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Stabbing head pain-occipital neuralgia?

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Posted 1/30/2011 10:30 PM (GMT 0)
i have been diagnosed with occtipital neuralgia by a neuralogist i have had severe pain for months before being refered to neuroligist. he has helped me alot and i am having nerve block next week. but i have noticed lately that my jaw joints feel tender and itchy. is this normal for this condition? and is it normal for ear canals to close up and having bad ear pressure? my main question is will the ear popping stop after nerve block and ear pressure return to normal..this symptom is driving me crazy!. a big thank you too anyone for info.

I have edited your post to remove your email addy for your safety, if you wish for anyone to contact you please make sure you leave you email addy accessible on your profile so members only can contact you.  Ann

Post Edited By Moderator (Annuk) : 1/31/2011 8:35:16 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 4/7/2011 1:28 AM (GMT 0)
I did not read the entire thread but I stumbled upon this thread because I have recently resumed asacol and am getting headaches and tonight it progressed to nearly the same headache described only for me on the right side. I have been on asacol again for about a month but only recently worked up to the same dose you list in your tag line. Have you considered the asacol could be a culprit? I normally did not get headaches when I am not on this medication. It is listed as a side effect as well.
Posted 7/10/2011 11:36 AM (GMT 0)
I have read many of the responses and surprised to find that there are others like me, suffering from these debilitating stabbing pains.  Every so often I am cursed with these, they last for a few seconds, at the top left side of my skull -  usually lasting a few hours: however the most recent episode lasted two nights followed by a whole day with pain not only at the top of the head but also at the back of my throat/tongue area: very frightening!

 

Posted 7/30/2011 7:50 AM (GMT 0)
I am so glad i searched today and found this site, i was getting so worried thinking i had a brain tumor of something. I am 44 years old and on monday i went home from work feeling poorly with flu. On tuesday night i started getting severe electric shock pains in the back of my head on the left side, running to my ear and into my face/jaw. Its now saturday and it hasnt eased at all and now my scalp and hair feels very sensitive even to the fact that when i went in the shower to wash my hair the water hurt!!!! I did phone NHS Direct on wednesday about this and after 100 questions i was told if i didnt have a rash it wasnt shingles and possibly neuralgia then told if it worsens to see a doctor but i wouldnt say the pain is worse, its the same which is bad enough when it feels like someone is zapping my head with a cattle prod.

Ive read every post here and sympathise with you all but is there any cure of this? and will it ever stop?
Posted 7/30/2011 5:18 PM (GMT 0)
Ugh I was diagnosed by GP for occipital neuralgia back in 2004 when my headaches first started. Weiredly its also when my double vision in left eye started as well.

MRI by ompthamologist only showed unrelated minor lesions (his words) and nothing further except to be fitted for prision lens in my glasses which I still wear.

GP gave me beta blocker in back of my head which worked for 6 months.

Since I moved to a much more rural area in a diff state, Ive been floundering about trying to find care for my headaches.

Last year I finally find a GP who has been trying different meds including beta blocker. Nothing works so he sent me to neurologist last week who said I may have "interactional migraines with auras". Much to my surprise I have a MRI scheduled already for this coming tuesday.

Anyways Im posting here because I think u shld keep digging. Like u, I dont really suffer neck pains althou, my neck sometimes get tired and sore. I was diagnosed with occipital neuralgia because of my photophobia.

Nothing hurts more than lights, especially flashing unexpected lights and it almost always trigger headaches.

Yes, I get stabbing pain around my left temple and sometimes in center of forehead. My left eye has been slightly swollen for more than a year but a recent ompthamologist who checked and measured the swelling doesnt see any problems.

However I also get various type of pain, dull throbbin, shooting pains, and sometimes pressure pain but it mostly stays to the left side of eye/temple/brows. Every once in a while it rotates to right eye but not often.

Keep us updated.
Posted 8/29/2011 9:56 PM (GMT 0)
So what I am reading here sounds similiar to what I have experienced, is this anything like what someone else experienced??

Ok so few nights ago I had stabbing pain in my head on the very top left side of my head; maybe about 1 inch from top middle of head & directly up from my left ear.  My husband asked me all sorts of questions; we couldn't figure anything out.  It really felt like someone had stabbed me in my head 3 times all in the same spot! It only lasted for maybe about 30 seconds; it didn't travel anywhere except straight through my head...as if I was being stabbed. No pain into my eyes, neck or any other area of my body.  about 3-5 minutes later I was still just sitting & my fireplace across the room seemed as though it was trying to flip over or shake like it would in an earthquake. 

