Shooting pain in head!! Help!!

[Shelley909]

Hello there.

I have been suffering with severe shooting pains in my head for about 6 weeks. They just started one day, and havent stopped. I have been to my GP who has reffered me to a neurology dept at my hospital, but the appointment isn't for another month.
I went out last night and had a few drinks to try and relieve the symptoms and relax, but it seems by head doesnt like the alcohol, and the shooting pains have never been so bad. I have taken migriane drugs, and loads of ibuprofen, but nothing has helped a bit. I feel like hiding away forever.

I just wondered if anyone else had suffered this kind of thing. as I cant seem to fine someone with the same symptons.


Thanks in advance, Shelley

[Shelley909]

To be more specific, the pains are usually all over my head, but today, they are just in the left side of my head. In the same place. They feel like someone throwing an axe at my head. Charming eh?
I also went for an eye test a few days ago, my eyes are in good health, so not related, Thanks.

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hi.

I can understand your pain. Shooting headaches are difficult to manage.

Have your Blood Pressure checked. High blood pressure is a common cause of headache, and alcohol does increase the pain.

Secondly, does your headache increase or decrease in certain positions of head ? And do you have nausea, vision problems associated with the headache ?

Please try to note down the factors which reduce or increase the pain.

[Shelley909]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply.

I had my BP checked a couple of weeks ago, it was fine.

I do get some visual distburbances, but they only occur when I have a bad shooting pain. I have had a few bouts of nausia in the last week, but not all the time. The pain varies in position, severity and is not regualr, and doesnt seem to have a trigger. It is so bad today :-(

[noops01]

Hi,
From what you describe these pains could be an icepick headache. These are sharp shooting pains which last for a few seconds and characteristically recur. Icepick headaches are very common in migraine sufferers. Indomethacin is usually prescribed to prevent icepick headaches. Please consult your physician about this.Take care!

[Shelley909]

Hi there, thanks for your advice.

I thought it might well be 'icepick' headaches, but after a lot of research, I cant find anyone who has never suffered with them, to suffer them continuosly for nearly two months? As I get them everyday, all day most days. Its quite worrying some days. Luckily, I'm having a better day today :-)

[harley0117]

I know exactly what you talking about. I use to think that I had a brain tumor. Its good to know there is someone else like me suffering(not good that you are suffering just that i am not alone). I went to the doc and he said it was migraines but left it a that and didnt give me more info.

[jcverive]

Shooting pains are common in neuropathic pain syndromes, especially in peripheral neuralgias.  When the face is involved, trigeminal neuralgia is the usual diagnosis. Neuropathic pains that develop in the top or back of the head are often referred to as Atypical Facial Pain (AFP), though in one particular pain syndrome (occipital neuralgia) pain follows the distribution of the occipital nerve (on either side of the head).

Unfortunately, neuropathic head pains are very often misdiagnosed as tooth pain, sinus pain, or migraine headache (including numerous migraine "variants", such as complex migraine, complicated migraine, migraine without aura, sinus migraine, optical migraine, etc.).  Ordinary over-the-counter pain killers are rarely effective in treating neuropathic pain; most commonly, antidepressants or anti-seizure medications are used because of their ability to reduce the transmission and/or reception of pain neurotransmitters (most notably acetycholine).

Ask your GP for a referral to a neurologist or (preferably) a pain doctor.  

Best of luck!

Jeff

[Shelley909]

Thanks so much for all your replies.

I have got an appointment with a neurologist, but not for another month. I was perscribed a low dose anitdepresent yesterday to combat the pain. Fingers crossed eh. I hope you guys are all feeling better too!!
Will come back and let you know what happens.

Best of luck with your heads!!

Sx

[hava]

Try this exercise and it may help ease the pain.
1.Drink some water.
2. Kneel down and with your hands stretched out in front, try to touch the floor with your forehead.Do this a few times for a few seconds.
3.Anulom Vilom - Deep Breath-in through left nostril keeping right nostril closed
then - Breath-out through right nostril keeping left nostril closed
then -Deep Breath-in through right nostril keeping left nostril closed
then - Breath-out through left nostril keeping right nostril closed
and repeat this cycle for upto 30  minutes twice a day(maximum 60 min/day).