{"id":7386,"date":"2019-06-14T07:54:41","date_gmt":"2019-06-14T07:54:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=7386"},"modified":"2021-04-13T19:35:58","modified_gmt":"2021-04-13T19:35:58","slug":"14-natural-relief-tips-for-occipital-neuralgia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-natural-relief-tips-for-occipital-neuralgia\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Natural Relief Tips For Occipital Neuralgia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

This is a condition where the nerves at the very top of the spinal cord become inflamed or impinged. It can be an incredibly difficult thing to diagnose <\/a>as the pain is often misdiagnosed as coming from migraines or other types of headaches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can lead to unnecessarily long periods of suffering as people try and treat problems that they simply don\u2019t have. The road to correct diagnosis can be long and painful and it is only when that correct diagnosis is reached that different treatment options can be explored. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a growing trend of people looking to natural relief and home remedies to give them the solutions to their ailments and health problems and people living with occipital neuralgia are following that trend too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are 8 natural relief tips for dealing with the condition. You could do a lot worse than giving some of these a try, and even if they don\u2019t work, there\u2019s no harm in giving something natural a try.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Start with your diet<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It’s always a good idea when treating any kind of chronic pain condition to have a good look at your diet <\/a>first. Paying extra close attention to aspects of your diet, especially B vitamins can help to relieve occipital neuralgia by giving a much-needed boost to the body’s ability in healing itself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The thing about vitamin B12 is that it aids the normal development of the nervous system and can boost nerve regeneration as well. Some people choose to take B12 as a supplement whereas other people prefer to try and obtain their much-needed vitamins from fatty acids and fish oils. These can also be helpful when it comes to reducing inflammation, particularly that which occurs around the nerves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other top tips in terms of diet include the need to stay as hydrated as possible and ensuring that the body receives a regular supply of fresh and unprocessed foods, wherever possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2. Try-at-home relaxation methods<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are no two ways about it, stress <\/a>increases pain levels. With cases that are more on the milder side of things, it is recommended that people start with at-home remedies and natural methods of relief as this can help to reduce tension and ease potential stresses on the body and on the nervous system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s worth pointing out that never in the history of people being told to calm down has anyone actually calmed down from simply being told to calm down, and so for anyone who is supporting an occipital neuralgia sufferer, patience and perspective are important. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ultimately, relaxation, when you’re in pain, doesn’t need to be any different from relaxation when you’re at the peak of health and so it is advised that someone just tries their usual relaxation methods. That might mean running a hot bubble bath or putting your feet up in front of a few box sets, whatever works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

3. Incorporate meditation into your day <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Meditation <\/a>is becoming more and more important as a treatment method for people living with all kinds of chronic pain. The demand for natural remedies and less harmful relief methods is bringing meditation into the mainstream for a number of reasons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Firstly, mediation allows a person to understand their pain by helping them achieve a relationship with the mind and body. Taking the take out of the day to do some meditation is vital, and it is something that must be scheduled for as opposed to being chucked into the schedule as a last-minute thing. The difference meditation can make to the lives of chronic pain patients is palpable when anecdotes such as the following are considered. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A middle-aged man from Milwaukee, who had suffered from occipital neuralgia for three years, claimed in an interview that taking up meditation helped him conquer the pain and even banish his depression.

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

4. Book a massage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Reducing tension is the main aim for people looking to natural relief methods in order to help achieve some sort of improvement to their occipital neuralgia pain and symptoms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What better way is there to reduce tension than by having a massage<\/a>? Any kind of massage can be extremely effective in terms of helping someone loosen up but some of the more impactful varieties to try include sports and deep tissue massages and Swedish massages with a blend of Reiki thrown in for good measure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your partner or a friend is able to give you a massage, then you can even reap the benefits from the comfort of your own home, but if you have the time and can afford it, sometimes paying someone to do the hard work means that the experience is even more relaxing and rewarding. As mentioned earlier though, any kind of massage can be pure heaven so get yourself booked in!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

5. Learn more about cranial osteopathy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Focusing on a form of massage that specifically targets the chronic pain felt by people living with occipital neuralgia can be a good way to optimize the potential for relief felt via a massage. This type of massage is a highly advanced form of massage that targets the head and the head alone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is a recommendation by many people in the know as this osteopathic manipulative technique can be extremely useful for a wide range of problems. Some of these problems range from headaches <\/a>in adults to hyperactivity in children and cranial osteopathy has been found to be very effective in bringing relief to people feeling the full force of occipital neuralgia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t just let anyone start having a rub and a squeeze of your head though, cranial osteopathy is something that is a well trained and well-honed skill. If this is the route you are choosing, find someone who is similarly well trained and well-honed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

6. Consider how you\u2019re sleeping <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It usually follows with occipital neuralgia that the less sleep you get, the worse the pain becomes. This can be a bit of a vicious cycle though as the pain from occipital neuralgia can make it hard to fall asleep. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lack of good quality sleep or any sleep at all for that matter can then make the pain of occipital neuralgia much worse. This cycle can continue in a downward spiral making night time a sleepless and painful period for sufferers. The advice on getting a good night\u2019s sleep doesn\u2019t really change when the context of this painful condition is brought into the mix. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you will have heard a million times before, it\u2019s all about routine and sleeps hygiene<\/a>. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail when it comes to getting a good night\u2019s sleep. Get the routine right and stick to it, and a good night\u2019s sleep will usually follow, even with the pain of occipital neuralgia.

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

7.   Practice yoga for occipital neuralgia pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Just like meditation, which is discussed above, yoga <\/a>is becoming more and more mainstream, both as an exercise method but also as a treatment method for a range of chronic pain conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yoga relaxes the body and mind, bringing them into alignment when performed correctly. In the context of this painful condition, the best yoga poses to perform are the ones that include some kind of rotation or extension and flexion of the neck muscles. Any good yoga program will feature a dedicated neck section and the detail can be extracted from these sections with a view to creating a routine that aims to address occipital neuralgia specifically. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yoga relaxes the body and mind, bringing them into alignment when performed correctly. In the context of this painful condition, the best yoga poses to perform are the ones that include some kind of rotation or extension and flexion of the neck muscles. Any good yoga program will feature a dedicated neck section and the detail can be extracted from these sections with a view to creating a routine that aims to address occipital neuralgia specifically. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best way to work out a good yoga routine is through trial and error, seeing what feels good, which poses are challenging and which moves to avoid at all costs. Going to yoga classes can be a great way to exercise and socialize all in one.

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

8.  Do occipital strengthening exercises<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

These specific exercises are great for occipital neuralgia as they target the exact place where the problems arise. The supervision and guidance of a trained medical professional are advisable with this type of isolation exercise to ensure the proper technique is maintained and any potential issues are addressed as early as possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This list isn’t exhaustive by any stretch of the imagination, but the recommendations or tips featured here should be a good starting point for someone looking to gain some natural relief from the pain caused by their occipital neuralgia. Even if a person ultimately decides that over the counter medications are what they need to kick their pain<\/a>, a blend of the prescribed and the natural could potentially decrease the reliance on over the counter medication over a period of time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With occipital strengthening exercises, a person gives themselves the best chance of solving their problem themselves. It has to be worth a shot at the very least.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

<\/div>