Head pain - need diagnosis

[bspad]

Suddenly in Sept. 2000, on the left side of my head, I felt a pain that bounced around to different areas.  The bouncing lasted one day, but the pain localized to a spot about 2 inches above the back part of the ear. The next day, I had transient, very excruciating jabs of pain shooting from the area above the ear forward to the hairline (never hit the face).  These lasted for about 3-5 seconds each and occurred about 5 times total. I never had those jabs again.  The left cheek was slightly numb for about 1 week.  The pain has been with me constantly, every minute I am awake.  I had no head trauma or illness prior to this.  On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the worst, the pain is mainly in the range of  4-7.  

In October 2000, an MRI with and without dye and a CT without dye were negative; neuro exams were normal.  During the 1st 2 yrs., I was given muscle relaxants, Tegretol, Effexor XR (came off both in a week because of reactions), 3 days of Prednisone.  Sed rate normal.  Recently given Indocin. Nothing helps,including OTC medication.  

The pain is a strong ache – like someone punched me and the fist is still there; often feels like something is gripping from inside. The scalp in that area is tender to the touch and, if rubbed, the pain will increase for awhile; slouching while sitting up will increase the pain.   Right now, my main concern is that I have no diagnosis. Would it be prudent to have another MRI since it is almost 4 years since the last one?  Would Would an aneurysm or temporal arteritis present like this?  Thank you for your time & help.

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-CS]

This is not a presentation for an aneurysm, and the normal sed rate excludes temporal arteritis. I would recommend having this re-evaluated, but at a center which specializes in headaches. We have a wonderful center at the Cleveland Clinic if you are in the area. A repear MRI may be performed depending on what the physician finds. Good luck.

[Bright Feather]

Hi.
I have posted elsewhere about this. Since the end of March I and my GP have been searching for answers to similar pain in my head, and I finally went to my Neurologist, ( I also have MS and don't like to bother him with everything I get),and he dx'd me with Occipital Neuralgia by pressing on the two small bumps on the back of my head, which sent me through the roof.
I am not trying to dx you, I am just asking if you have been to a neuro or had that suggestion made to you. Hope that helps.
None of the medications helped me either, or I had reactions to the ones that slightly helped, but when my neuro shout steroids into the Occipital nerves a few weeks ago, I got three days of blissful relief, the first since the end of March! Good luck to you. Bright Feather

[Robbo99]

Hi, I'm a male 28yrs old. Last November I was sat at work reading paper. Had a pop above my left ear. Both arms went numb. Has brain scan ok, lumbar punture ok. 6 months later lots better. Last few days though been getting shooting pains on right hand side of top of head every 30mins. Been taking Flixonase for sinus problems lately. stopping today.

[Robbo99]

Also, my little finger and the next finger in left hand goes numb now and then. Was diagnosed with viral menengism in November, anti-depressants and votarol for the headaches not that good. Accupunture no good, bowen therepy helped a lot though. My temple pains are gone but the stabbing at the top of head today is really annoying me. Some are stronger pains than others but in the same place.

[bspad]

Thank you very much for your response and comments.

[pandora9048]

Hi,
  Have u ever been checked for tempormandibular joint disorder (TMJ)?  TMJ is the joint connecting your jaws to ur skull and can cause head pains.
Pan

[bspad]

Hi,  Good thought. Yes I was checked by my dentist who said I don't have TMJ.  Thanks for the comment.
bspad

[strat400]

Hi. I also have stabbing head pains on the top left 2 inches above the ear. I've had these in the past in the exact same location (about 5 to 6 years ago) and at the time was diagnosed as having scalp tension? The pain varies from intense to very intense, and I am debilitated momentarily until it stops, which thankfully is usually only a few seconds at a time recurring every 2 or 3 seconds and lasting from 10 seconds to 60 seconds. I also have recently developed severe tinnitus that modulates in intensity over 5 to 6 day cycles. I had an MRI with dye a few months ago that came up normal. The main reason I'm posting is because my pinky and ring finger on my left hand have also gone numb. The stabbing headaches have been especially bad today lasting longer than they ever have, hence the reason I'm seeking out this board. Robbo99 I know what you mean about the stabbing being annoying, if not frightening (when will it stop). Good luck to you all.

