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What Causes Shooting Pain In The Lower Back Area Of Skull?
I have a dull ache, occasionally shooting, pain in the back lower left area of my skull bone.....like just behind my ear toward the midline of the back of my skull. I have allergies so could this be a sinus bothering me?? If not, any idea what it might be? This is the second day of experiencing this. Thank you
Tue, 24 Jan 2023
Hi,
Pain in the lower back area of skull may be due to several reasons. Tension headache, migraine or occipital neuralgia. It may also be due to faulty posture of head. Shooting pain in the back of lower area of scalp, in this case seems due to Occipital neuralgia. Occipital Neuralgia is a condition that causes a sharp shooting, throbbing or stabbing pain starting at the base of head in the neck and moves towards the scalp.
This pain is due to irritation of occipital nerve, which runs from the top of neck to the back of scalp. Other symptoms may be a sharp stabbing sensation feeling like an electric shock behind the eye or ear. Many a time occipital neuralgia is associated with Migraine. It is more likely to be present on left side, as is in your case. Usually, this type of pain are relieved with rest and OTC analgesics like Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, Naproxen etc.
If you are a known case of MIGRAINE, then migraine relieving drugs like beta blocker etc. may be helpful. However, if the pain is not relieved within some time or it increases in intensity, then you are advised to see your doctor and treated accordingly. It does not seem to be as a result of allergies or sinusitis, as pain of sinuses, usually do not occur in the back of neck or scalp.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Satnarain Bansal, General & Family Physician
Pain in the lower back area of skull may be due to several reasons. Tension headache, migraine or occipital neuralgia. It may also be due to faulty posture of head. Shooting pain in the back of lower area of scalp, in this case seems due to Occipital neuralgia. Occipital Neuralgia is a condition that causes a sharp shooting, throbbing or stabbing pain starting at the base of head in the neck and moves towards the scalp.
This pain is due to irritation of occipital nerve, which runs from the top of neck to the back of scalp. Other symptoms may be a sharp stabbing sensation feeling like an electric shock behind the eye or ear. Many a time occipital neuralgia is associated with Migraine. It is more likely to be present on left side, as is in your case. Usually, this type of pain are relieved with rest and OTC analgesics like Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, Naproxen etc.
If you are a known case of MIGRAINE, then migraine relieving drugs like beta blocker etc. may be helpful. However, if the pain is not relieved within some time or it increases in intensity, then you are advised to see your doctor and treated accordingly. It does not seem to be as a result of allergies or sinusitis, as pain of sinuses, usually do not occur in the back of neck or scalp.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Satnarain Bansal, General & Family Physician
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