Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Tender spots on head

My pain on my head seems to be more noticeable at times then others but the pain is constant. I have had what I called "soft spots" for a while and they hurt if you touch them. It has just been recently that they have seemed to go from "only certin sections of my head" to the whole top back of my head. Now when I lay in bed with my head on my pillow my head will hurt (more often then not) because of the pressure touching them I guess. I cant afford insurance. What do you think is wrong with my head? Do you think its serious?
83 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
I have a spot on top of my head that is sore to the touch,no headache,just sore on top.This comes and goes.Today I woke up again with the sore spot.its in the area of the head that babies have a soft spot,weird.
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
Hi Guys (and Girls)

I am currently suffering from the same thing. I'm not sure whether its somehow related to the flu which I don't seem to be quite over, or something else.
I also seem to recall having something similar last year when I first started coming down with suspected CFS/ME.
The 'tender spot' eventually resolved itself on its own.
I have noticed that it tends to hurt more when I prod around the area. As others have described, it feels like someone is pulling my hair.
I have also had what feel to be small cluster headaches migrating around the back of my skull. This one feels different though. It's more of a burning/pulling/bruised sensation. Very hard to describe.

Oh, and to the person who suggested that all this might be psychosomatic, please pull your head in.
Lyme was once 'psychosomatic'. MS was once 'psychosomatic'. Seizures were once 'psychosomatic'. Science has a lot of catching up to do.
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
Actually to all, I have the same soreness, as many others all who have been "floxed" meaning an adverse reaction to fluoroquilone antibiotics, which result in Central nervous System and PNS damage.Plus several other disabling damages to the body. I am suspecting it is nerve ending damage as well as cranium pessure. Hope this helps. The main Fluoroquilones are Levaquin, Cipro and Avelox, educate yourselves on this damage, very widespread.
Helpful - 1
4589525 tn?1356888459
Probably not a tumor. I have them and I've had two MRIs of the brain, with contrast, both clear. I've been in 7, yes 7 rearend collusions in the past 25 years. I would highly suggest that you insist on an MR, with contrast (!!!!) of your cervical spine. They just did one on me and have found a "thickening" in my tonsil, damage to a nerve, and paraylsis of my left neck. Who knows when all this happened due to nobody imaging it until now. On my insistence. You really have to push. If you have to, just say you are having memory gaps and numbness in your arms and hands (cervical-based). Crappy to have to fib, but doctors are dealing with insurance companies and you have to hand them the symptoms to get over that hurdle. Me? I'm off to an ENT to see if the "thickening" is cancer, perhaps brought on by all the truama to my neck. (MRI said "neoplasm"; not me being dramatic.) :-(
Helpful - 1
2 Comments
Thank you for posting that. That actually takes guts to tell the truth. But that IS the truth. With our medical system, they make it so you have to become creative (from trial and error) with doctors, hospitals and insurance. Too bad they make it that way. It's also too bad that there are people who take huge advantage of the system. If it weren't for them, it would be different. But, since our last President really gave away our tax dollars and rights to ANYONE at all who cares to take it..... We are now paying the price more than ever. America is so messed up, that it's almost beyond repair.
President Trump is trying to fix all that, so we won't be as encumbered by the people taking advantage of the system and taking free (welfare) and medical help, when they don't DESERVE it. Most of them don't work because they don't have to. Or they work LESS to get MORE welfare. They have the system so screwed up, that people know exactly how to cheat and lie to get what they want. Then someone innocent comes along, who is in a tough spot and can't get the help they need because they "work too much"
THAT is what they told me. WE WORK TOO MUCH TO get WELFARE. We only needed Medicaid for a short period. Not asking for a check or stamps or anything. Only have 2 kids and both working full time. NOPE, we work too much, so they couldn't help us.
How about they stop letting all the illegal trash into the country AND MAKE them get educated on their own dime AND MAKE them learn ENGLISH within a specified period. AND MAKE them support themselves or within a specified period of time...or DEPORT THEM. So that when the LEGAL and hard-working ones come in for some help, we can actually GET IT !!

Why do some people think it's ok to just come to America and TAKE ALL THE benefits that WE have PAID into the system, then DENY us OUR welfare when we are down and out, for short periods of time? That was all we wanted, some intermittent help here and there to get to another job that had decent insurance, to get through a few tough years. THAT'S all we wanted. Instead, we got DENIED, because of OUR messed up Democrat President and his stupid army of drones.

