Sudden Sharp Head Pain

[Tiago44]

Like Shelly909, I have experienced sharp head pain.  I can only describe it as like a shard of glass being jabbed into my head.  The first time this occurred was 18 years ago, and concurrently I suffereed the onset of AMD, wet type, and I lost most of the visionin my left eye.  Recently I have developed an equally large spot on the macula of my right eye, however I have been taking Lutein, and it seems to be in check, albeit there is permanent loss of accuity in the eye.  Thus the right eye remains at the scotoma stage.  I mentioned the sharp pains in the head to all doctors who were involved during my first episode of AMD, wet type.  They did not relate the sharp pains to anything I was seeing them for.  This morning I was awakened by several sharp jabs of pain in the head, left side always, sudden, very painful, but, thank God, very brief.  Anyone know anything at all about this?  Thank you all very much.  Jack

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi Tiago,

You are most welcome.

Keep us posted.All the best.

[Tiago44]

I don't know if you understand this, but "me mola al maximo."  Thank you for everything.  Yes, all you have shared with me has been an enormous help to me personally, and a relief.  Again, thank you.  Jack

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi,

You are welcome.

Opthalmology is not my specialty but scotomas do affect color perception.Color is largely perceived through the neural receptors within the retina ( a deep layer of the eye) which is affected in patients with scotoma.This may partly explain it. Try to search scotoma and color or scotoma and retina and cones/rods.

I hope this helps.

Feel free to post for anything.

[Tiago44]

OK, first, thank you prfoundly for all your help and information.  I am curious about one last thing I noticed the past two days.  In my better eye there is what is called a sotoma.  When I blink my eye looking at this 14" screen, I can see the oultline and center of it briefly.  It is about 1 1/2" across and about 1" up and down from about 14" distance.  When I do the same while looking at my TV screen, it is about 20" wide.  

In certain conditions it is blue in color, but it can also appear as red.  Does this tell you anything at all. I have looked up the key words scotoma red, scotoma blue and scotoma red and blue, but I do not get information that I can understand.

I really am not a hypochondriac, but you have been so informative, and I have never had anyone to answer these questions.  I believe this is the last of the stored questions I have.  Thank you very kindly for your patience. Jack

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi,

We can not exactly tell.But in your case, I do suggest that you have a complete assessment done including a scan of the cervical spine and evaluation of the neck vessels ( carotid duplex) . If a strong history of diabetes runs in the family,I suggest you have your blood sugar levels determined also. Diabetes can hasten development of plaque build up in blood vessels and this may lead to vessel stenosis ( or narrowing) or vascular spasms that may present as pain or headaches.

A diagnostic evaluation is necessary.So as we go along, cluster headaches,tension headaches, and cervicogenic headaches are your differentials.

With regards to the AMD, a neuroophthalmologist will be the best person to help you.

[Tiago44]

After rereading your input, thank you by the way, there are some other variable and applicable factors I had not mentioned.

There is sibling adult diabetes in my family, and, you probably suspected, my maternal grandmother was diabetic.

You did mention the spine, and I have fractured three dorsal and three thoracic vertabrae while in my teens.  

The AMD I have is the wet type, and there it is accompanied by a slightly detached retina which manifests itself from time to time as pin-point lights.  I am accustomed to them, and I ignore them.

Does any of that have anything to do with the head pain??  Thank you.  Jack

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi,

Thanks for the answers.

You seem to have noted that the pain during its initial onset was associated with the vessel rupture and this pain has recurred since ( is this correct)?

As I have posted in my previous post, sharp pains that occur in one of side of the head that lasts for a few seconds may be hemicrania continua, a paroxysmal hemicrania and cluster headaches. I suggest that you discuss this with your physicians so you may be assessed along this line. An MRI scan may also be able to help to exclude involvement of nearby soft tissues. An ear assessment may also help.

Your AMD and the headaches may be separate complaints.At this point, I can not say if the headaches are due to the progressing AMD.It is best to discuss this with a neuro ophthalmologist.

[Tiago44]

In direct response to what you have asked:

No redness or tearing of eyes.  No nasal discharge, although when the pain first started I did experience once, a bursted vein in the nasal throat area, causing bleeding from the nose and mouth.  I went to my doctor, and it was diagnosed as simply as described.

The attacks are very brief, 5 to maybe 10 seconds.

The area is in the left side of where I suppose one would cosider the lobe to be.

I abstain from alcohol.

That is about it.  Now I abstain from habitual alcohol, but I cook with it, and on occasion, I do have a small amout of Anis (like anisette), but even that I have almost forgotten about.

It is curious that the AMD was actively progressing to blindness in the left eye when I firt suffered these attacks, and now with the same actively advancing in my good eye, the right one, I have had recurrance (one) of this type of pain in the head.  I did report the pain to the doctors in Spain where I was treated and in Chicago where I was also treated, and nothing was commented on it.  Thank you.  Jack

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi,

Short brief stabbing or sharp pains that are recurrent and lasts for a few seconds may suggest a cluster headache, SUNCT headaches,hemicrania continua and paroxysmal hemicrania.Cervicogenic headcahes secondary to a spine disorder or facial pains may also be considered.

Any eye redness or eye tearing?Any nasal discharge?

For how long do these attacks last? Would you say 4 hours or more?

Where particularly in the head would you localize the pain? Is this in the forehead,in the temples?

Is there any association between the headaches and intake of alcoholic beverages?

I suggest you seek consult with a neurologist so that your headaches may be classified.Most of the differentials I mentioned are responsive to indomethacin.You may discuss this with your physician.