[marq011]

In the past 4 months I have also experienced left sided head pain.  Near top/rear.  Burning sensations and periodic stabbing pain.  I also have some neck stiffness/pain and bone "cracking".  C-spine X-Ray and MRI showed a narrowed neural foramen.  Basically I have been diagnosed with a pinched nerve and cervical joint problems.  Orthopedic and pain management specialists say pinched nerves in neck can cause head pain as well.  Have you seen an orthopedic specialist?  Do you experience any neck discomfort?  If so it may be related to neck issues.  I am now debating on a cervical injection (nerve block) to diagnose and potentially stop pain.

[bstag]

I have been having this pain on the top of my head. It has just started a couple of days ago.. I is making my scalp sensitive.( don't know if that is from thick hair.) It comes along with tingling in the nose area. Is this just a headache that is what the dr. suggests. However, I have  never had one like this before.

[emmesma]

I woke up Sunday the 1st with an excruciating headache over my left ear and eye.  I had been a bit congested and immediately my thoughts went to sinus infection.  I took some advil sinus and it did zero.  I could not move, and could not be touched.  My husband tried to rub my head and it was like he had Freddie Krueger hands. When I finally made it to the shower I thought I might pass out from the pain of the shower hitting my head.  When I got out, I realized the pain IN the head had diminished but I suddenly had "hair ache".... you can imagine just how embarrassing that was to go to the emergency room and declare.. "My hair hurts"... but my blood pressure was out of control and the look of agony was apparent.  I had no other symptoms of shingles at that point with the exception of very, very small red dots about my left ear... It was shingles.  Sounds very familiar to your issue.  Lucky for me I got on the Valtrex quickly enough that I only had 4 of the blisters show up on my head and two on my face.  They say generally only occurs in one dermatome (sp)but the first Dr. said it was coming from C1 or C2 and a doctor 3 days later said it was definitely C5.  Stress brings out my red rash and I suppose it will for a long while.

[rickie7679]

omg i am soooo happy to find this thread. i have been having the same pain in my back left side of head. i was thinking the worst. like brain tumor and etc..  how can we cure this? i know it scarring the heck out of me. i have been having this go on for about a year or so and have had MRI with and without dye and all come back normal as well. if i touch my head it hurts like crazy. i mean bad.am looking forward to hearing from your posts.

[Carrie67]

I have been having a burning sensation at the top of my head and mainly to the right. I have had freddy krueger like pains at the top of my head. My eye sight has been like I am walking in a dream. I went to my GP and he put me on anti botics for two weeks with Allegra-D and didn't do a thing. I am now on Vertex which is a new drug and still on Allegra-D which I am feeling a little better but I am still having the burning sensation on the back of my head on the right side mostly and now the burning has gone to the top of my shoulders and down my arm. I am also sometimes getting in my back around the shoulder blades. I told the GP this and he said it was my muscles being used to much. I did have almost the same episode last year at this same time of year but didn't have the blurry eyes. I have had an EEG that came out normal last November and an MRI in February with and without dye that also come out normal. I just would like to know if anyone else has had this and what they are doing about this. I am going to see an ENT on Friday to see if this might be related to sinsus. I just would like to know if this is life threatening. I have two small children which I would love and pray to see grow up.
Thank you for your time. God Bless
Carrie67

[dessi]

hello so happy to hear that others understand my pain.....my story as follows....i hit the middle part of my head on the top of the bottom of the frezzer...it was open at the time...(i was cleaning the fridge and frezzer)....any hoo i came up on the bottom of the frezzer and struck the middle part of my head ...right in the center.....i do not know if i had a concussion.....some details are blurry.....i had a small cut and dr'd it.... the pain was excrutiating.....the pain lasted for 2 days and then i was ok......1 week later i got this chronic pain at the back of my head down my neck and at the center of my scalp......the pain has not subsided at all!!!!!and a month later i went to the emer. romm i had a ct scan done where they said nothing was wrong on the scan i was diagnosed  w/ post concussion and given vicadin for the pain...it didnot help sand made me sick....i later went to my dr. where she tried to give me blood pressure meds......i have no history of high blood pressure so i declined and told her i would rather get a mri done ....i also in the meantime had been going to a chiro.,that did not help but i actually felt worse....i had the mri done and they found nothing conclussive but reported that they noticed the high activity of lupus in the brain.....but insisted it was not the cause of my pain.....my dr, then sent me to a neurolgist who did the reg. test they do balance, dexterity etc. he then  found things fine and attempted to give me anti-dep......i became depressed at that time but i wasnot before i went in to see him i refused those i am allergic to alot of meds in concerns w/ my lupus and since i know this i again refused.......now i am going to another neuro on thurs. and hope he can diagnose me properly.....this pain is unbearable and i go to work,sleep, and do all daily activities w/ it  it never goes away...lately i have noticed that the bottom of my feet are numb(i have raynauds syn) the back of my leg is numb and my vagina is a bit numb....i take advil for the pain and it helps for 5-10mins. ...it does not go away but it is in degrees.....help me.......i have had this pain since May!!!!! help...