Illegal ( and sometimes legal) immigrants bring a translator down to the welfare office ( or pretend they don't understand) They "can't work" or don't work enough to support their 4-7 kids. They give them EVERYTHING they want. That's why they come to America....they KNOW ahead of time EXACTLY what they are going to do when they get here. TAKE all the MONEY and INSURANCE and FOOD stamps they can get their hands on. THEN guess what they do? Sell stuff under table for MORE untaxed and unreported money....It is often Stolen items they are selling. They get other jobs under the table that they don't report to the government too. Then take over states like California and act like they own the place. They go from "sad, meek and innocent" ( yeah right) to YOU can't do a thing about it thugs.
Amen!!!
Avatar universal
Hello to you all !!
I read all of the comments here & I also have sore spots on my head that are random on my scalp, sometimes they really hurt, the painful spots are usually associated with a migraine headache. I never had these until I had an epidural that didn't go well in 2005 while in labor with my son, the women slipped with the needle in my spine as I had a contraction. After that I had little to no feeling in the backs of my hands, I could not sense hot or cold & my right leg was numb in places, this lasted for about 8 months.
I get these floaters in my eyes, a coin like shape followed by an onset of colours that are quite beautiful like looking through a kaleidoscope, they last for 20 minutes. In 2009 I had a brains scan but would not have the dye they use as there is a great deal of controversy about it's long term affects. Anyhow the scan was normal from what they could see.
Just recently i had 5 migraines in one day & this has never been associated with pain but this time oh my it was awful, I have had the worst flu at the same time.  
I also get a dizzy sensation & I noticed a few years ago looking at lines would give like a vertigo feeling. When I mentioned this to my eye doctor he said, I have what is called Scintillating Sclerema headaches & this is common associated with colors & partial loss of vision that for me lasts 20 minutes.