When I was 10 yo I had 3 concussions within a 9 month period; 2 normal -being a raised bump, one being an inverted concussion not being diagnossed for about 4 weeks.  They were all in the same area; left back 'corner' of my head, like right where your head starts to curve.  I am 41 yo now & have always had weird sensations, feelings, & pains in the area since then.  I had cat scan, xrays done yet the drs say all is normal & nothing to worry about! If only they could feel & experience what I do, maybe they could have an answer!  Any help??

Posted 9/5/2011 9:02 PM (GMT 0)
hey every 1!
I have some kind of head pain & I searched the best site by google search.
I have head pain but my English is not much good to explain..I have the pain exactly on the top of the head feeling on skull.
I felt all the time that may be it is because of any hair band or clip but no.
Its not a hard pain but it feels like a pin pain...I feel like that some one is pressing the pins on my skull on the top..it has short period & no measure timing or days.
What the pain is?
What I call it?
What are the reasons behind?
Please reply me must...I am really very worried about.

Age: 25

Post Edited (julijim) : 9/5/2011 3:12:56 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/6/2011 5:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All..........

This is my second episode in 2 years of the occipital neurgalia. I have been suffering sine May. On many anti depressants etc to help relieve the pain, did not work though. Finally, after some internet research, I have been doing chinese accupuncture.......wow, Still in pain, but it has gone from a 10 degree to a 4. I have a good day here and there. Day by day. I try to relax because mine appears to come from stress and tension. Moist heat relieves it a bit and also, pinching the shoulder close to the neck hard is great too. I have opted out of having the cortisone shot, scary, nervous, I wanted to exhaust all of my options first.

Please try the massage, accupuncture and chinese cupping! You will notice a difference after a couple treatments!!
Posted 9/6/2011 9:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hi guys, well basically Im a 15 year old girl from sunny england. In may 2011 i had ear reconstruction on both of my ears. about a month later i started getting serious pain in my temples and the top of my head. These 'headaches' lasted around 5-10 minuets. In this time i couldnt do anything. I got allot of them in my exams which sucked. Anyway my cousin was scaired it was cancer after i has a very bad one. So took me to the doctor. She told me it was a bad case of nuralgia. I looked it up and i seem to be alittle young to have this. To be quiet honest with you im very scaired, the doctors have given me nothing to help with the pain so i just have to go on with my normal day. Im only 15 i dont want to have to worry about when my next headache is going to be.
I usually get 5 headaches a day.
Please any infomation will help
Thankyou
Elecktra
Posted 9/16/2011 12:35 PM (GMT 0)
I went through the same sharp, stabbing pains in my head (mine were on either side more towards the back of my head) I too was put on topmax, saw multiple "specialists" etc etc, with no relief from the pain....until I saw a chiropractor. It turned out my intense brief pains were caused by a semi-major misalignment to the vertabrae in my neck. I started getting chiropractic adjustments 3 times a week, and within a month my head pains were gone. It is now 3 years later, I have been pain free, and I see a chiro once a month. Just thought I would share my story, as it may help some of you experiencing these same symptoms :)
Posted 9/17/2011 9:17 PM (GMT 0)
Ever since i was in a rear end car crash in October of last year my occipital nerves keep getting inflamed. The neurologist keeps saying its just tension, but the injections and medicines aren't working. No one of the doctors i have been to has seen anything suspicious about my headaches getting worse after the accident. Before the accident i got one or two a week and around my period. I was able to deal with that, but now they are daily. I'm 15 and trying to make it through high school, but now im on home schooling again and its hard so my grandma was looking for possible permanent fixes. She read that I could have my nerves cut and it might be successful in curing my headaches but its worth a try. Earlier week when i went to the doctor he said i was too young for this and started more medicines. I've came across a few stories of people around my age having this done. I hope someone on here can help please i would love to get better by time my sweet 16 rolls around in a few months. btw, im currently on baclofen topamx prednizone frova melatonin trazodone and i think thats it.
Posted 9/21/2011 5:17 PM (GMT 0)
I am so excited I found this site! I have been having these stabbing, shock pains in the top right side of my head for 44 years. I might go a few years with no pain and then it happens every few months. There does not seem to be anything in particular that sets it off. It lasts for about 3 days. I start with a "sore-throat" feeling on the right side. A few hours later I start with the pain, sporadic at first, then approximately every minute or two for an entire day. The third day it slows down again and the disappears for a few months. I too have had an occasional pimple form in the sore area. I thought I was crazy!!!!! I really want to just thank you all for the posts that made me realize I was not alone in this. Just having a name to go with this is comforting. I have been getting migraines since I was 17. They have subsided greatly over the last 7 years. This pain is bearable with lots of meds. However, is there any cure or easy fix. My mother has trigeminal neuralgia. Had surgery 7 years ago. It only worked for 2 years. I do not want to go through anything like that unless it is absolutely necessary.
Posted 12/21/2011 10:14 PM (GMT 0)
I can't believe i have found this, you have given me hope. A sudden onset headache hit me a month ago, i am 43 year old and had never experienced anything like this before.

