Nerve & Joint Pain
Nerve & Joint Pain
We use a personalized comprehensive approach of proven, opioid free, advanced therapies for rapid pain relief and optimal healing & recovery
About Occipital Neuralgia
Occipital Neuralgia (ON) affects 3.2/100,000 people annually and is prevalent in women greater than men and is differentiated from a facet-mediated cervicogenic headache. ON is a headache disorder caused by irritation, compression, or injury to the occipital nerves (greater, lesser, third), which run from the upper cervical spine (C2-C3 roots) through the scalp. These nerves transmit sharp, electric shock-like pain from the occipital base (upper neck) radiating to the posterior scalp, behind the ears, or orbitally.
Symptoms
People describe paroxysmal lancinating pain (seconds to minutes), often triggered by neck movement, hair brushing, or light scalp touch. Continuous aching/burning occurs between shocks, with scalp tenderness, photophobia, and unilateral predominance (90% greater occipital nerve involvement). Mimics migraine/cluster headache but follows dermatomal pattern.
Known Causes
- Primary: Cranialcervical instability, dysautonomia, muscle spasm, trauma (whiplash), nerve entrapment at the altlanto-occipital membrane, semispinalis capitis or C2-C3 facet joints, along with nutrient deficiencies, systemic toxicities or infections.
- Secondary: Cervical disc bulging or herniation, ganglion cysts, diabetes, vascular inflammation, and tumors.
Schedule a $69 New Patient Appointment at McPherson Chiropractic Center
Schedule a $69 New Patient Appointment at McPherson Chiropractic Center
