Pain in the base of the skull
If you have pain at the junction between your head and your neck, at the base of the skull, you are not alone. We treat many people with pain in this region and the good news is that physiotherapy or osteopathy is highly effective in treating your pain. We use a combination of hands on techniques and, most importantly, exercises to improve the strength of the muscles that support the head and neck. Check out the video below to learn more.
What causes pain in the base of the skull
There are many structures that can cause pain at the base of the skull including joints, nerves, blood vessels, muscles, tendons and ligaments and our physiotherapists and osteopaths are fully trained in diagnosing these structures. Check out the video below to learn more.
When do you need to get it checked out
There are a number of things we need to rule out that might need immediate attention so we strongly recommend that you see a doctor immediately if you have been in an accident or fallen and/or if you have any of the following symptoms: dizziness, problems with speech or swallow, nausea, visual disturbance, double vision, ringing in the ears or tinnitus, fainting, blackouts, pins and needles in both hands, arms or legs, reduced sensation or power in the arms or legs particularly if it suddenly worsens, night pain, pain that comes on for no reason and does not change with different movement or positions and if you are feeling fatigued or generally unwell.
What can you do yourself to reduce the pain?
There are lots of things you can try to alleviate the pain:
- Keeping the area warm. You can use a hot pack as long as you are careful not to get burnt.
- It is important to keep the area supported with pillows when you are sleeping
- Keep it moving as much as possible as long as you have none of the above symptoms
- Self massage as long as you have none of the symptoms above
- Exercises – please see the video below to learn more about this
- General exercise like walking or cycling as long as it does not aggravate your pain
Would you like to get your pain treated by experts?
We hope this has been helpful. To find out more or to book an appointment please email info@octopusclinic.com.
FAQ
What causes pain at the base of the skull?
Most pain at the base of the skull comes from the upper neck: stiffness in the top two cervical joints, tension in the suboccipital muscles that attach to the skull, or irritation of the nerves passing through them. Sustained head-forward postures at a screen, poor sleeping positions and jaw clenching are the usual drivers.
What helps neck pain at the base of the skull?
Gentle chin tucks, upper neck rotation and thoracic extension movements usually give the quickest relief, alongside releasing the suboccipital muscles with a ball or the fingertips against the skull ridge. Changing position frequently helps more than trying to hold one correct posture. Heat often eases the muscular component.
How do I relieve tension at the base of my skull quickly?
Lie on your back with a small ball or rolled towel under the ridge at the base of the skull and let the head rest there for a minute or two on each side. Follow it with slow chin tucks, keeping the movement small. Most people feel a change within a few minutes, though it needs repeating rather than doing once.
Can neck pain at the base of the skull cause headaches?
Yes. Referral from the upper cervical joints commonly produces a headache that starts at the base of the skull and spreads forward over one side of the head, sometimes reaching behind the eye. This is a cervicogenic headache, and it responds to treating the neck rather than to headache medication alone.
How long does pain at the base of the skull last?
A short-lived episode from a bad night’s sleep or a heavy desk week usually settles within days to a fortnight with movement and position changes. Pain that keeps returning is normally driven by a sustained postural load or joint stiffness that has not been addressed, and that pattern needs assessment rather than repeated self-treatment.
Why does desk work cause pain at the base of my skull?
Holding the head forward of the shoulders loads the small suboccipital muscles continuously, and a static position also stiffens the upper cervical joints. It is the duration rather than the posture itself that causes it, which is why frequent movement breaks help more than trying to sit perfectly still in a better position.
What sleeping position is best for pain at the base of the skull?
Aim to keep your head in line with your spine: a thinner pillow if you sleep on your back or front, a thicker one if you sleep on your side, so the neck is neither propped forward nor dropped back. Front sleeping is the hardest position for the upper neck because it holds the head rotated for hours.
When should pain at the base of the skull be checked by a doctor?
Seek urgent medical assessment if it follows a head or neck injury, comes on suddenly and severely, or is accompanied by fever and neck stiffness, weakness or numbness in the limbs, visual loss, difficulty speaking or swallowing, problems with balance, or confusion. Also see a GP for a headache pattern that has clearly changed.