sharp pain on right side of head; not ice pick headache

[godzillaa]

hello :) ive been experiencing sharp pains on the back of my head, on the right side. it's not behind the ear. they come and go very quickly, usually just a moment. as soon as my body registers the pain, it goes away. sometimes they come in a succession, but mostly they come one at a time. there can be long spans of time between the occurrences.

also, they come randomly. im not fatigued or anything. sometimes im just standing or sitting and they come, making me wince. i haven't had any serious head injuries, and i don't feel pain anywhere else. i'd really like to know what these are because i can't find an explanation anywhere :( i signed up for medhelp just to ask this. thank you!

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum! I appreciate you signed up to just find answer to the problem. I hope this post helps you.
There is a chance that you have compression of the spinal nerves in the cervical spine region. This can happen due to overuse of computers, work involving straining of neck, herniated disc, canal stenosis, bone disease, spondylosis, poor posture etc. A MRI of the cervical spine and nerve conduction studies may be required. Please consult a neurologist. The treatment is to remove the compression. You have to discuss the best treatment option with a neurologist, which can range from medication to physiotherapy to traction, cervical collars or even surgery. Alternatively you can visit a chiropractor or a physical therapist and learn some exercises which you can do to relieve the compression.
Use a hard bed to sleep. Avoid a pillow. Roll a towel and place it under your neck while sleeping on the back and between head and shoulder when lying on the side. Initially this will be uncomfortable but with time the acupressure will do wonders.
It is unlikely to be anything else, but one can never be too sure on net. Hence please conult a doctor.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!

[Doodles_Mimi]

I think I know what you are describing. I have had this sensation for all my life, this is my account of it. My pain is also in my head but, it shoots through the middle of my head from the right to the left side, approx. 2 inches above my ear ( it doesn't involve my ear). It is a searing hot, sharp pain that stops me in my tracks! By the time I grab my head it is gone. I gotta say that it is such a intense pain that if it lasted any longer than those 5 secs, I know I would faint and throw-up at the same time!!!  These pains can come at any time no matter what I am doing, but thank heavens they are very sporadic. I can go a year without one and then two in one day. All I know is just those few seconds scare me to death, that it might last longer this time! I have wondered many times if other people have had these.