Mon, 04 May 2026 20:12:41 +0000

That Sharp Burn at the Base—Could It Be More Than Just Tension in Your Skull? Ever experienced a sharp, burning sensation at the base of your skull that seems to pulse with tension every day? You’re not alone—and while stress often comes to mind, this discomfort might signal something deeper than mere muscle tightness. Understanding the cause of that sharp burn is crucial, not just for temporary relief, but for your long-term neurological and physical health. ### What’s Behind That Sharp Burn? The base of the skull, where your cranium meets the cervical spine, houses critical nerves and blood vessels, including the occipital nerves and branches of the splanchnic and trigeminal nerves. When this area becomes irritated—due to muscle tension, poor posture, stress, trauma, or underlying sacrooccipital dysphoria—patients frequently describe a sharp, burning pain radiating from the back of the head toward the neck or even through the face.