Pain in the back of my head

[zer08]

Hi

I am an 18 year old male and basically I have a pain in the back of my head, on the left side, from just under the top of my head to about where my hairline is. The pain is not there all of the time, but when I take a bath and I lay down and rest my head on the bath I can feel the pain as my head is leaning against it, and it feels like a sharp pain.

I also sometimes experience 'spasm' like symptoms, basically it feels like a short, sharp pain through the back of my head that radiates through my head for a few minutes, but these don't occur that often.

Also, within the last six months or so I've started noticing 'phantom smells' of cigarette smoke mostly, but when there is no smoke there, as no one in my household smokes and neither do I.

I do get headaches now and again, sometimes along with the smell of 'phantom cigarette smoke' as listed above.

Does this sound like a serious problem? Does anyone have any idea what it is?

Thanks for your help.

[zer08]

Hi

I have been to see my Doctor today and informed him of the symptoms (pain in the back of head and neck, phantom cigarette smoke smells, numbness in arm) and he said the smells could possibly be partial epilepsy, he didn't really focus on the head and neck pain and was talking more about the smells. He said he will refer me to a Neurologist who will then determine if I need to have tests done.

[Dr Vinod]

1.Lesions in the head are mostly benign and till the size is not increasing and not space occupying there is nothing to worry.
2. Irritation of olfactory nerve can be caused by the growth pushing it or some stimuli and it is not good to come to conclusion that it is a serious problem.
Till you do not get the tests done and your case is diagnosed and the neurologist comes to conclusion please try to relax and have patience.
I can understand the intent of knowing more about your case but Zer the diagnosis at this level is important!
Take care!

[zer08]

Hi

So do these symptoms sound like it could be a serious problem? Is a lesion or irritation of the olfactory nerve a serious problem?

Thanks for your help.

[Dr Vinod]

You would be having a lesion in your head or something is irritating your olfactory nerve.
Please visit a neurologist for the diagnosis and further course of treatment.
Take care!

[zer08]

Also, I would just like to add that with the 'phantom cigarette smoke' smells, if I try to 'smell' them, I can't, but when I'm breathing in through my nose thats when I can smell them.