Occipital neuralgia and migraine are not the same thing, though they can feel similar and sometimes occur together, which makes them easy to confuse.
Occipital neuralgia involves irritation or injury to the occipital nerves, which run from the base of the skull up through the scalp. The pain is often described as:
- Piercing Show Full Answer
Occipital neuralgia and migraine are not the same thing, though they can feel similar and sometimes occur together, which makes them easy to confuse.
Occipital neuralgia involves irritation or injury to the occipital nerves, which run from the base of the skull up through the scalp. The pain is often described as:
- Piercing or throbbing
- Like an electric shock
- Felt at the back of the head, upper neck, and behind the ears
- Sometimes felt behind the eyes
- Usually on one side Migraine, on the other hand, is a broader neurological condition that involves overactive pain pathways in the brain and nervous system. During a migraine attack, the trigeminal nerve becomes activated, releasing inflammatory chemicals that cause the throbbing head pain most people associate with migraine.
Because the symptoms can overlap, it's really important to track your pain carefully — noting where it is, what triggers it, and what helps — so your doctor can tell the difference and find the right treatment for you.
October 4
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