OCCIPITAL NEURALGIA

When the Nerves at the Base of Your Skull Become Overwhelmed

The Brain & Body Clinic – St. Petersburg, FL
Dr. Theo Berlingeri, DC

Occipital Neuralgia is one of the most distinctive and frustrating types of head and neck pain someone can experience. Most patients describe it as:

“A stabbing pain at the base of my skull.”
“It feels like an electric shock up the back of my head.”
“Pressure behind my ears and skull.”
“Burning or zapping when I move my neck.”
“A tight band running from my neck to my scalp.”

Whether it comes in sharp bursts or constant pressure, occipital neuralgia almost always involves irritation of the occipital nerves, which travel from the upper neck into the scalp.

But here’s the key:
Those nerves don’t become irritated on their own — they are almost always affected by upper cervical misalignment, brainstem pressure, suboccipital tightness, or sensory overload.

This makes occipital neuralgia a brain–body condition, not just a muscle problem.

What Exactly Is Occipital Neuralgia?

The greater and lesser occipital nerves run through:

  • The suboccipital triangle (a small, dense region of proprioceptive muscles)

  • The connective tissue at the base of the skull

  • The scalp and posterior head

These nerves can become inflamed or compressed when:

  • The atlas shifts

  • The suboccipital muscles tighten

  • The dura (covering of the brain/spinal cord) becomes irritated

  • Posture shifts forward

  • TMJ dysfunction alters the head/neck balance

  • Stress increases upper neck tension

The result is:

  • Sharp, electric pain

  • Burning or throbbing

  • Pressure behind the eyes

  • Headaches starting at the base of the skull

  • Sensitivity to touch or hair brushing

  • Pain radiating to the crown or behind the ears

This is one of the most common upper cervical patterns we see.

Why the Upper Cervical Spine Is the Key to Occipital Neuralgia Relief

The atlas (C1) sits directly beneath the skull and forms the “gateway” where the occipital nerves exit.

Even slight rotation or tilt of C1 can:

✔ Stretch or compress the occipital nerves

causing shock-like or burning pain.

✔ Tighten the suboccipital muscles

which are already densely packed with mechanoreceptors.

✔ Irritate brainstem pathways

leading to headaches and nerve sensitivity.

✔ Alter head posture

putting constant strain on the skull base.

✔ Create proprioceptive mismatch

which amplifies pain perception through the trigeminocervical complex.

This is why so many patients with occipital neuralgia also have:

  • Neck pain

  • Headaches

  • Eye strain

  • TMJ tension

  • Dizziness

  • Post-concussion symptoms

  • Tension behind the ears or scalp

The Upper Cervical region is the control center.

Our Brain–Body Approach to Treating Occipital Neuralgia

The Brain & Body Clinic addresses occipital neuralgia by correcting the root cause — the neurological, structural, and emotional patterns affecting the nerve.

Our approach integrates:

✔ Upper Cervical Chiropractic (Advanced Orthogonal)
✔ Functional Neurology (sensory + cranial nerve integration)
✔ Applied Kinesiology (muscle inhibition + cranial biomechanics)
✔ Torque Release Technique (tension + autonomic balance)
✔ NET (emotional triggers that tighten the neck)
✔ Suboccipital decompression + proprioceptive retraining

Upper Cervical Chiropractic (Advanced Orthogonal)

This gentle, precise, no-twist adjustment restores atlas alignment, relieving pressure where the occipital nerves exit.

Benefits include:

  • Reduced skull-base tension

  • Less nerve irritation

  • Improved head posture

  • Relaxation of suboccipital muscles

  • Better blood + CSF flow

  • Calmer pain pathways

Most patients experience noticeable relief as the nerve stops firing excessively.

👉 https://www.drtheochiropractic.com/upper-cervical

Functional Neurology for Cranial Nerve & Sensory Reset

We test:

  • Sensory pathways associated with the occipital and trigeminal nerves

  • Neck–eye coordination

  • VOR (vestibulo-ocular reflex)

  • Postural reflexes

  • Proprioceptive distortion

  • Brainstem involvement

Occipital neuralgia is often part of a larger sensory integration problem — not an isolated “nerve issue.”

Applied Kinesiology

AK helps determine:

  • Which suboccipital muscles are overcompensating

  • Whether TMJ is contributing

  • Cranial suture tension

  • Inhibited muscle patterns that overload the neck

  • How posture affects nerve compression

Correcting these patterns reduces mechanical pressure on the occipital nerves.

👉 https://www.drtheochiropractic.com/applied-kinesiology

TRT (Torque Release Technique)

Occipital neuralgia often worsens when the nervous system is in fight-or-flight.

TRT helps:

  • Reduce spinal cord tension

  • Calm nerve excitability

  • Improve autonomic regulation

  • Lower neck guarding and muscle spasm

👉 https://www.drtheochiropractic.com/torque-release-technique

NET (Neuro Emotional Technique)

Emotional tension, trauma, or chronic stress can activate the same muscle chains that irritate the occipital nerves.

NET helps release:

  • Stored stress patterns

  • Protective neck guarding

  • Limbic responses that keep the upper neck tight

👉 https://www.drtheochiropractic.com/net

Signs Your Occipital Neuralgia Is Atlas-Related

✔ Pain begins at the base of the skull
✔ Pain radiates upward into the scalp
✔ Symptoms worsen with head movement
✔ Tenderness in suboccipital muscles
✔ Head tilting in photos
✔ History of whiplash or concussion
✔ Pain triggered by posture or stress
✔ Sensitivity behind the ears
✔ Headaches that start in the neck

If this describes you — the atlas is almost always involved.

Why Patients Choose The Brain & Body Clinic for Occipital Neuralgia Relief

✔ One of St. Pete’s only Advanced Orthogonal Upper Cervical practices
✔ A true brain–body approach
✔ Focus on helping the body hold alignment
✔ Gentle, precise, long-lasting corrections
✔ Integrates structural, neurological, and emotional systems
✔ Ideal for chronic or complex nerve pain conditions

Patients come here when they’re tired of injections, medications, and temporary relief — and want the underlying issue addressed.

Relief Starts at the Source — Let’s Restore Your Calm Again

Occipital neuralgia can feel overwhelming, but it has a clear, correctable cause.
Let’s decompress the nerve, rebalance your neck, and help your brain feel safe again.

👉 Book Your First Visit
https://www.drtheochiropractic.com/contact

👉 Explore More Brain–Body Services
https://www.drtheochiropractic.com

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