Sharp Pain in the Back of My Head

Muscle Tension and Fatigue

You notice twinges of pain along the back of your neck and the sides of your head for a number of different reasons, including muscle tension and fatigue. Do you sit in one position for extended hours? If yes, this may well be the reason why you feel pain in the back of your head. Save yourself from stress, and you won't find yourself asking, "Why am I experiencing sharp pain in the back of my head?"

Migraine

If you're noticing throbbing pain with neurological disturbances, you may be suffering from migraine. This chronic headache may accompany by auras, which is a feeling that warns you about a migraine attack. Not only will you notice pain behind your neck and head, you will experience pain behind your eyes as well. Other symptoms of migraines include nausea, severe head pain, and increased sensitivity to sounds, light, and smells.

Tension Headaches

The pain on the right side of your head may be due to tension. The tension-type headaches are quite common, but there is no exact explanation of why they affect some people. You will experience low- to medium-intensity pain and it will feel as if a band of pain is around your head. Other symptoms of tension headaches include pressure on the any side of your head, achy head pain, loss of appetite, and tenderness in the muscles of your neck, scalp, or shoulders. The pain usually subsides within half an hour.

Ice Pick Headaches

While these headaches can be short, they can be extremely intense and terrifying. You may experience the pain for five seconds only, but it will feel as if someone is sticking an ice pick into your head. It can strike anywhere in your head and may also occur in or behind your ears.

Exercise and Sex

You may experience pain in the head after a sexual intercourse with your partner – you may feel the same after strenuous exercise. Sometimes, the pain can be extremely severe – the experts call it orgasmic headache. You can, however, consider taking ibuprofen or OTC non-steroidal at least half an hour before intercourse to prevent this type of headache. If it strikes you suddenly and is extremely severe, you may go see your doctor for further evaluation.

Occipital Neuralgia

The occipital nerves run from the top of your spinal cord and go at the base of your neck. An injury to these nerves may lead to inflammation and cause a neurological condition called occipital neuralgia. The symptoms look quite similar to migraine, which often makes this condition go untreated. You usually experience intense jabbing shock like pain in the back of your neck and head. Other symptoms include pain behind your eyes, pain on the sides of your head, sensitivity to light, pain with neck movement, tender scalp, and throbbing pain that originates from the base of your head and goes to the scalp.

Trigeminal Neuralgia

If you're noticing pain in back of head on right side, this could be due to a conditional called trigeminal neuralgia. This chronic condition can be quite painful and affect the biggest nerves of your head called fifth cranial nerve or trigeminal nerve. You will be experiencing successive bouts of severe, sudden burning face pain that may last for a couple of minutes. You experience the pain every time a blood vessel compresses your trigeminal nerve.

Temporal Arteritis

Characterized by damage or inflammation to arteries that bring blood to your head, the condition can cause severe pain to the right side of your head. It usually affects the arteries at the back of your neck and can cause inflammation in the trunk, neck, and upper extremities – it's then called giant cell arteritis. A weak immune response is usually the underlying issue here, but you may also acquire this due to heavy antibiotic use.

Arthritis Headaches

You may notice headaches if you're a patient of arthritis. Depending on the location of your arthritis, your head pain may be mild or severe. The arthritis of the spine and neck is more likely to cause headaches and neck pain. You usually experience arthritis headaches due to bone changes in the shape of your neck. If what you're experiencing is arthritis headache, it will become worse with movement.

Rebound Headaches

Frequent use of certain pain relief medications may lead to headaches. You may experience pain in the back of your head or feel it cover your entire head. Rebound headaches are extremely consistent and occur every day – they usually last the day. If you're using painkillers 10 or more times a month, you may eventually develop rebound headaches. Other symptoms associated with rebound headache are restlessness, anxiety, irritability, and difficulty concentrating.

Brain Tumor

If you're experiencing sharp pain specifically in the left side of your head, this could be due to a brain tumor. It can affect your normal brain function and you notice excessive pressure within your skill. It may also damage brain tissues and nerves, which will produce several symptoms, including persistent head pain, vision problems, loss of sensation in your extremities, hearing loss, dizziness, behavior changes, and speaking difficulties.

You should consult your doctor immediately if your headache is gradually becoming severe or you also have a rash, fever, or neck stiffness with pain in the back of your head. You should also seek medical attention if you experience headaches with a red eye, headaches that lead to cognitive changes, headaches after an injury or trauma, and headaches along with tenderness or soreness in the jaw or temple area.