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Is It a Migraine or Occipital Neuralgia? Find Out the Difference



Let’s begin by talking about what a migraine is. A migraine is a medical condition in which you get intense head pain with a throbbing or pounding quality. One or both sides of the head may be affected. Most of the time, you will feel your migraine in the temples or behind one eye or ear. However, any part of the head can be involved. In addition to pain, migraines often have the following symptoms:

  • Nausea and vomiting

  • Sensitivity to light

  • Sensitivity to sound

  • Auras or visual disturbances before a migraine hits

  • Loss of vision

  • Dizziness

Migraines can happen at any time of the day but are most often seen in the morning. The head pain can last anywhere from 4 to 72 hours. Unfortunately, some people have what are called chronic migraines. This means they have migraines once or twice a week. Others, however, have migraines once or twice a year. A migraine attack can interfere with your day-to-day routine. It can stop you from taking part in social functions, family affairs, or work activities.

While the cause of migraines still remains a mystery, there are some things that are common in people that have them:

  • Most commonly seen in people ages 15 to 55

  • Generally seen in people that have a family history of migraines

  • Three times more common in women than in men

  • Migraines often improve as one ages

Migraine pain affects as many as 39 million Americans and 1 billion people worldwide.

What Is Occipital Neuralgia?

Now, we will talk about what occipital neuralgia is, and then we can see the differences between them and migraines. Occipital neuralgia is a condition in which the nerves that go from the top of the head down through the spinal cord, call the occipital nerves, are inflamed or injured. The pain maybe felt at the back of your head or the base of your skull. Occipital neuralgia is very similar to migraines in that some of the symptoms are the same. However, caring for these conditions is very different, and it is important to get the proper diagnosis from your doctor.

The symptoms of occipital neuralgia are as follows:

  • Pain on one or both sides of the head

  • Pain behind the eye

  • Aching, burning, and throbbing pain beginning at the base of the head and going to the scalp

  • A tender scalp

  • Sensitivity to light

  • Pain when you move your neck

The causes of occipital neuralgia could be due to some type of pressure or irritation on your occipital nerves. This could be due to an injury, inflammation, irritation, or tightened muscles that entrap the nerves.


To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and headaches download our free e-book Natural and Drug-Free Ways to End Your Migraines by clicking the image below.

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There are some medical conditions that are linked to occipital neuralgia:

  • Trauma to the back of the head

  • Tight neck muscles or neck tension

  • Tumors in the neck

  • Infection

  • Diabetes

  • Osteoarthritis

  • Cervical disc disease

  • Blood vessel inflammation

The Difference Between Occipital Neuralgia and a Migraine

When seeking the care of a specialist, occipital neuralgia can be determined by one of the following things:

  • Basic exam: Doctors can often reproduce the pain by pressing on the base of the skull where the occipital nerves are located there.

  • Nerve block: Doctors can often numb the occipital nerve and see if the pain goes away. If it does, then your head pain is due to occipital neuralgia.

  • Patient history: If your pain begins at your neck and radiates up your head to your eyebrows, it is likely that you have occipital neuralgia.

Another way to determine if you have a migraine or occipital neuralgia has to do with triggers. Triggers happen to people who have migraines. They do not happen with occipital neuralgia. Migraines are often accompanied by visual disturbances or other symptoms that come on before the headache. Occipital neuralgia does not have these characteristics.

If you are suffering from occipital neuralgia there a few things you can do to ease your pain. 

  • Apply heat to your neck.

  • Rest in a quiet room

  • Massage the tight and painful neck muscles

Your medical doctor may recommend prescription medications such as muscle relaxers, antidepressants, anti-seizure drugs, nerve blocks, and steroid shots. However, more and more people are hoping to try a natural approach to their healthcare. If this is true of you, continue reading below.

Finding Natural Help for Both Migraines and Occipital Neuralgia

If the top bone of the neck, the C1 or atlas bone, has become misaligned, it can be the underlying cause of both migraines and occipital neuralgia. A misalignment in this area of the neck can easily irritate the occipital nerves and cause occipital neuralgia. If the bones that are misaligned are putting pressure on the brainstem, migraines and other types of headaches can ensue.

As upper cervical chiropractors, we have been specially trained to find the tiny misalignments in the neck that are causing problems throughout the entire body. It only takes 1/4 of a millimeter of a misalignment to have a negative impact on how the body functions. We use a very gentle method to encourage the bones of the upper cervical spine to move back into place more naturally, not forcing them by popping and cracking the neck.

A study was conducted of 101 patients who are diagnosed with headaches or migraines. After receiving care from an upper cervical chiropractor, tailored to their specific situation, they all reported seeing a decrease in the intensity and frequency of their migraines and headaches.    

Our patients report similar results, and some of them actually see their migraines or occipital neuralgia go away entirely and not return.        


To schedule a consultation with N8 Upper Cervical Chiropractic clinic, call (02) 8553-6218 or just click the button below.

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If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Chiropractor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.