Differential Diagnosis for Muscles in Back of Neck Feeling Weird Going into Skull
- Single most likely diagnosis:
- Tension headache: This is the most likely diagnosis due to the common presentation of tension headaches, which often involve the muscles in the back of the neck and can radiate to the skull, causing a feeling of weirdness or discomfort.
- Other Likely diagnoses:
- Cervicogenic headache: This type of headache is caused by referred pain from the cervical spine and can cause the muscles in the back of the neck to feel weird or tight, radiating into the skull.
- Muscle strain: Strain or overuse of the muscles in the back of the neck can cause them to feel weird or sore, potentially radiating into the skull.
- Occipital neuralgia: This condition involves irritation of the occipital nerves, which can cause pain or a weird feeling in the back of the neck and skull.
- Do Not Miss diagnoses:
- Meningitis: Although less likely, meningitis is a potentially life-threatening condition that can cause neck stiffness and pain, which might be perceived as the muscles in the back of the neck feeling weird.
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage: A sudden, severe headache (often described as "the worst headache of my life") can be accompanied by neck pain or stiffness, making it crucial not to miss this diagnosis.
- Cervical spine fracture or instability: Trauma to the cervical spine can cause pain or a weird feeling in the back of the neck, which is critical to diagnose to prevent further injury.
- Rare diagnoses:
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder: Although more commonly associated with jaw pain, TMJ disorders can sometimes cause referred pain to the back of the neck and skull.
- Atlantoaxial subluxation: A rare condition where the joint between the first and second cervical vertebrae becomes misaligned, potentially causing neck pain or a weird feeling that could radiate into the skull.
- Multiple sclerosis: In rare cases, multiple sclerosis can present with symptoms that might include weird sensations in the back of the neck or skull due to demyelination in the central nervous system.