Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a chronic condition that affects the joints of most people as they age. [2] It can affect anyone at any age but is most common in older people, among whom it is a leading cause of disability. The condition is marked by the gradual breakdown of the cartilages that surround and cushion the joints. This causes the bones at the joints to rub against each other.
Osteoarthritis that affects the vertebrae of the upper cervical spine can pinch your nerves, resulting in occipital neuralgia. This may happen because of the formation of bone spurs (smooth bony outgrowths) that push into surrounding tissue and nerves.