What’s causing the pain in the back of my head at the base of my skull?

The area in the back of your head where the base of your skull meets your neck is a common area to experience pain. In fact, there are many issues that can cause pain there. 

In general, neck pain is a common problem in the U.S. Medical researchers report that 5.8% of U.S. women and 4% of U.S. men are experiencing neck pain at any given time. Diagnosing the cause of the pain in the back of your head at the base of your skull is something a physical therapist can do. These specialists can also offer effective treatment for your neck and head pain.

Three common causes of pain in the back of the head at the base of the skull

The area at the back of your head and at the base of your skull is called the occipital region. Often, problems in the neck cause pain to radiate into this region of your head. A few of the issues that commonly trigger pain in the occipital region include: 

• Suboccipital muscle tension — The suboccipital muscles connect the top of your neck to the base of your skull. Craning your head forward for long periods of time can leave these muscles tense and sore. The pain can also travel into the back of your head and down your neck. 
• Herniated cervical discs — Spinal discs help separate and cushion your vertebrae. This includes the vertebrae in your cervical spine or neck. Trauma or repetitive strain can cause damage to the outer covering of a disc at the top of your neck. As a result, the disc’s inner material can poke out or herniate. This can irritate and inflame soft tissue and nerves near the herniated disc. 
• Occipital neuralgia — This nerve condition occurs when the occipital nerves that run through your scalp are irritated or damaged. Occipital neuralgia is often caused by muscle or nerve problems in your neck. The most common symptom of this issue is burning or shocking pains that run from the base of the skull into one or both sides of the head. 

How can physical therapy treat the pain in your occipital region?

Identifying the cause of the pain in the back of your head at the base of your skull isn’t the only thing physical therapists can do. They can also treat your pain. Your therapist will use an extensive knowledge of the human musculoskeletal system to develop a treatment plan for you. Such a plan may include therapy techniques like: 

• Myofascial release
• Aquatic therapy
• Soft tissue mobilization
• Therapeutic exercises
• Ergonomic training
• Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM)
• Dry needling

Find help for the pain in the back of your head at the base of your skull at Peak Performance

Struggling with pain in the back of your head at the base of your skull? Our Peak Performance team is primed to help you treat the pain in your occipital region. We can pinpoint the cause of your pain by doing a free screening of your neck and head. You’ll also find that our physical therapists excel at building personalized therapy plans designed to reduce pain. Our team even offers virtual therapy sessions that allow you to treat your pain from home. 

Contact us today for more information about how we can address your neck and head pain or to schedule your initial appointment.