severe stabbing head pains

Hopefully someone can help...For about 5 years now, on and off, I've been experiencing severe stabbing, burning pain in the top portion of my head.  It lasts only about 2 seconds, but is so severe it sometimes knocks me down. I can get anywhere from 1 to 6 in a row. I've gone to the emergency room twice for this problem, had a cat scan and mri with normal results.  I've recently been perscribed gabapantin for the pain with poor results.  It seems to occur more often now, at least 3 times a day.  It is very scary, sometimes I just start to cry from the pain and fear.  I've also experienced tingling in my arms, severe muscle spasm in my neck and back and have had episodes of syncope, dyspnea and tachycardia.  Also I've started seeing a chiropractor who said I've had a whiplash injury. Since seeing him, I've noticed a very loud crunching sound in my neck, when I turn my head to the side.  Hopefully someone can direct me to a resolution to the pain in my head which is the worse of my problems.  Thanks for your help.

[pain465]

I am 61 years old.  After Fusion of 5-7 and then last year 3-4 my neck is fused to the base of my skull.  I have had a stroke last year and that effected my right side.  I have been having stabbing pains in my right side of my head.  I do not know when they are going to accure.  They are so severe I have to hold my head and for a few seconds I can not function.  I have had mri, cat scans, and I am currently on Neurotin 1200 mg per day.  I also take limactil, klonipin (klonopin),.  My pain has eased up but does happen sometimes.  But the neuroligist gave me cause but to say they are spasms. Like an electric charge.

[KatEyes]

Your symptoms may have more than one source.

The severe stabbing burning pain in the top of your head certainly sounds suspicious for trigeminal neuralgia, for which Neurontin (Gabapentin) is usually prescribed. Usually the dose is gradually increased till you maintain in your system enough for optimum pain relief for those surprise attacks without too many side effects. It has to be preventative. My mother was unable to take a high enough dose to totally stop her head pain, but she took Tylenol to support it. I have read that antiinflammatories help sometimes. If you google it you can find hints for helping avoid triggers, such as exposure to temperature extremes such as cold wind, drinking icewater, or eating ice cream.

About the other symptoms, did your cat scan and MRI include your neck, and if a whiplash injury is suspected, was there an MRA of the head and neck? Best wishes in finding answers.