For most people, the pain strikes on only one side of the head. It also tends to spread, usually from where the skull meets the neck, and then traveling up the back of the head and to the sides or behind the eyes.
In many individuals, the scalp can be affected, especially where the occipital nerves connect.
It can feel sore or extremely sensitive.
Light may also irritate the eyes.
Occipital neuralgia is described as coming in bursts of pain that come and go, lasting for a few seconds or minutes. At times, individuals may experience a lingering ache between more extreme bouts of pain.
Small movements can trigger an outburst of pain from occipital neuralgia. These movements include:
turning the head to the side
putting the head down on a pillow
brushing or washing the hair
The pain can be quite intense, which can prompt some individuals with the condition to say it is like a migraine or a cluster headache, even though these are different types and require different treatments.