How to diagnose occipital neuralgia?

Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
Updated on September 03, 2024
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Occipital neuralgia is a very common condition, generally characterized by pain in the back of the head. The nature of the pain is usually dull, but it can radiate to the top of the head. To diagnose occipital neuralgia, the main examination is to see if there are any significant tender points along the course of the greater occipital nerve. If there are obvious tender points, it is likely that occipital neuralgia is a possibility. Additionally, there are some underlying causes of occipital neuralgia, such as cervical spondylosis, osteoarthritis, or inflammation of muscles in the head and neck area, and even some tumors. Therefore, it is necessary to perform comprehensive auxiliary examinations to rule out these related diseases, including MRI of the cervical spine and X-rays. Treatment is relatively simple and may include the administration of nerve-nourishing medications and pain relievers. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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How to diagnose occipital neuralgia?

Occipital neuralgia is a very common condition, generally characterized by pain in the back of the head. The nature of the pain is usually dull, but it can radiate to the top of the head. To diagnose occipital neuralgia, the main examination is to see if there are any significant tender points along the course of the greater occipital nerve. If there are obvious tender points, it is likely that occipital neuralgia is a possibility. Additionally, there are some underlying causes of occipital neuralgia, such as cervical spondylosis, osteoarthritis, or inflammation of muscles in the head and neck area, and even some tumors. Therefore, it is necessary to perform comprehensive auxiliary examinations to rule out these related diseases, including MRI of the cervical spine and X-rays. Treatment is relatively simple and may include the administration of nerve-nourishing medications and pain relievers. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Symptoms of neuralgia

Neuralgia comes in many types and is generally quite severe. Patients may experience episodes of intense, short-lasting pain. The common symptoms include: Firstly, a classic type is trigeminal neuralgia, where patients primarily suffer from episodic severe pain in the areas innervated by the trigeminal nerve. This can feel like burning or electric shocks, and is often unbearable. Treatment usually requires antiepileptic drugs. The second major type of neuralgia commonly seen is postherpetic neuralgia, where pain is intense and follows the nerve distribution. Tricyclic antidepressants and antiepileptic drugs can be used for treatment. Additionally, peripheral neuropathy caused by diabetes can also lead to neuralgia. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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How to diagnose intercostal neuralgia

The examination for intercostal neuralgia includes two parts. The first part is to confirm whether it is indeed intercostal neuralgia, often based on three reasons. The first is pain that follows a semicircular path along the ribs. Second, there are usually fixed tender points or percussion points, also called trigger points, where pressing will cause pain and lead to a type of pain that radiates along the path of the intercostal nerves. The third is that it is more commonly seen between the fifth and ninth ribs, often causing pain or triggering increased pain during activities like sneezing or deep breathing. With this, it is basically possible to diagnose intercostal neuralgia. However, identifying the cause of intercostal neuralgia is very complex. The usual causes of intercostal neuralgia include five aspects: The first is congenital anomalies, the second is trauma, the third is tumors, the fourth is inflammation, and the fifth is other causes. Therefore, a complete diagnosis of intercostal neuralgia should not only confirm the presence of intercostal neuralgia but also identify the underlying cause. Only by treating the cause of the intercostal neuralgia can there be a very good treatment outcome.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Causes of Neuralgia

Neuralgia is extremely painful, with patients often experiencing severe, unbearable pain. The causes of neuralgia mainly include the following types. The first type to note is viral infection, such as herpes zoster virus infection, which can leave postherpetic neuralgia. In such cases, it is crucial to actively use antivirals and employ neuropathic pain medications for treatment. The second scenario may relate to nerve compression, such as trigeminal neuralgia, which may be associated with local vascular compression causing abnormal nerve discharges. Surgical treatment might be necessary to relieve the compression. Sciatica is also caused by compression of the sciatic nerve. The third case might be due to nonspecific inflammatory responses. For example, Guillain-Barre syndrome can also cause neuralgia, and treatment should be directed at the underlying cause.

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Written by Liu Yan Hao
Neurology
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How to treat occipital neuralgia?

Occipital neuralgia is caused by cervical compression of the greater occipital nerve, leading to neuropathic pain. Thus, treatment of occipital neuralgia may involve oral pain relief medications to temporarily alleviate symptoms. Additionally, some nerve-nourishing medications can be used in treatment. Fundamental treatment involves addressing cervical spondylosis, which can include cervical physiotherapy and the use of medications that improve blood circulation and remove blood stasis to treat cervical spondylosis. It is also important to take care of the cervical spine by not sitting for too long; if sitting for extended periods, one should get up and move to stretch the muscles and bones. Performing the "little bird flying" exercise, where the head is leaned back and both arms are extended backwards, can effectively relieve cervical spondylosis and the pain caused by cervical compression of the greater occipital nerve. Additionally, the pillow should not be too high when sleeping at night.