Physical Therapy for Occipital Neuralgia

Occipital neuralgia is a medical condition which causes chronic pain in the upper neck, the back of the head and behind the ears. These are the areas which correspond to the locations of the occipital nerves, and occipital neuralgia is caused by damage to these nerves. The damage can be from trauma, physical stress to the nerves, or a result of a medical complication such as a tumor of the bone. Symptoms include chronic headaches and are often misdiagnosed as tension headaches or migraines.

Physical Therapy for Occipital Neuralgia

• Occipital neuralgia is most often treated with a combination of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve inflammation, injections of steroids combined with Lidocaine around the nerve root to relieve pain and numb the area, and physical therapy.

  Physical therapy for occipital neuralgia involves different techniques such as heat, manual therapy and electrical stimulation of the greater occipital nerve with TENS units.

  Manual physical therapy involves using just the hands instead of any devices. In manual therapy, physical therapists use their hands to put pressure on muscles and manipulate joints to decrease pain. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, also known as TENS, is a non-invasive method of pain management. A TENS device relieves pain by sending small electrical impulses through electrodes placed on the skin to the nerves, which then block pain signals to the brain.

  Heat works in a similar way. It stimulates the sensory receptors that respond to heat and cold, which help block transmissions of pain signals to the brain. Heat therapy also increases the blood flow, which reduces stiffness and relaxes sore muscles.

  In some cases of occipital neuralgia, chiropractic manipulation of the upper spine is recommended and, in very rare severe cases, a surgical decompression of the nerve root can be performed to relieve pressure on the nerve.

  All these types of treatment should be discussed with your physician to find out which works best for you.