I occasionally have a very sharp pain at the base of my skull

[Pat334]

I am a 21 year old college student. Starting at around 7 years old, I would get these sharp, hot bolts of pain at the base of my skull and neck if I turned my head suddenly. It does not happen every time I turn my head sharply, but these episodes happen maybe 1-2 times a month, sometimes less. These episodes typically last 5-30 seconds, and only very rarely is there any lingering pain afterwards. I have had them since I was a young child, as did my mother (she calls them "zingers"). I am somewhat skeptical that it is a nerve injury as I am not particularly athletic, and they started at quite a young age. Anyone else have this problem or know what it is?

If it helps, I also have Ehlers-Danlos (I have been diagnosed with both classic and hypermobility types on seperate occasions, I am not sure if I truly have both, or if one of these was a misdiagnosis)

[selmaS]

  Hi Pat, I too have EDS and had Zingers...and I was also DX'd with Chiari Malformation...the 2 conditions are related....so you may want to have a MRI to see just what is going on.

I am not saying you have Chiari.....only that I do....

The MRI could help see if you have CCI cerviocranial instability..which could be the cause of the Zingers.

We do have a EDS group here on MedHelp if you would like more info on EDS.
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Ehlers-Danlos-Syndrome/show/417