any other Federal agency. Advice on the treatment or care of an individual patient should be obtained through consultation with a physician who has examined that patient or is familiar with that patient's medical history.
Last updated December 03, 2004
