What could cause pain behind the eye?

What could cause pain behind the eye?

Sinus inflammation. Also referred to as sinusitis, sinus inflammation causes pressure and pain behind your eyes and tenderness in the front of your face. Throbbing pain from a migraine headache almost always includes pain behind the eyes. This condition is caused by the buildup of intraocular pressure.

When should I be concerned about eye pain?

Call 911 or your local emergency number for eye pain if: It is unusually severe or accompanied by headache, fever or unusual sensitivity to light. Your vision changes suddenly. You also experience nausea or vomiting.

How do you get rid of pain in the back of your eye?

The most common treatments include:

1. Home care. The best way to treat many of the conditions that cause eye pain is to allow your eyes to rest.
2. Glasses. If you frequently wear contact lenses, give your corneas time to heal by wearing your glasses.
3. Warm compress.
4. Flushing.
5. Antibiotics.
6. Antihistamines.
7. Eye drops.
8. Corticosteroids.

Is pressure behind the eyes serious?

Pressure behind the eyes is not a serious medical concern on its own, but it may indicate the presence of a more acute condition. Anyone who notices symptoms such as loss of vision, bulging eyes, fever, frequent headaches, or facial swelling should see their doctor.

How do I relieve pain behind my left eye?

Medication for headache behind the eye Over-the-counter pain medicine can ease occasional headaches. It may even help with migraines if you take it early enough. Doctors often recommend acetaminophen (Tylenol) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve).

Can dental problems cause eye pain?

Common Dental Issues that can Result to Headache or Eye Pain Missing, loose or misaligned teeth are what is referred to bad bite. This problem can cause the jaw muscles to work more than normal to bring the teeth together and keep the mouth closed. This can result in some headache or even eye pain.

How does occipital neuralgia start?

Occipital neuralgia may occur spontaneously, or as the result of a pinched nerve root in the neck (from arthritis, for example), or because of prior injury or surgery to the scalp or skull. Sometimes “tight” muscles at the back of the head can entrap the nerves.

Will occipital neuralgia go away?

Occipital neuralgia can last for a very long time, but it may stop by itself after a while. Generally, occipital neuralgia is a long-term condition that requires treatment to lessen the pain.

How can I treat occipital neuralgia at home?

You can try to:

1. Apply heat to your neck.
2. Rest in a quiet room.
3. Massage tight and painful neck muscles.
4. Take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs, like naproxen or ibuprofen.

How do I know if I have occipital neuralgia?

Symptoms of occipital neuralgia include continuous aching, burning and throbbing, with intermittent shocking or shooting pain that generally starts at the base of the head and goes to the scalp on one or both sides of the head. Patients often have pain behind the eye of the affected side of the head.

What happens if occipital neuralgia goes untreated?

Left untreated, complications of untreated occipital neuralgia can be serious or even life threatening. You can help minimize your risk of serious complications by following the treatment plan you and your health care professional design specifically for you.

Is occipital neuralgia caused by stress?

Occipital neuralgia is caused by damage to the occipital nerves, which can arise from trauma (usually concussive or cervical), physical stress on the nerve, repetitive neck contraction, flexion or extension, and/or as a result of medical complications (such as osteochondroma, a benign bone tumour).

How long does occipital neuralgia?

“Pain relief can last from several weeks to several months, and sometimes the pain doesn’t come back,” says Dr. Costandi. If your headaches have persisted for more than three months and have not responded to conventional treatments — including migraine medication — it’s time to see a doctor.

Can a virus cause occipital neuralgia?

Occipital neuralgia It is suspected that tense muscles or ligaments may press against the nerve, causing irritation, inflammation and subsequent pain. Other causes may include viral infection, trauma to the neck or bad posture.

Does exercise help occipital neuralgia?

Some cases of occipital neuralgia may be related to poor posture stressing the nerves. The chin tuck exercise aims to stretch the muscles and connective tissue in the painful area and strengthen the muscles that align your head over your shoulders.

How do you sleep with occipital neuralgia?

Sleep on your back. Use a pillow that supports the neck and keeps the head aligned with the body (neutral position) Avoid sleeping with the neck bent because that can increase pressure on the nerves. If sleeping on your side, be sure to use a pillow that does not raise the head higher than the shoulders.

What type of doctor do you see for occipital neuralgia?

Primary care doctors, urgent care and emergency room doctors, neurologists and pain specialists are all involved together in many severe cases of occipital neuralgia, though their treatments most often involve medications or minimally invasive procedures.

How painful is occipital neuralgia?

The primary symptom of occipital neuralgia is sudden, severe pain that many people associate with migraines. This pain is described as intense, piercing, stabbing, and sharp. The episodes of intense pain may only last for a few minutes or seconds, but tenderness around the nerves may persist afterward.