What is occipital neuralgia? Occipital neuralgia is the general term for the greater occipital nerve, the lesser occipital nerve, the inferior occipital nerve and the 3rd occipital neuralgia. Broadly speaking, occipital refers to the distribution area of the four pairs of occipital nerves, i.e., below the parietal tubercle, behind the root of the ear on both sides, between the connecting lines with the horizontal backward of the downward inclination angle; narrowly speaking, occipital refers to the squamous part of the occipital bone. The lesser occipital nerve is a branch of the cervical plexus, purely sensory, and is the anterior branch of the 2nd and 3rd cervical nerves, with sensory components mainly distributed in the mastoid region and the skin of the lateral occipital region; the inferior occipital nerve is a branch of the 1st cervical nerve, mainly motor components, but also with a small amount of sensory components. The sensory component innervates the skin of the upper part of the collar and the lower posterior part of the head; the greater occipital nerve is a posterior branch of the 2nd cervical nerve, mixed, with mainly sensory components and a small amount of motor components. The sensory component is distributed over the skin from the superior collar line to the top of the head. The 3rd occipital nerve is a posterior branch of the 3rd occipitocervical nerve, mixed in nature, with sensory components distributed in the skin on both sides of the midline of the occipital region. According to the thickness and distribution of the nerve, the major occipital nerve, the minor occipital nerve, the 3rd occipital nerve and the inferior occipital nerve are in descending order of magnitude. Clinically, occipital neuralgia is second only to vascular headache and functional headache, and can also involve the small occipital nerve as well as the 3rd nerve. Primary and secondary occipital neuralgia Occipital neuralgia can be divided into primary and secondary occipital neuralgia. Primary occipital neuralgia occurs most often in young adults and is preceded by cold, exertion, humidity, poor sleep posture, and other triggers. It is most commonly secondary to upper respiratory tract infection. Some scholars believe that it is a nonspecific infection inflammation or toxic neuritis. Examples include upper respiratory tract infection, influenza, malaria, rheumatism, diabetes, thyroid disease, or alcoholism or lead poisoning. The causes of secondary occipital neuralgia are: 1. Cervical spine diseases Cervical spine osteophytes are the most common cause. A few can be cervical spine tuberculosis, rheumatoid spondylitis or metastatic cancer. 2.Intravertebral lesion Spinal cord tumor in the upper cervical segment, tumor in the foramen magnum area, adhesive spinal arachnoiditis, spinal cavernous disease, etc. 3.Atlanto-occipital congenital malformation Skull base depression, occipital foramen stenosis, atlanto-occipital fusion, atlanto-axial dislocation, incomplete separation of upper cervical vertebrae (fusion), subungual tonsillar defect, etc. 4.Injury Suboccipital joint ligament injury, atlantoaxial arch fracture, atlantoaxial push subluxation 1 cervical muscle injury, etc. Occipital neuralgia prevention and treatment 1, etiological prevention and control Avoidance and prevention of systemic diseases, such as infection, diabetes, uremia, rheumatic fever, poisoning and other primary diseases, can reduce the chance of occipital neuralgia; secondly, prevention and avoidance of secondary factors causing occipital neuralgia, such as cervical tuberculosis, cervical spondylosis, myofibrosis, local infection and trauma, etc. In addition, in order to improve the patient’s ability to prevent diseases, it is better to read or listen to some scientific knowledge about health, which is undoubtedly beneficial. To do prevention first, is better than treatment. 2, reduce occipital stimulation Should avoid using high and hard pillows, choose to have a loose and comfortable pillow, the cap should not be too tight, as far as possible to reduce local stimulation, reduce the triggering factors of occipital neuralgia, such as preventing cold, moisture and fatigue.