The head pain (i prefer not to call it a headache as it makes it sound trivial) came on at approx 11pm and it was like i had been hit round the head ... then shooting pains to my eyes. I was home alone so went to bed, then slept for 18 hours. 5pm the next day hubby woke me so i could eat and i headed to work. I called NHS Direct who insisted i went to A&E. Off i went 4 hours later sent home with some pain relief. It didnt touch it. So two days later i went to speak to my GP, more tablets and told to come back if they didnt help. Two more days and back i go, GP then gives me tramadol the strongest he can prescribe with the advice that should it not touch the pain i am to go back to A&E. Yes you guessed it, the next day i was admitted to hospital, following a CT scan and a lumbar puncture (ouch!!) i was deemed not in a life threatening so was sent home two days later ....

Over the last two weeks i have been in and out of the Drs, i have sent over 100 pounds on prescriptions and nothing has got rid of the pain, as i type this it is hurting :0( but i am feeling a little relived that i might now know what is wrong.

To know that there are others out there just like me doesnt make me feel so isolated. Thank you for giving me light at the end of the tunnel x
Posted 12/29/2011 9:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi i am Amber i Am 15 and i fell this really painful sharp stabbing felling on the side of my head on the leftside above my ear it lasts sometimes 10 seconds  and sometimes it just last a few seconds it happened suddenly for a few years just like every once inawhile it would happen but the last week it has been non stop anyone have a clue why this happens and what it might be?

 

Posted 1/5/2012 7:37 PM (GMT 0)
I am 48 years old, and I have had this stabbing pain periodically for the past 30+ years. which occurs on the top right side of my head. I have also had similar pain on my shoulder blades, and sides of my head. The pain which occurs on top of my head is the worst. The quick stabbing pain causes me to wince. I consider myself to have a high tolerance for pain, but I think I'd have an easier time cutting my finger off compared to this pain. I'm really glad I don't get it often, but I really wish I knew how to fix it, so I wouldn't get it again. My mother and one of my sisters also experiences this wonderful ailment. I am intrigued by what chevygirl had to say about going to the chiropractor, so much so that I'm going to set up an appointment. I'll comment later as to whether this also works for me.
Posted 1/18/2012 8:45 PM (GMT 0)
My symptons are similar to Amber's - a sharp pain like a knife stabbing my head behind and above my left ear. It lasts a few seconds, but is relentless. It was diagnosed as Occipital Neuralgia over 10 years ago and I began taking Tegretol. My neurologist gradually weaned me off as the symptons lessened and finally stopped. It just started again yesterday so I'm going back to my neurologist. The pain is excruciating.
Posted 2/3/2012 8:11 PM (GMT 0)
I have also been getting a bad stabbing pain in the top of my head (just very slightly to the right but right on the top) which makes my knees buckle and makes me grip my head when it occurs. The pain only lasts for a couple of seconds but the area is tender for quite a while after. The pain feels like someone is stabbing my skull with a fork. The pains first started a in September '11 and after a couple of months of having them 2 or 3 times a time, they stopped for a few weeks however they are just starting up again. Sometimes it feels like I am getting a 'warning' which is the same pain but not quite as bad - still enough to panic me and to hurt a lot but not a full blown 'attack'. I have spoken with a few work colleagues who have had similar pains and they have all said they've been told that the pains are related to stress - this would tie in with the fact that I work in a school and when we returned in September after the summer holidays we were hit with a lot of changes, job losses and stress. I am going through another stressful time at work and the pains have returned so I'm sure the two are linked. I would just like to add that these pains are not headaches and they come and go very suddenly which is why I describe them as attacks.
Posted 4/21/2012 1:57 AM (GMT 0)
Had these on and off for years (at least 30); back , near top, right of center, sometimes elsewhere but same general area. feel almost electrical (I had surgery performed on my skull years ago, awake, local anesthesia; the electrical quarterizing of the veins was the only thing I could really feel and it felt similar to this). Anyway, long time ago,I found a strong correlation to vitamin b deficiency; can't remember which B vitamin, but I take a good quality b complex and they go away, 100%of the time; might take a day but they go. Definitely stress related for me. used to scare me, now just annoying. No big deal except intense as all get go. B vitamins; might not work for you, but won't hurt, worth a try right? My favorite is liquid form
Posted 5/9/2012 4:19 AM (GMT 0)
6 months of irregular trigeminal neuralgia or ice pick headache. Calling it a headache makes as much sense as having someone knife you in the stomach and calling it a stomach ache. Isolated spot above left temple, same spot every time and pain about 1/4" deep. Usually waves of pain lasting 3 - 10 seconds over a 10 -25 minute span. Recently, tried direct application of ice to the spot and either the pain from the cold masks it or it helps quite a bit. Now to figure out how to always have an ice cube handy. Cocktail time again?