[dessi]

hello so happy to hear that others understand my pain.....my story as follows....i hit the middle part of my head on the top of the bottom of the frezzer...it was open at the time...(i was cleaning the fridge and frezzer)....any hoo i came up on the bottom of the frezzer and struck the middle part of my head ...right in the center.....i do not know if i had a concussion.....some details are blurry.....i had a small cut and dr'd it.... the pain was excrutiating.....the pain lasted for 2 days and then i was ok......1 week later i got this chronic pain at the back of my head down my neck and at the center of my scalp......the pain has not subsided at all!!!!!and a month later i went to the emer. romm i had a ct scan done where they said nothing was wrong on the scan i was diagnosed  w/ post concussion and given vicadin for the pain...it didnot help sand made me sick....i later went to my dr. where she tried to give me blood pressure meds......i have no history of high blood pressure so i declined and told her i would rather get a mri done ....i also in the meantime had been going to a chiro.,that did not help but i actually felt worse....i had the mri done and they found nothing conclussive but reported that they noticed the high activity of lupus in the brain.....but insisted it was not the cause of my pain.....my dr, then sent me to a neurolgist who did the reg. test they do balance, dexterity etc. he then  found things fine and attempted to give me anti-dep......i became depressed at that time but i wasnot before i went in to see him i refused those i am allergic to alot of meds in concerns w/ my lupus and since i know this i again refused.......now i am going to another neuro on thurs. and hope he can diagnose me properly.....this pain is unbearable and i go to work,sleep, and do all daily activities w/ it  it never goes away...lately i have noticed that the bottom of my feet are numb(i have raynauds syn) the back of my leg is numb and my vagina is a bit numb....i take advil for the pain and it helps for 5-10mins. ...it does not go away but it is in degrees.....help me.......i have had this pain since May!!!!! help...

[ezloanlady]

I have seen several others with this same pain.  The top of my head hurts.  My scalp on the top of my head is sensitive and very tender.  I don't have any scaling or flaking, there isn't a rash or skin irritation.  Its more of less a dull pain that has been going on for a few weeks.

[tonyaintenn]

My problem started back in february of this year (2004).  I would just be sitting around or talking to my mom and all of a sudden I'd have these sharp shooting pains in the top of my head.  You know, the kind that makes you squint.  They were very random.  They stopped and now I have pain in the top left part of my head.  It's not like a headache but it's constantly there.  I really notice it when I bend over to tie my shoes or to pick something up.  I also have numbness in the left side of my face, and weird muscle twitching in my left palm, both hands and arms.  I also have a heavy left leg.  When all of this first started I thought I was having a stroke.  I went to the ER and they did a dye test, this and that test and I found out that there's nothing wrong with my heart, my cholesterol is great, my blood pressure is normal, I have absolutely no blockage whatsoever.  So, I'm off wednesday to have an MRI.  Has anybody else had similar symptoms to mine?

[chris588]

I saw this thread and must chime in. I am 28 and have head this sharp short burst pain (5-10 seconds) in the same exact spot on my head (2 inches above back of ear, top middle of head) since I was a teenager... probably about 15 years now on and off. I recently quit smoking six weeks ago and have double my exercise to about 1.5 hours per day six days a week. Just today the pain came on intense toward the end of a 3 mile high speed run. It was followed for the first time ever by lightheadedness and some numbness in my left leg. I of course set up an appt right away with a specialist. I then called my mother to find out most of the older men on her side of the family have a blood disorder resulting in aneurysms and strokes. This scares me but obviously I don't want to jump to conclusions. I just figure its better to get checked out thoroughly and if somethings wrong, take care of it right away.

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