What is occipital neuralgia and what are the symptoms that patients present with?
Occipital neuralgia is a painful neck condition that happens when occipital nerves are inflamed or injured. These occipital nerves can become trapped in neck muscles causing stress to the nerves.
Pain can occur in the back of the head or in the back of the skull. The occipital nerves run from the top of the spinal cord up through the scalp. Often times occipital neuralgia is mis diagnosed as a headache.
Pain from the occipital neuralgia can cause:
- Pain behind the eyes
- Pain in the upper neck
- Pain in the back of the head
- Less perception and feeling in the back of the head
- A sensitivity to light
- Tenderness in the scalp area
- Pain with Neck Movement
Gentle neck traction can be very beneficial to patients with occipital neuralgia. The Arc4life Traction Pillow can provide patients with a tremendous amount of relief for these symptoms. The traction or V Side of the pillow gentle stretches the suboccipital area. This allows relief of pressure from this area. Using moist heat therapy and gentle neck massage can also be beneficial.
When I was first diagnosed with Occipital Neuralgia I was at my wit's end. I knew my pillow wasn't sufficient so I looked online for something to help. I found the arc4life website and I also got the cervical traction pillow. Combined with meds and the pillow my symptoms subsided. I was so happy and relieved. Fast forward 3 years I have my symptoms back but no longer have the pillow. I'll definitely be ordering another one. Alas postage to Australia is or can be as much as the pillow but I swear by it for occipital neuralgia sufferers...- Shelley (October 14, 2017)
Best Pillow for Occipital Neuralgia- I too was looking for a pillow for the last 4 months. I randomly ordered the cervical traction neck pillow thinking it would be another pillow that truely wouldn't be comfortable. I could not believe how well it worked. I did not have to worry about the pressure building on the base of my head with this pillow. Albeit it does take time to get used to this pillow as it is correcting your posture. Give it a try and I hope it works for you too!- PostureDude (April 11, 2010)
Additional Reading:
- How the Arc4life Traction Pillow Helped Patients with Occipital Neuralgia back in 2011
- The Neck Pain That comes from a condition like occipital neuralgia...
- How to use the arc4life traction pillow for dummies...pardon the title :)
- So Give yourself a chance to get used to a new pillow
- 5 pillows for neck pain sufferers
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