Post Edited (deerwood) : 5/9/2012 4:01:05 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/18/2012 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
Thank God I found this forum. My "ice pick" head pain started 4 days ago. I've suffered from migraines for about 18 years and have always managed them with Excedrin Migraine and Imitrex. Last week I got my first ice pick stabbing pain. I have no other symptoms - blurred vision, slurred speech, etc. - so I'm not concerned about a brain tumor. I just want some relief!!! So, based on everything I've read here I'm going to try Alleve and am calling my chiropractor first thing in the morning! Please keep posting if you come up with anything else that works. Am reluctant to try any "real" pain meds so I'm looking for as many holistic options as possible.
Posted 8/9/2012 5:46 AM (GMT 0)
I have been suffering from "Ice Pick Headaches" for a couple of months. Mine don't necessarily follow the usual sypmtoms I have read about in this thread and elsewhere. My Icepick starts at the base of my head where the spine and skull meet, just to the right of the spine (maybe a centimeter or two) and shoots straight through the back of brain to the top of my skull. Very localized like most everyone else here, yet I lack any stabbing eye pain that is so common with occipital neuralgia. Can this still be occipital neuralgia? I realise that a doctor sould diagnose this, but like others here, my doctors have all said it is "simply stress related, take these muscle relaxers and you'll be fine." BULL! I had an MRI and it came back normal. I feel like a hypochondriac b/c there is no evident cause but these "Icepickers" are totally debilitating and very scary. Any help or advice to provide solace would be greatly appreciated.

Post Edited (Pain'ntheneck) : 8/9/2012 9:04:14 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/20/2012 8:34 PM (GMT 0)
I have been having the same stabbing pain in the right side of head for about 4 years now. But for about the past year it feels like something is gonna bust whenever I cough, strain, etc. it's very scary and I don't know what else to do. I have been to the doctor several times. I have had both CT scans and MRI, which both came back normal. It also hurts whenever I bend over to do something. However, yesterday I was feeling of my neck and found that when I press a certaint spot. It causes the stabbing pain.

If anyone else has had the same feeling of pressure when straining of whatever, please let me know!!
Posted 3/15/2013 10:23 PM (GMT 0)
My naturopath told me my scalp pain on top was from clinching and grinding all night
Posted 12/26/2013 7:10 PM (GMT 0)
Hello,I have some health problems so I’m here to ask some things,so I have occipital neuralgia for over 5 weeks now that started with high pressurre in my right part of my head,neck and back pain the first week.In the next two weeks the pression and pain in my head and neck became so insupportable that I could barely sleep when I put my head on the pillow.In the 3-4 weeks at the time I went to my neurologist and gave me the diagnostic the doctor game me some pills based on Paracetamol and Tramadol and my pain on the right side of the head and back too became not that annoying anymore.I'm writting here now because 5 days ago I encountered 2 terrible episodes of migraine with a sharp stabbing pain in the same right area where my scalp is sensitive to touch and head numbness.Since I had those 2 migraine episodes I have permanently throbbing sharp pain the entire day on the affected part of my head and feel numbness in my head.It's really tiresome because every single day since then I have these aching migraine pain and I just have to lay down and close my eyes even though pain doesn't go away.The pain is so strong for the entire day and it makes me dizzy and powerless.Advil taken doesn’t help much because the stabbing pain goes away only for a couple of hours.Pain gets worse when I try to move my head or get some things from the ground. I don’t know what to think anymore is my neuralgia getting worse or is it something else that makes me feel like that?
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