I thank the people that have taken the time to write comments here, as I was feeling rather alone with this & very concerned that something much worse was taking place. I to agree that the neck plays a massive part in headaches & the soft tissue areas, adding to the fact that i have coughed for the last two weeks this would not of been helping.  I have also found that certain food additives such as 635 flavor enhancers can cause a headache rather quickly, as well as increased computer use. Beware Chinese food that has MSG in it. Thank you to all once again & blessings to all who suffer with.
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
z22
I get the sore spots on my head too. They are in random places.  I have found that taking a shower helps a lot, and if I am at work and cant take a shower, I just go wet the area of my scalp with some water.....and the sore spot subsides.  I would say that for immediate relief try the water on the spot treatment.......... its worked great for me!  by the way- I always linked the spots to stress or having hair up for too long... but after I read the comment of the bald guy- I guess I can rule out the having hair up for too long thought :-P
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
I have the very same symptoms, but I am completely Bald. I thought at first it could be because I do shave my head everyday, and the pain began in the back near my neck. However; now the soreness is at the top front, to forehead.  in a area that I've never shaved, because I am naturally Bald.
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
I'm curious to know if any/all of you spend a lot of time at a computer or a high stress job or both?  This can significantly affect the musculature of the neck, scalp and face. Not many people think of our scalps as having muscles but they do and reading, staring at a screen or constantly being in a situation that requires critical thinking and stress can severely increase tension in these muscles. I would try getting a deep tissue massage or accupressure before taking medication. Also, if you are a person who has a high stress lifestyle, as in over worked, sleep deprived, no exrecise and poor nutrition I almost guarantee that these accumulative factors are all related to the headaches so prevention would be the key ingredient, not medication. A disc problem is a whole other issue and that also might be the case, but it may be as simple a tight muscles. I'm a massage therapist and have been for 7 years and you'd be surprised at how many of my clients have gone to extreme measures with drugs and surgery becuase their doctor really hasn't been taught how to treat soft tissue injuries.
Helpful - 1
1 Comments
Good to know that massage therapy can help significantly.  I am not wealthy and a massage is an expense I rarely treat myself to.  Wish really good and knowledgeable ones like you obviously are were more common.  But I'm definitely going to be getting a massage more often to see if it gives me significant relief from this head pain.  Strange how your insurance will cover getting expensive surgery, but not something that might give equal results and be less overall cost, even if it were frequent.
510496 tn?1211023325
Hi,
Occipital Nerve Compression Headaches, TMJ/TMD and some migraine headaches are all known to cause tender spots on the scalp. Occipital nerve compression headaches can be caused by cervical disc problems but that is not the only cause.  
These headaches are not typical headaches.  The best way I can describe them is to say that your head fills up with pressure, so intense sometimes, it can make you really think that your eyeballs are being pushed out of your skull.  It is my understanding that TMJ can cause those headaches as well as the tender spots (without necessarily having a headache at all).
I too suffer from constant dizziness. I faint regularly, on a daily basis, and I also have the nausea and vomiting.  It has even caused changes in my apetite.  I cant eat much at any one time now, I dont eat over half the foods I used to eat (used to being since last fall) because they dont taste good to me anymore.. and Ive lost over 25 lbs due to this, since december.  
Mine are caused by disc problems in my neck, but I also have TMJ.. so basically, I won the double whammy lottery. lol  I had the herniated disc removed 9/07 and 1 month later discovered that the disc below it was herniated.  4 months post op, we discovered the 2nd herniated disc was there on my MRI image from 8/07  but everyone missed it. My neurosurgeon even missed it.. on the mri image as well as during surgery.  So I am right back where I started, going through the entire process all over again.
I would have a dentist check your  jaw for TMJ problems and see your family dr to have your neck checked out.  Keep in mind that your dr may try to suggest a neck xray (c-spine) because its cheaper.  BUT.. soft tissue (discs) does not show up on xrays. You need an MRI for that.  If you are not having neck pain, I wouldnt concern myself with that being the cause.  Millions of people however, have TMJ and dont even realize it.  
I hope some of this helps you guys.. Ive been dealing with this stuff for 3 yrs next month.  It was a long hard road to finding the answers, but I got there in the end.
Also, one last note here, for all of you.  If it does turn out for any of you, that its a cervical disc problem, many drs, including the specialists (neuro) do not believe that disc problems can cause those headaches if the problem is below the C3 level. My neurosurgeon did not believe it.  But luckily for me, the neurologist he sent me to, to care for my new herniated disc until when/if I required surgery to fix this one... does know that problems below the C3 level can and do in fact cause these headaches.  So dont let that discourage you.  If any of you end up dealing with this as the cause, find a good neuro that does believe or you are wasting your time.
Good luck and blessings to all of you.
Helpful - 1
2 Comments
This is very helpful.  I do have some cervical disc probems that have shown up on an MRI, so this connection explains a lot.  My tender spots, however are not always in the same place and move from the back of my head to sometimes in an area above my ear.  The pain is not intense enough for me to want a surgical solution right now, so this article relieves a lot of anxiety about my having brain cancer or something equally insidious.
I suffer from this same issue that you describe. I have MRSA, which is, apparently, a lot more common than is commonly recognized or acknowledged. My niece contracted it (with these same symptoms) at DayCare!  I contracted a severe form at the hospital after minor surgery, but had no idea that it could cause long-term side-effects of scalp soreness which terminate in lesions. Once the lesions erupt, the soreness dissipates. I treat it with daily Turmeric/curcumin capsules and I also swab my nose frequently with a prescription ointment called mupirocin. I also find that Voltaren topical on the sore area is helpful in treating the pain. This may the cause of your symptoms and worth investigating. (I also have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, but don't know if that makes one more susceptible to MRSA.)
Avatar universal
I get these also, Im concerned because I have noticed the back of my head hurting in the same spot (only if I touch it or lay down) Over the last week it has been with dizziness and I vomited on Monday then again on Friday------Im not sure if that is from the flu or something related to the head thing.  It feels like my hair has been pulled back in a pony tail too tight or like I hit my head and there is a bruise which I have not had either happen.  If you have any insight I would greatly appreciate it.  
Heather
Or PLEASE email me at ***@****
Helpful - 1
147426 tn?1317265632
I hope you and the others see this.  I found a discussion on the Dr-to-patient Neuro forum on this very topic.

The headaches are also called "epicrania fascia" headaches meaning arising from pain from the outside of the head and the conective tissue.

If that's what they are they can be treated often successfully with Botox injections locally.  Great news!

here is the link to the Neuro's answer:

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/neuro/messages/34390.html

Quix
Helpful - 1
147426 tn?1317265632
It sounds like you are describing something called "nummular" headaches.  These are well-circumscribed spots on the head that can be tender and that appear to cause localized headaches.  The headaches can be sharp and stabbing and can build to a constant and fairly severe pain.  They are always in the same spot(s).  

Nummular means "coin-shaped"

I couldn't find out much about them except it is thought that they are caused by an inflammation at the end(s) of a branch of one of the nerves which goes to the scalp like the trigeminal  nerve. As far as I could tell they are benign - meaning do not indicate a serious problem.  

I couldn't find out what to do to relieve them, but I wonder if ice to the area would be helpful since they may arise from sensory nerves deep in the skin and muscles of the head.

There are two other kinds of tender spot headaches that I learned about.  One is where a person has or keeps the hair pulled back tightly called "hair-traction headache".  The other is more common and complicated and called "cervical cephalgia."  It is a complex headache of the back of the head and involves contract/spasm of the back cervical neck muscles, pressure on the sensory nerves at the back of the head and pulling at the point where the muscles attach to the head.

These last two are mechanical problems, not headaches which come from something inside the head.  So they, too are not serious.  This isn't to say that any of these headaches can't severely affect one's quality of life.

