We are seeing an epidemic of patients with the same complaint – headaches that have popped up out of nowhere. The first question I ask is “how much time do you spend staring down at your phone per day?” That’s because “cell phone neck” is becoming the newest ailment that is affecting people. Its real name is Occipital Neuralgia. Occipital neuralgia, also known as C2 neuralgia, is a medical condition characterized by chronic pain in the upper neck, back of the head and behind the eyes. These areas correspond to the locations of the lesser and greater occipital nerves.
Basically, the occipital nerves are being impinged, because people are holding their heads down at an angle that isn’t natural. Every inch that you crane your head downwards to look at your phone or tablet puts an additional 60 pounds of pressure on your vertebrae. This additional stress can cause swelling in the tissues and pinch the nerves, causing your headaches.
If you find that you’re suffering from these headaches, and are just now realizing that this is how you read your phone, or if you’re reading this article ON your phone and are just now realizing why you have a headache, giive us a call at 314-434-7784 to make an appointment to come in to see Dr. Robert Hagan about your headaches. There are several methods to cure this condition before surgery, and you can explore them all before that option. Learn more about occipital neuralgia here and visit www.neuropaxclinic.com to learn more about the practice.