Agian, I'm not a neurologist, but these are my thoughts on what you describe.

Quix
Helpful - 1
1 Comments
Thanks so much.  I think I had as more anxiety about my sore spots indicating something serious, like brain cancer, as I had minor pain from the spots themselves.
Avatar universal
I am also having same problem i think it is due to imbalance of neurotransmitter in our brain . Doctor has given me antidepressant called nitromer it blocks the heavy passing of neurons from our nerves and reducing pressure on it therby we do not fell any swelling or sore from inside even we had previous felling while touch
Helpful - 0
667923 tn?1421462724
TO ALL:
IF you put Organic Coconut Oil on the sore area, it will go away for a little while and it really does HELP!!!

I put it on my sore spot, on the top where I was in an accident back years ago and it does go away for the next bath. :)
Hope this helps guys!! God Bless... ^_^
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
It's been five days now, the same spot on my head has been hurting. Feels like my hair let go from a tight pony tail, it feels better when I massage it. Hard to explain the pain. It can also feel like a brain freeze but more on the outside of the head in that same spot. I've been feeling exhausted and thirsty (my throats has been extra dry lately). Anyone else can relate?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Dear TamTam,

My wife has a very similar problem, and I hope that the severe head/scalp pain will be resolved, its been > 1 year that she has had the pain on one side. Was your tooth pain on the same LEFT side ? She has left-sided head pain and right side tooth is infected.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
I've been having the exact same symptoms as everyone. Sore spots on left side of head for several months, now its become tender, headaches just started and my eyes hurt very bad as well. However I do have 2 infected teeth, 1 tooth is on the bottom right side and the other is on the top left side.
Avatar universal
psychosomatic for all these hundreds of people complaining about the same thing?? maybe stress related, yes, but psychosomatic?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
that is what exactly has been happening to me for about 10 days now!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have many of the symptoms above and I spend all day at a computer.  I was actually thinking before I read these comments that the two things were connected (eye stress from looking at a computer all day and these weird sore spots on my scalp).
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have many of the symptoms above and I spend all day at a computer.  I was actually thinking before I read these comments that the two things were connected (eye stress from looking at a computer all day and these weird sore spots on my scalp).
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm having the same soreness on the left back side of my scalp for the past few days. Feels like a bruise and only really hurts when I touch it or lay my head down.
Helpful - 0
15280447 tn?1439577636
I too just recently started having this sore tender spot on the top of my head no headache so to speak just the tender spot. Feels good when I rub it. And now have also been feeling a bit of back aches too. Could they be associated. The scalp thing though is starting to freak me out. So strange, it is tender with a slight burning sensation at times like sun burn I suppose. But it comes and goes. What can it be???
Helpful - 0
14030687 tn?1437652083
I suspected it was an offshoot of my migraines. I have full aural rare, but stomach more often. But this odd  head thing started about a year after my head injury induced migraines (my luck I was one of few in family that had not inherited the problem..but got it anyway). I have cut my hair very short for relief bit it made no difference really . Though  pony tails and buns make it worse. My only relief is nearly to perforate the pulse points on my scalp with my nails. Pressure  from spot to spot like my old chiropractor used to do but I use the sharp ends of my fingernails. About 5 minutes of  moving along spots will make the skin almost shriek with crawling sensation but then it will dull out and fade. I don't like my head/hair messed with usually or water in my face pre-accident because of my Asperger's.  My mom and middle son  and his cousin are now only  close kin migraine free. I am sure it is triggered by sitting at laptop long periods (thou strong sunlight  also can aggravate it, flourescing lite and monitors  are bigger triggers)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I also have the tender sore spot on the back left side of my head.  After reading through so many of the comments on this same subject, I find it very strange that a lot of us all say that it's in the same area.  Mine comes and goes but is always in that same spot.  Mine hurts even if I don't touch it but because it hurts I rub it often.  It feels like the after effect of being hit with something and being severly bruised.  I've never talked to my doctor about it.  I wouldn't want to even begin going through a bunch of tests.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Neurology Community

Top Neurology Answerers
620923 tn?1452915648
Allentown, PA
5265383 tn?1669040108
ON
1756321 tn?1547095325
Queensland, Australia
1780921 tn?1499301793
Queen Creek, AZ
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
In this special Missouri Medicine report, doctors examine advances in diagnosis and treatment of this devastating and costly neurodegenerative disease.
Here are 12 simple – and fun! – ways to boost your brainpower.
Discover some of the causes of dizziness and how to treat it.
Discover the common causes of headaches and how to treat headache pain.
Two of the largest studies on Alzheimer’s have yielded new clues about the disease